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school trip upper grades
Sixth Form Trip: How to Make Your Study Trip an Unforgettable Learning Experience!
Are you planning a school trip for the upper grades and looking for inspiration and practical tips? This article provides you with a comprehensive overview of all the key aspects – from curriculum integration and funding options to innovative programmes. We are happy to offer personalised advice. Please contact us here.
The topic, briefly and concisely
A sixth form school trip is an integral part of the sixth form curriculum and promotes the independence, teamwork, and social skills of the students.
The close integration into the curriculum and the choice of the right destination are crucial for the success of a course trip. Through Experiential Learning, knowledge retention and understanding are enhanced, while motivation is simultaneously boosted.
Meticulous organisation and planning, taking into account the legal and financial framework as well as the use of funding opportunities, are essential for successfully organising a course trip. By integrating digital learning formats, learning success can be further enhanced.
Discover how to design a sixth form trip that not only provides fun but also imparts lasting knowledge. From financing to experiential education implementation – here you will find all the answers!
A sixth form trip is more than just an excursion – it is an integral part of the sixth form curriculum. Unlike traditional school trips, the focus here is on subject-specific content and study tours that complement and enhance lessons. At GoTuro, we specialise in creating such unique and unforgettable travel experiences that combine adventure, culture, and relaxation. Our carefully curated offers are tailored to the needs of adventure seekers, culture enthusiasts, young travellers, and niche markets.
The educational value of a sixth form trip is immense. It not only promotes the independence and teamwork skills of the students but also strengthens their social competencies. Through practical experiences and experiential learning elements, lessons are supplemented in a way that is hardly possible in the classroom. This makes learning tangible and ensures it remains memorable.
Before you begin planning your sixth form trip, it's important to familiarise yourself with the legal and financial framework. In North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and other federal states, there are specific guidelines for school trips that define both room for manoeuvre and legal requirements. The guidelines for school trips from the NRW Ministry of Education provide an important foundation here. Additionally, as a teacher, you must obtain approval for a business trip and assignment.
Financing a sixth form trip can be a challenge, but there are various ways to cover the costs. In addition to travel expense funds from school supervisory authorities and the schools' discretionary budgets, you can also acquire third-party funds and utilise innovative fundraising strategies. We are happy to assist you in finding suitable financing options and successfully realising your sixth form trip.
Curriculum Integration: Making the Most of Themed Course Trips
A successful Kursfahrt Oberstufe is characterised by close integration into the curriculum. Cross-curricular and theme-specific offerings allow the teaching content to be deepened in a practical and experience-oriented way. HEROLE offers a wide range of opportunities tailored to different subjects.
Diverse Offerings for Every Subject
For German lessons, visits to literary museums and locations of significant works are recommended. Topic-based workshops on poetry, drama or epic literature can deepen students’ literary understanding. In mathematics classes, you can apply mathematical concepts in the real world, for example in architecture or finance. Visiting science museums and mathematical exhibitions can spark interest in this subject area. History enthusiasts benefit from excursions to historical sites and memorials such as the Berlin Wall or the Stasi prison. Participation in contemporary witness discussions and historical workshops allows for an in-depth engagement with the past. The STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are also catered for: laboratory visits and experiments in research facilities and universities, as well as projects on environmental topics, such as a microplastic project in Croatia, offer exciting insights into the world of science and technology.
Experiential Learning: Learning through Experience
The importance of 'hands-on' education should not be underestimated. Practical experiences improve knowledge retention and understanding while also increasing student motivation and engagement. Experiential Learning allows students to actively apply and deepen their knowledge. Examples of successful Experiential Learning activities include workshops, excursions, role plays and simulations, which can be adapted to various subjects and destinations. In this way, the Kursfahrt Oberstufe becomes an unforgettable learning experience.
Destinations in Focus: How to Choose the Perfect Destination
Selecting the right destination is crucial for the success of an upper school course trip. Germany and Europe offer a variety of attractive destinations with different thematic focuses. CTS Reisen offers over 400 destinations in Germany, Europe, and the USA, ideal for tailored school trips.
Germany: History, Culture and Natural Sciences
In Germany, Berlin attracts with its rich history and culture. Visiting historical sites such as the Brandenburg Gate, the Reichstag, or the East Side Gallery provides an intensive exploration of the German division and reunification. For students interested in the sciences, a visit to the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden or other scientific collections and exhibitions is recommended. These experiences help illustrate and deepen the theoretical knowledge from classes.
Europe: Renaissance, Languages and Nature Experiences
Europe also has much to offer: In Italy, you can experience the Renaissance in Florence, Rome, and Venice, exploring the art, architecture, and history of this era. A language stay in Spain allows students to improve their language skills, experience cultural activities, and engage in intercultural exchange. Those seeking nature experiences will find Croatia ideal: national parks, coastal landscapes, and islands invite exploration. Environmental protection and sustainability projects, such as a microplastic project, raise students' awareness of the importance of responsible interaction with nature.
Criteria for the Optimal Destination
When selecting the optimal destination, you should consider the curriculum connections, learning objectives, and student interests. Develop a clear thematic focus for the trip and consider the individual needs and interests of the students. This ensures that the upper school course trip becomes an unforgettable and educational experience.
Budget Planning: How to Optimally Finance Your Course Trip
Funding a senior class trip is often a challenge, but with proper planning and strategy, you can successfully cover the costs. There are various funding options you can use to realize your study trip.
Overview of Funding Opportunities
Government grants like the Education and Participation Package or Federal Council subsidies can offer important financial support. Learn about the respective requirements and application procedures to make optimal use of these funding opportunities. Both school and extracurricular support, such as from school support associations or fundraising activities, can contribute to funding the senior class trip. The youth hostel also provides information and support in planning and financing trips for senior classes.
Innovative Fundraising Strategies
To reduce costs, you can promote student initiatives, such as organizing benefit events, flea markets, or bake sales. Let your creativity run free and develop innovative money-raising ideas. Transparent cost planning and budget control are essential to keep track of finances. Create a detailed cost plan and continuously monitor expenses. This ensures that your senior class trip is financially stable.
Perfecting Organisation: Tips for Teachers on Planning School Trips
A successful upper school trip requires careful organisation and planning. From choosing the travel operator to creating a safety plan, there are many aspects to consider. We provide you with valuable tips to ensure your study trip runs smoothly.
Selecting a Travel Operator: What to Look Out For
When choosing a suitable travel operator, you should pay attention to criteria such as experience, safety standards, programme quality, and customer feedback. Aventerra is an example of a specialised provider that offers experiential educational study trips and school trips for upper school students. Weigh up the pros and cons of individual travel planning against package deals and adapt the trip to the specific needs of your group. Planning a trip to Berlin, for example, requires different considerations than a trip to Italy.
Safety First: Risk Management and Emergency Plans
The safety of your students is a top priority. Develop a comprehensive safety plan with emergency procedures, contact information, and health information. Obtain parental consent and clarify the responsibilities of teachers and travel operators. Familiarise yourself with necessary insurance, such as travel health insurance and liability insurance. This way, you are well-prepared and can minimise any potential risks.
Utilising Experiential Education: Promoting Personal Development on School Trips
Experiential education plays a central role in upper school excursions. It enhances students' self-efficacy and independent thinking through hands-on experiences outside the classroom. We show you how to optimally utilise experiential education to foster your students' personal development.
Experiential Education: More Than Just an Adventure
Experiential activities like mountain tours, Alpine crossings, Alpine camps, and bikepacking tours offer students the chance to experience their limits and expand their skills. At the same time, environmental awareness and social responsibility are strengthened by promoting responsible interaction with nature. Organisations like Aventerra support socially disadvantaged children by enabling them to participate in experiential education programmes.
Qualified Support: Experiential Educators as Guides
Qualified experiential educators can individually support students and promote their personal development processes. They boost students' self-confidence and social skills, thus contributing to positive group dynamics. Through professional guidance, the upper school excursion becomes a valuable experience that has a lasting impact on students.
Sustainable school trips: Strengthening environmental awareness and carbon neutrality
Sustainability and CO2-neutral travel are becoming increasingly important, even for sixth form trips. We show you how to make your study trip environmentally friendly and contribute to climate protection.
Choosing environmentally friendly means of transport
The choice of transport has a significant impact on the environmental footprint of your sixth form trip. Train travel is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly and comfortable alternative to flights and bus journeys with high CO2 emissions. CTS Reisen, for example, focuses on CO2-neutral transport and offers attractive deals for train travel. Find out about the different options and choose the most environmentally friendly mode of transport for your trip.
Sustainable accommodation and activities
When selecting accommodation, focus on sustainability and choose eco-friendly hotels and guesthouses. Similarly, when it comes to activities, you can focus on sustainability and, for example, participate in projects on environmental protection and sustainability. In doing so, you raise your students' awareness of the importance of responsible interaction with nature and make a contribution to protecting our environment.
Digital Learning Formats: Leveraging Innovative Technologies for Course Trips
Digitalisation offers many opportunities to make upper secondary school trips even more interesting and educational. We will show you how to effectively integrate digital media and innovative learning formats into your study trip.
Use digital media effectively
Utilise apps for navigation, information, and communication to support your students during the upper secondary school trip. Online platforms can be used for pre- and post-trip activities to enhance learning success. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) offer the chance to supplement real experiences with virtual elements and enable simulations of historical events or scientific processes. This makes the upper secondary school trip an interactive and multimedia experience.
The future of school trips: Innovation and technology
The integration of digital media and innovative learning formats will significantly shape the future of upper secondary school trips. By using technology, you can convey teaching content in a new and exciting way and engage students with the subjects. Stay up to date with the latest developments and continually adapt your upper secondary school trip to the changing needs of the students.
Investment in the Future: School Trips as Valuable Learning Experiences
More useful links
The School Ministry NRW provides guidelines and information on school trips in North Rhine-Westphalia.
FAQ
What is the difference between a class trip and a course trip in the upper school?
Unlike traditional class trips, an upper school course trip focuses on theme-specific content and study trips that supplement and deepen classroom learning. The emphasis is on subject-related learning experiences.
What legal framework must I consider when planning a course trip in NRW?
In NRW, there are specific guidelines for school trips that define both room for manoeuvre and legal requirements. The guidelines of the NRW Ministry of Education provide an important foundation here. Additionally, a business travel permit is required.
How can I ensure funding for an upper school course trip?
In addition to the travel expense funds of the school supervisory authorities and the schools' available budget, you can also acquire third-party funds and utilise innovative fundraising strategies. State subsidies like the Education and Participation Package can also provide vital financial support.
Which destinations are particularly suitable for an upper school course trip?
Germany and Europe offer a variety of attractive destinations. In Germany, for instance, Berlin attracts with its rich history and culture. In Italy, you can experience the Renaissance in Florence, Rome, and Venice. Spain is excellent for a language stay.
How can I ensure the course trip is optimally integrated into the curriculum?
A successful course trip is characterised by a close integration into the curriculum. Interdisciplinary and theme-specific offerings enable the deepening of teaching content in a practical and experience-oriented way. Use offerings tailored to different subjects.
What role does experiential education play in upper school course trips?
Experiential education plays a central role as it promotes self-efficacy and independent thinking among students through hands-on experiences outside the classroom. Experiential activities like mountain tours or environmental projects allow students to test their limits and expand their capabilities.
How can I design a course trip to be sustainable and CO2 neutral?
Choose environmentally friendly modes of transport like train travel and consider sustainability when selecting accommodations. Engage in local environmental protection and sustainability projects.
Which digital learning formats can I integrate into a course trip?
Utilise apps for navigation, information, and communication to support your students during the course trip. Online platforms can be used for pre- and post-trip preparation. Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) offer the opportunity to enhance real experiences with virtual elements.
