It is autumn and many schools are looking for things to do with the children to break the daily routine of classroom work and increase the educational process through an excursion. And there is nothing wrong with excursions! We all love taking trips to cool destinations. Trips to a planetarium, zoo, or historical site are powerful contributors to a student’s education and can spark the imagination in countless ways. However, there are some high costs associated with excursions.
Simply purchasing and paying for transportation can be a deciding factor. And travel time to and from different places takes time away from students. Also, when students are taken off campus, there is all the paperwork needed to get parental approval. Not to mention insurance!
In the current economic downturn, many schools are looking for alternatives to field trips that are just as exciting but less expensive. School assembly programs provide the perfect answer. Take the examples above, a planetarium, the zoo, a historical site. Instead of loading buses and driving to a planetarium, schools can arrange for the planetarium to come to them. There are several alternatives available to bring a portable planetarium to your school that provides all the excitement and educational value of a field trip but at a much lower cost.
Likewise, a trip to the zoo is great, but if cost is a factor (and when is cost not a factor?) why not have the zoo come to you? Schools with a limited budget can usually organize a visit from an artist or company from the school assembly that will bring various animals to the school and introduce students to numerous “cool creatures”, without anyone having to leave the school grounds.
Finally, while a visit to Lincoln’s birth cabin can be very interesting (although there is some question as to whether it really IS his cabin!), a visit from President Lincoln himself will remain on your minds for years to come. Numerous school assembly programs involving costumed characters bringing history to life are available across the country.
In general, schools on a budget need look no further than a great assembly program if they are looking for activities other than field trips.
