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school trip Stone Age
School trip to the Stone Age: The most exciting prehistoric adventures for your class!
Take your class on a fascinating journey into the past! The Stone Age offers countless opportunities for exciting and educational excursions. Discover prehistoric tools, experience the lives of our ancestors up close, and create an unforgettable trip. Do you need help planning your bespoke school trip? Find more information in our article on anodizing.
The topic, briefly and concisely
A school trip to the Stone Age offers a unique opportunity to bring history to life and ignite students' interest in prehistoric topics.
The careful planning of a Stone Age school trip includes the selection of the right excursion destination, budget planning, and educational preparation in lessons to maximise learning success.
Innovative concepts such as mobile museums and digital additions can make the Stone Age school trip even more exciting, while considering funding, accessibility, and motivation ensures successful execution and can increase interest in history by up to 30%.
Plan an extraordinary school trip to the Stone Age! Find the best museums, experiential villages and workshops for an educational adventure. Get inspired now!
A school trip to the Stone Age offers an excellent opportunity to bring history to life and spark your students' interest in prehistoric topics. Visiting museums, archaeological sites, and interactive experience villages allows students to experience firsthand the lifestyle, tools, and technologies of Stone Age people. These excursions not only foster understanding of early human development but also encourage reflection on technological advancements and our current way of life. Take this chance to offer your students hands-on history!
Why a Stone Age school trip is educationally valuable
The educational value of a Stone Age school trip is immense. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, making learning more sustainable. Students can track the development of tools and technologies and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and achievements of Stone Age people. Engaging with the past also promotes the ability to critically reflect on current social and technological developments. Practical experience and critical thinking are ideally combined here.
Age-appropriate learning objectives for every target group
The content and activities of a Stone Age excursion should be age-appropriately adapted to optimally meet the needs and abilities of the students. In primary school, playful discovery and experience are emphasized, while in secondary school, a deeper engagement with historical and archaeological contexts is sought. The learning objectives include knowledge of the Stone Age epochs (Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic), understanding the development of tools and technologies, as well as insights into the lifestyle and social structures of Stone Age people. Such a trip can also help spark interest in archaeology and history, encouraging students to engage in further research. Adapt the content to the age and spark your students' curiosity about the Stone Age!
Stone Age excursion destinations: Here's how to find the best locations for unforgettable time travel!
For a successful Stone Age school trip, choosing the right excursion destination is crucial. There are numerous museums, archaeological sites, and experience villages suitable for visits with school classes. When making your selection, you should consider various criteria such as geographical location, thematic focus, available learning opportunities, and suitability for the respective age group. Consider the individual needs of your students and choose the right destination for a successful excursion.
Recommendations for Exciting Time Travel Destinations
In Switzerland, for instance, the pile dwelling area on Lake Biel (Lüscherz, Gletterens), the Archaeological Learning Path Wauwilermoos, the Stone Age Learning Site Oberwangen (Stone Age Learning Site), the Laténium (Neuchâtel), and the Museum of Prehistory Zug are available. In Germany, the Neanderthal Museum (Mettmann) and the Pfahlbaumuseum Unteruhldingen are popular destinations. The PHBern offers a comprehensive list of excursion destinations suitable for a Stone Age school trip. This list includes various regions in Switzerland and neighbouring countries and offers a variety of learning opportunities. Take advantage of the diverse offerings and plan an unforgettable journey into the past.
Checklist: How to Choose the Perfect Excursion Destination
When choosing an excursion destination, you should consider the travel time and costs and check if there is good access to public transport. Also, pay attention to the authenticity of the findings and reconstructions, as well as the availability of workshops, guided tours, and interactive offerings. It is important that the content and activities are tailored to the needs of the respective age group. The Stone Age Learning Site offers, for instance, a workshop that is integrated into the curriculum 'Nature-Human-Environment' and is particularly suitable for younger students. The Neanderthal Museum offers special programmes for schools that are aligned with the curricula of various types of schools. This ensures your Stone Age excursion will be a complete success! Check the accessibility, pay attention to authenticity, and tailor the content to maximise learning success.
Budget, timetable, booking: How to successfully plan your Stone Age school trip!
Careful planning and organisation is essential for a successful Stone Age school trip. This includes creating a detailed budget, setting a timeline, and timely registration and booking of tours and workshops. Good preparation helps to avoid unforeseen events and provides students with an optimal learning experience. Plan carefully to avoid stress and ensure an optimal learning experience.
Budget planning: Keep costs under control
When planning your budget, consider entrance fees, transport costs, the costs of workshops and tours, as well as meals and accommodation (if necessary). It is advisable to compare different offers and ask about possible discounts for school classes. Some museums and archaeological sites offer special funding programmes for school trips that you can take advantage of. The Neanderthal Museum, for example, provides information about the 'Heimat-Touren NRW' programme, which can cover the transport costs for school classes. Compare offers, ask about discounts and make use of funding programmes to make the most of your budget.
Schedule: Structure for a smooth process
Set a detailed schedule for the Stone Age excursion that considers the duration of the excursion, breaks and rest periods as well as buffer times for unforeseen events. Allow enough time for arrival and departure and check the opening times of the respective facilities. Some venues, like the Gletterens Pile Dwelling Village, have seasonal opening times that you need to consider when planning. The PHBern list contains information on access to various locations via public transport, which makes planning easier. Consider opening times, plan buffer times and use public transport to optimise the process.
Registration and booking: Secure the best spots
Reserve tours and workshops early to ensure they are available at the desired times. Contact the providers and clarify all details regarding content, duration, and costs. For some locations, such as tours in the Wauwilermoos, booking via the ur.kultour association is required. Early planning and booking helps to avoid stress and ensures that the Stone Age school trip runs smoothly. Book early, clarify all details and avoid stress through timely planning.
Lesson content: How to optimally prepare your students for the Stone Age school trip!
A well-prepared pedagogical approach in lessons is crucial to offer students the best possible learning experience on a Stone Age school trip. By teaching theoretical foundations and engaging in practical exercises, students can be prepared for visits to museums and archaeological sites, helping them to better process the insights gained. Prepare your students to maximise the learning experience and solidify knowledge sustainably.
Theoretical Foundations: Conveying Knowledge about the Stone Age
Begin with an introduction to the Stone Age, explaining its chronological context and the different periods (Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic). Present significant finds and archaeological sites, and explain the importance of tools and technologies for the development of humanity. Students should develop a basic understanding of the lifestyle and social structures of Stone Age people, including hunting and gathering as well as settlement forms and community life. The Britannica provides a comprehensive overview of the Stone Age and its various periods. Explain the periods, present significant finds, and convey a fundamental understanding of the Stone Age.
Practical Exercises: Hands-on Stone Age Experience in the Classroom
Supplement the theoretical lessons with practical exercises that provide students with a tactile understanding of the Stone Age. Have students make simple stone tools (e.g., hand axes) or build models of Stone Age dwellings. Role-playing can help depict everyday life in the Stone Age vividly and enable students to immerse themselves in the mindset of people from that era. The Day Project – Stone Age Project offers various modules suitable for practical exercises in the classroom, such as making Stone Age knives or using the Stone Age sling. Build tools, construct dwellings, and reenact daily life to make the Stone Age tangible.
Teaching Materials: Resources for a Lively Design
Utilise various teaching materials and resources to provide students with a comprehensive picture of the Stone Age. Worksheets, videos, and interactive exercises can make learning more varied and interesting. Some museums and archaeological sites offer special educational materials that can be used for preparation. The Neanderthal Museum offers downloadable teaching materials and a museum kit for use in the classroom. This ensures the Stone Age school trip is optimally prepared! Utilise worksheets, show videos, and use interactive exercises to create varied lessons.
Tours, explorations, interaction: How to make the Stone Age school trip unforgettable!
The execution of the School Trip to the Stone Age offers a variety of opportunities to provide students with an unforgettable learning experience. By participating in guided tours and workshops, independently exploring the site, and integrating interactive elements, students can deepen their knowledge and enhance their skills. It is important to carefully plan on-site activities and tailor them to the students' needs. Plan carefully to create an unforgettable learning experience and deepen the students’ knowledge.
Tours and Workshops: Knowledge Delivered by Experts
Take advantage of the tours and workshops offered to give students a comprehensive insight into the Stone Age. Ensure that students actively participate in the programs and ask questions. The tours and workshops should be tailored to the age group and knowledge level of the students. The Laténium, for instance, offers audio guides, tours, and workshops that can be integrated into the curriculum. The Stone Age Learning Centre provides a workshop oriented around the curriculum 'Nature-Man-Environment'. Utilise tours, participate in workshops, and adapt the programmes to the students to enhance learning success.
Independent Exploration: Encouraging Self-Responsibility
Allow students to explore the site independently, observe, and document finds and reconstructions. Provide them with worksheets and questionnaires to complete during their exploration. Independent exploration promotes students’ self-responsibility and critical thinking. The Archaeological Learning Path Wauwilermoos offers the opportunity to explore the surroundings on their own and document their finds. Encourage self-responsibility, provide worksheets, and enable independent exploration to foster critical thinking.
Interactive Elements: Learning Playfully and Reinforcing Knowledge
Integrate interactive elements such as games and competitions to make knowledge transfer enjoyable. Practical exercises like archery or fire-making can pique students’ interest and reinforce what they've learned. Ensure their safety by providing them with clear conduct rules for the site. Teachers are responsible for supervision and should be familiar with first aid. The Day Project – Stone Age Project offers various interactive elements such as Stone Age sling throwing or Stone Age archery. This makes the School Trip to the Stone Age a safe and exciting experience! Integrate games, offer practical exercises, and ensure safety to provide a thrilling and secure experience.
Consolidate knowledge, design projects: How to successfully follow up on the Stone Age school trip!
The follow-up of the Stone Age school trip in the classroom is just as important as the preparation and the trip itself. By reflecting on the experiences, deepening the knowledge, and creating creative projects, students can consolidate their learning and expand their skills. The follow-up should be tailored to the individual needs and interests of the students. Consolidate knowledge, promote creativity, and tailor the follow-up to the students to maximise learning success.
Reflection: Sharing experiences and insights
Start with a discussion about the insights and experiences gained. Compare theory with practice and assess the excursion together with the students. Students should have the opportunity to express their impressions and opinions and ask questions. Reflecting on the experiences helps students process what they have learned and integrate it into their everyday lives. Discuss experiences, compare theory and practice, and give students space for their opinions to process what they have learned.
Deepening Knowledge: Designing creative projects
Deepen students' knowledge by creating presentations and reports. Let them create models and drawings or conduct research on further topics. Encourage students' creativity by designing exhibitions and presentations or developing games and interactive learning materials. Students can also write stories and poems that deal with the Stone Age. The Mobile Landscape Museum (MOLAMU) offers various themes suitable for creative projects, such as 'Mammoth Hunters' or 'On Ötzi's Trail'. Create presentations, make models, and promote creativity to deepen knowledge.
Evaluation: Gathering feedback for future excursions
Evaluate the Stone Age excursion together with the students and gather feedback. Ask for suggestions for improvement and ideas for future excursions. The evaluation and feedback help to continuously improve the quality of the excursions and tailor them to the needs of the students. This makes the follow-up of the Stone Age school trip a valuable part of the learning process! Evaluate the excursion, collect feedback, and improve the quality to optimise the learning process.
Mobile Museums, Digital Learning Worlds: How to Design Innovative Stone Age School Trips!
Alongside traditional museums and archaeological sites, there are innovative concepts and expansions that can make a Stone Age school trip even more exciting and varied. These include mobile museums, digital enhancements, and themed projects that offer students a holistic learning experience. Utilise innovative concepts to make the school trip more exciting and enable a comprehensive learning experience.
Mobile Landscape Museum (MOLAMU): Bringing the Stone Age to Schools
The Mobile Landscape Museum (MOLAMU) offers 'hands-on Stone Age' – even on-site at schools. With themes like 'Mammoth Hunters', 'In Ötzi's Footsteps' and 'The Clan of the Cave Bear', MOLAMU enables students to experience the Stone Age up close. The museum brings its exhibits and offerings directly to schools, allowing students to engage with the Stone Age with all their senses. MOLAMU is aimed at schools, kindergartens, and other groups, offering programs for project days, school trips, and events. Bring the Stone Age to school and provide a hands-on experience with the Mobile Landscape Museum.
Digital Enhancements: Virtual Tours and Interactive Apps
Enhance the Stone Age excursion with digital elements such as virtual tours of archaeological sites, the use of apps and online resources, or the creation of digital learning materials. Virtual tours allow students to visit remote sites and gain detailed insights into finds and reconstructions. Apps and online resources provide additional information and interactive exercises that make learning more engaging. Creating digital learning materials enhances students' media literacy and enables them to present their knowledge creatively. Utilise virtual tours, use apps and online resources, and develop media literacy to enrich the learning experience.
Themed Projects: Experiencing the Stone Age with All Senses
Develop themed projects like Stone Age cooking classes, building a Stone Age garden, or reconstructing a Stone Age camp in the schoolyard. These projects allow students to experience the Stone Age with all their senses and showcase their creativity and craftsmanship. Students can prepare Stone Age dishes, grow plants used during that era, or recreate a Stone Age camp with a fireplace and shelters. Turning the Stone Age school trip into an unforgettable experience! Cook Stone Age dishes, build a Stone Age garden, and reconstruct a Stone Age camp to experience the Stone Age with all your senses.
Financing, accessibility, motivation: How to overcome the challenges of the Stone Age school trip!
When planning and conducting a Stone Age school trip, various challenges may arise, such as funding issues, logistical difficulties, or student motivation. It's important to identify these challenges early and develop solutions to make the excursion successful. Identify challenges early and develop solutions to ensure the success of the excursion.
Funding: Securing the financial basis for the Stone Age trip
Find out about funding programmes for school trips offered by foundations, companies, or government agencies. Look for sponsors willing to support the excursion financially. Organise fundraising events or ask parents for contributions. Careful budget planning and the use of various funding sources help cover the costs of the excursion. The Neanderthal Museum provides information about the 'Heimat-Touren NRW' programme, which can cover transport costs for school classes. Learn about funding programmes, look for sponsors, and organise fundraising events to secure funding.
Logistics and accessibility: Inclusion for all students
Plan the arrival and departure carefully, considering potential transport problems and long travel distances. Pay attention to the accessibility of facilities for students with disabilities. Adapt programmes to different learning types and consider the individual needs of students. Good organisation and consideration of the needs of all students help overcome logistical challenges and make the excursion accessible to everyone. Plan the arrival and departure carefully, ensure accessibility, and consider individual needs to ensure inclusion.
Motivation: Arousing and maintaining enthusiasm
Make the Stone Age excursion interesting and varied to boost student motivation. Involve students in the planning and execution and give them the opportunity to contribute their own ideas. Reward special achievements and recognise students' commitment. A motivating design of the excursion helps students learn with joy and process the knowledge gained sustainably. The MObiles LAndschaftsMUseum (MOLAMU) offers various topics suitable for a varied design, such as 'Mammoth Hunters' or 'In Ötzi's Footsteps'. Make the excursion interesting, involve students, and reward special achievements to foster motivation.
Education and the Future: Why Stone Age School Trips Are Indispensable!
More useful links
PHBern offers a comprehensive list of excursion destinations in Switzerland and neighbouring countries, suitable for a school trip to the Stone Age.
Neanderthal Museum provides special programmes and downloadable teaching materials for schools, tailored to the curricula of different educational systems.
Britannica offers an extensive overview of the Stone Age and its various periods.
MObiles LAndschaftsMUseum (MOLAMU) provides 'Hands-on Stone Age' with various themes and exhibits that can be brought directly into school.
FAQ
What makes a Stone Age school trip educationally valuable?
A Stone Age school trip combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience, making learning more sustainable. Pupils experience history hands-on and develop a deeper understanding of the challenges and achievements of Stone Age people.
Which excursion destinations are particularly suitable for a Stone Age school trip in Switzerland and Germany?
In Switzerland, the Pfahlbauland on Lake Biel (Lüscherz, Gletterens), the Archaeological Learning Trail Wauwilermoos, and the Steinzeit Learning Site Oberwangen are recommended. In Germany, the Neanderthal Museum (Mettmann) is a popular destination.
How do I best prepare my pupils for a Stone Age school trip?
Start with an introduction to the Stone Age, explain the chronological classification and the different epochs. Supplement the lessons with practical exercises, such as making simple stone tools.
What interactive elements can make a Stone Age school trip unforgettable?
Incorporate games and competitions to make learning playful. Practical exercises such as archery or fire-making can stimulate students' interest and deepen their learning.
How can I best follow up on the Stone Age school trip?
Start with a discussion about the gained insights and experiences. Deepen students' knowledge through the creation of presentations and projects.
What innovative concepts are there for Stone Age school trips?
Utilise mobile museums such as the MObiles LAndschaftsMUseum (MOLAMU), which offers 'Stone Age to touch' right at school. Enhance the excursion with digital elements like virtual tours.
How do I secure funding for a Stone Age school trip?
Inform yourself about funding programmes for school trips offered by foundations, companies, or government agencies. Look for sponsors or organise fundraising activities.
How can I increase pupils' motivation for a Stone Age school trip?
Make the trip interesting and varied, involve the students in the planning and execution, and give them the opportunity to contribute their own ideas.
