a little field trip help

I'm trying to plan a field trip for 80 first graders. I think it would be really cool if we could go to a restaurant and learn about ettiquette and have lunch. In the past, Wendy's has done something like this, but I would really like to expose the kids to something different. We are a Title 1 funded school so we cannot charge our students for trips. We have a yearly budget alloted to us and we have to find creative ways to make it work. Any ideas?

I'm also wanting to visit some community workers, maybe on the same field trip. Before 9/11, we could visit police stations and the main post office, but I've been told that this isn't allowed anymore. I'm open to suggestions.

[Robin Garr]

I'm also wanting to visit some community workers, maybe on the same field trip. Before 9/11, we could visit police stations and the main post office, but I've been told that this isn't allowed anymore. I'm open to suggestions.

Fire house? Kids love the big red fire engines! Or possibly something like the Salvation Army or Volunteers of America?

You might also double-check that report about police and post office - that sounds a little over-the-top, 9/11 or no. The police should still have community-relations officers who might be able to give you law-enforcement related ideas.

Also, as much as it pains me to suggest this, perhaps the Courier-Journal give tours? Or one of the TV stations?

You might also double-check that report about police and post office - that sounds a little over-the-top, 9/11 or no. The police should still have community-relations officers who might be able to give you law-enforcement related ideas.

I second checking on this. I listened to a speech by Chief White back in November and he touted giving school kids tours of police stations and showing them police equipment and cars.

The restaurant trip is a great idea for learning etiquette and having lunch! Almost all kids are familiar with fast food places but not "real" restaurants, much less how to behave in one. Why...this could almost qualify as a public service

I know some fire stations are still open to field trips (Worthington is one that comes to mind).
Blackacre nature preserve is also a neat place - the kids can make their own "binoculars" for bird watching with empty t-paper rolls glued together and yarn (decorating them is fun!) - my daughter's class did this when she was little and they all looked so adorable walking around w/ their binoculars and the kids had a blast

For the last couple of years my daughter's class (2d and 3rd grade) has participated in a reading program that is sponsored by Pizza Hut. The kids read books, write a sentence or two about the book, and earn a free personal pizza each month of the program. At the culmination of the program, the kids went down to the local Pizza Hut to make their own pizzas and have lunch, use good manners, etc. I'm sorry I don't recall the name of the program but should be easy to find out through a store. I don't think there was any cost to participate.

For the last couple of years my daughter's class (2d and 3rd grade) has participated in a reading program that is sponsored by Pizza Hut. The kids read books, write a sentence or two about the book, and earn a free personal pizza each month of the program. At the culmination of the program, the kids went down to the local Pizza Hut to make their own pizzas and have lunch, use good manners, etc. I'm sorry I don't recall the name of the program but should be easy to find out through a store. I don't think there was any cost to participate.

That program is called Book It. It's actually been around since I was in elementary school. I'm actually my school's contact person for it. Unfortunately, we've never had enough participation in the program to be invited to an actual restaurant.

I'm trying to plan a field trip for 80 first graders. I think it would be really cool if we could go to a restaurant and learn about etiquette and have lunch. In the past, Wendy's has done something like this, but I would really like to expose the kids to something different. We are a Title 1 funded school so we cannot charge our students for trips. We have a yearly budget allocated to us and we have to find creative ways to make it work. Any ideas?

I'm also wanting to visit some community workers, maybe on the same field trip. Before 9/11, we could visit police stations and the main post office, but I've been told that this isn't allowed anymore. I'm open to suggestions.

What school are you at Jessica? You have to jump through many hoops just to get a bus for a field trip. Plus there is the fact that students who are on a free/reduced program are required to go through the lunch line. I might have some ideas that don't require leaving the school. I run the JCPS At Your Service Catering. I did a lunch this summer over at T. J. that was based on learning table manners.

I'm also currently pursuing getting the ACF's Chef and Child Foundation ten week program "Kids Cooking Teams", which encourages proper dining etiquette, added to the curriculum at Rangeland and Wellington which are the Elementary Heath and Wellness Magnets.

As the chair of the ACF/KY Chapter's Chef and Child Committee, we may be able to offer some sort of financial assistance for your project as well.

Feel free to E-mail me at the address below.

Another great idea would be the Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm.

Their program offers students the inspiration and knowledge to make food choices that sustain their bodies, their communities and the earth through educational programs and technical assistance offered in partnership with a local vegetable farm.
It is a hands-on agricultural education program on the farm, that takes an inquiry-based approach to teaching that emphasizes real experience.
Participants are encouraged to use all their senses to explore the farm. All programs support the guidelines set forth by the Kentucky Department of Education and can meet curricular goals for Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Practical Living.

Contact Carol Gunderson at 491-0072 for more information about this wonderful learning opportunity for your students.
http://foodliteracyproject.org/

Another great idea would be the Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm.

Their program offers students the inspiration and knowledge to make food choices that sustain their bodies, their communities and the earth through educational programs and technical assistance offered in partnership with a local vegetable farm.
It is a hands-on agricultural education program on the farm, that takes an inquiry-based approach to teaching that emphasizes real experience.
Participants are encouraged to use all their senses to explore the farm. All programs support the guidelines set forth by the Kentucky Department of Education and can meet curricular goals for Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, Math and Practical Living.

Contact Carol Gunderson at 491-0072 for more information about this wonderful learning opportunity for your students.
http://foodliteracyproject.org/

I tried to book a trip to the farm last year, but they can only accomodate 50 students. We'd have to split the group and go on different days which means that we'd have to pay for four buses instead of two.

Jessica,

I happen to be on the Board at the Food Literacy Project; your school is very much the target population FLP wants to reach. I contacted our Executive Director, Carol Gunderson, regarding your request. Here's her response:

Deb,
Thanks for sending. I hate when we have to turn people away because there are more students than we can accommodate. We do the very best we can to make it possible for schools to participate, including paying for a bus for qualifying schools when funds are available. Unfortunately when there are more than 50 students on the farm at a time, the day becomes more of a tour and less of a hands-on experience.
80 students would need to come on two days - we could pay for the bus for one of those days in the spring of 2011 (this fall is booked already).
Thanks for your help with this.
CG

Carol Gundersen, Executive Director
Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm
9001 Limehouse Lane
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 491-0072
http://www.foodliteracyproject.org
carol@foodliteracyproject.org

What do you know about the Food is Elementary program? Several of the teachers at Coleridge Taylor Montessori (JCPS) went through the training.

Jessica,

I happen to be on the Board at the Food Literacy Project; your school is very much the target population FLP wants to reach. I contacted our Executive Director, Carol Gunderson, regarding your request. Here's her response:

Deb,
Thanks for sending. I hate when we have to turn people away because there are more students than we can accommodate. We do the very best we can to make it possible for schools to participate, including paying for a bus for qualifying schools when funds are available. Unfortunately when there are more than 50 students on the farm at a time, the day becomes more of a tour and less of a hands-on experience.
80 students would need to come on two days - we could pay for the bus for one of those days in the spring of 2011 (this fall is booked already).
Thanks for your help with this.
CG

Carol Gundersen, Executive Director
Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm
9001 Limehouse Lane
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 491-0072
http://www.foodliteracyproject.org
carol@foodliteracyproject.org

Deb,

Thanks for looking into that. I'll definitely re-propose the idea to my team and see what they think. Should I contact Carol myself or set this up through you?

What do you know about the Food is Elementary program? Several of the teachers at Coleridge Taylor Montessori (JCPS) went through the training.

I'm not familiar with that program. What do you know about it?

Jessica,

I happen to be on the Board at the Food Literacy Project; your school is very much the target population FLP wants to reach. I contacted our Executive Director, Carol Gunderson, regarding your request. Here's her response:

Deb,
Thanks for sending. I hate when we have to turn people away because there are more students than we can accommodate. We do the very best we can to make it possible for schools to participate, including paying for a bus for qualifying schools when funds are available. Unfortunately when there are more than 50 students on the farm at a time, the day becomes more of a tour and less of a hands-on experience.
80 students would need to come on two days - we could pay for the bus for one of those days in the spring of 2011 (this fall is booked already).
Thanks for your help with this.
CG

Carol Gundersen, Executive Director
Food Literacy Project at Oxmoor Farm
9001 Limehouse Lane
Louisville, KY 40222
(502) 491-0072
http://www.foodliteracyproject.org
carol@foodliteracyproject.org

Deb,

Thanks for looking into that. I'll definitely re-propose the idea to my team and see what they think. Should I contact Carol myself or set this up through you?

Jessica,

You'll want to contact Carol. I'm just on the Board- don't know day-to-day operations. Good luck!
Deb

What do you know about the Food is Elementary program? Several of the teachers at Coleridge Taylor Montessori (JCPS) went through the training.

I'm not familiar with that program. What do you know about it?

There was an article about them in Edible Louisville earlier this year ( May?), You might want to search their website: www.ediblelouisville.com.

Deb