The Post-Trip Blues and How to Maintain the Learning Momentum
If students leave for a school trip, they can come back energized but also a little dispirited. After days of hands-on activity and exploration, it can be challenging to return to a traditional classroom setting. However, teachers can help keep the buzz going and remind their students of the important points learned with purposeful follow-up work. Here’s how to combat the post-trip blues and sustain educational momentum.
Stimulate Journaling for Reflection
- Students need to write about what they have learned.
Reflection prompts:
- Most memorable part of your trip and why?
- What was a surprising fact I discovered?
- Will it change your ways of thinking about this location/problem?
- If you could turn back time, what else would you want to experience?
When students present excerpts of their work, it can also promote rich discourse in the classroom.
Create a Project Recap
Encourage students to complete a reflective and summative project about their trip:
- Students can prepare Slideshow, videos, electronic picture books, etc.
- Scrapbooking & Posters — a fun, tactile experience of collecting memories and key learnings
- Group Reports – Or, assign several topics for small groups to research and report out on, as they relate to things seen on the trip
Students get to relive the experiences socially and interactively through these projects.
Guide Classroom Discussions & Debriefs
It can also be useful to bring the class together for a guided discussion to reinforce lessons learned.
- What are some of the topics you will hear discussed?
- What was the connection between your trip and what we have covered at school?
- What were some challenges or surprises that you faced?
- What questions do I have about where we have traveled?
- What lessons can be taken from a study into the real world?
Such reflection leads to enhanced critical thoughts and discussion about the contents of a trip.
Plan a Follow-up Experience
Your trip may be over, but studying doesn’t have to come to an end.
Check out:
- Virtual Field Trips – Search for virtual tours of museums or virtual experiences at historical places related to your trip.
- Guest Speakers — Extend an invitation to a visiting expert to give music or a lecture regarding the theme students indicated was of interest during the trip.
- Get involved with the community — In addition to traveling with their child, engage the students with community events, volunteer work, and school programs.
It helps in making an impact even after returning from a trip.
Turning That Experience Into Action
Encourage students to use what they have learned to give back. Recommendations include:
- Debating a social or historical issue that one has researched in a group setting.
- To become aware of environment, culture, and heritage issues that they have experienced make awareness programs
- Come up with ideas on how to use their new knowledge in their school work and extracurriculars
This hands-on application fosters deeper incorporation and enables students to understand the long-term results of scholarly labor.
The best school trips don’t finish when students get home — but continue through reflection discussion and meaningful follow-up activity. Using these post-trip strategies, teachers can prompt students to revisit, deepen, and maintain their long-term engagement long after the trip is over.
The right school travel partner can make all the difference between an ordinary trip and a truly memorable experience. At Student Adventures, our expertise, innovation, and dedication set us apart. With professional in-house consultants, innovative tools like TripApp, and the comprehensive TripWheel, we make every stage of your trip simple, easy, and effortless.
We hope this guide has given you valuable insight into why we are the best partner for your next school trip. Ready to get started? Call Student Adventures at 1-877-873-7550