There are tons of great opportunities for field trips in math. By getting out of the classroom students are able to see how math applies to the real world, and practice skills in a genuine way. You don't have to go far to have a math field trip, you can have a meaningful lesson at a local bank, kitchen or playground. There are also great formal math field trips- check out four of them below! Or, if you'd like, check out our searchable database of NYC field trips here to find the perfect one.
The New York Botanical Garden
Numbers in Nature
The Numbers in Nature workshop encourages students in grades 2-5 to answer the question: “What mathematical relationships can you find in the plant world”? In this workshop, students have the opportunity to “observe and sketch plants and their parts to discover patterns, series, and shapes that help them grow.”
Level: Grades 2-5
Cost: $165 per class, scholarships available
Duration: 1.5 hours
The Cathedral of St. John the Divine
The Geometry Tour and Geometry Arts Workshop
The Geometry Tour and Workshop at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine gives students a chance to understand first hand how geometry impacts architecture. On the tour, students will discover geometric shapes and principles within the Cathedral’s design and examine the importance of mathematical relationships that create stability and beauty throughout the building.
Level: Grades K-8
Cost: $8 per person
Duration: 1-2 hours
The Museum of Mathematics:
From Prussia, with Math!
In the From Prussia, with Math! field trip “Students are introduced to graph theory via the original problem it was developed to solve: taking a scenic stroll over all seven of the bridges of Königsburg, Prussia.” This collaborative task helps students in grades 4-12 develop a foundation in graphing, and understand why graphs work the way they do.
Level: Grades 4-12
Cost: $325
Duration: 1.5 hours
The Queens Museum
Junior Bridge Engineer and Suspension Bridge
During the Queens Museum's Junior Bridge Engineer and Suspension Bridge field trips students in grades 2 through 6 are able to learn about the math and science behind bridges. Using the Panorama of the City of New York as a starting point, students discover how bridges are built, then have the chance to work in groups to build their own.
Level: Grades 2-6
Cost: $225
Duration: 2 hours
Bonus: In Your Backyard!
The Playground
If you’re looking for a quick and easy math field trip, take students from kindergarten through 6th grade out to the playground to practice measurement, area and perimeter. With a ruler, students can practice measuring height and width of different playground structures in centimeters and meters as well as inches, feet and yards. They can figure out the perimeter and area of play surfaces. Older students can draw blueprints of the playground and even create their own!
Do you have a favorite math field trip? Be sure to leave it in the comments below!
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