At Van Allen Elementary, we work hard to give students meaningful daily learning experiences. But some of the most memorable lessons don’t happen in the classroom. They happen on the road and unstructured time.
Field trips are more than just a break from the routine. They open doors to real-world learning, help students connect what they read in books to the world around them, and create memories that often last a lifetime.
Each grade level at Van Allen takes part in special field trips that tie directly to their learning. Kindergarten students pick pumpkins at a local patch and attend a live performance at the Gallo Center in Modesto. These early experiences introduce them to both nature and the arts. First graders visit the Great Valley Museum and planetarium, where they learn about astronomy and the plants and animals native to our region.
Second graders tour the Hilmar Cheese Company to see food production in action and understand where things come from. Third graders head to Pioneer Days at Micke Grove in Lodi. There, they step into the past and learn about Central Valley history, agriculture, and daily life before modern technology.
Our fourth graders take an overnight trip to Asilomar, where they hike along the coast at Point Lobos, study tide pools, and explore California mission history. And in fifth grade, students visit the state capitol to learn about government and civic responsibility, then close out their elementary years with a special trip to Great Wolf Lodge – creating happy memories and friendships that carry on into middle school and beyond. It’s a meaningful way to mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another.
These trips aren’t just fun, they are part of a broader effort to make learning meaningful and connected. Students ask better questions when they can touch, see, and hear the things they’re learning about. They remember more when they can connect a lesson to an experience. They develop social skills – like teamwork, curiosity, and independence – that are hard to teach from behind a desk.
Field trips also help level the playing field. Not every child gets the chance to visit a museum, hike along the coast, or watch a live play. When schools make these opportunities part of the curriculum, it helps ensure that all kids – no matter their background – get to experience the richness of the world around them.
Planning these trips takes time, money, and coordination. But they are worth it. They remind us that learning isn’t limited to four walls. Sometimes, the best way to teach a child is to take them outside and let the world do the talking.
And that’s something worth remembering.
Principally Speaking is a monthly article, contributed by principals from Escalon Unified School District sites, throughout the school year. It is designed to update the community on school events and activities.
