Anyone use their travels as an educational tool for...

I'm not sure what I mean by 'structure' either ;)
Wow, it does sound like you've got a great program going! Good for you, I am sure the kids love it.
I keep hearing that important USA historical moment seem to be getting less and less time in our education system, and wondered if people are finding a way to still introduce it in schools.

My grandchildren are home schoolers and when they go with me we make it educational and they get credit for it.

I'm still wrestling with that. I don't mind sharing and would love for it to impact more children, but I may have near 1,000 hours of time invested. Several other teachers have commented how valuable they are and to be careful about how public I go without protecting it. I really don't know what they mean and have paused from sharing until I can learn more.

I gave a presentation at a tech conference last summer and did share my technique with hundreds of other teachers. Some of those have emailed to ask questions from time to time. Our school district is gradually moving to one to one devices for all students (my school has it now) and using tech in this fashion is one way to take advantage of that.

Having my lessons in this fashion has essentially multiplied myself in the classroom. I teach most lessons through the videos. This does several things. It allows students to progress through projects and activities at their own pace. It also allows me to work one on one, targeting students that need the extra attention. For my high fliers, completing work quickly becomes a goal, so that they can participate in the writing/filming/editing of the next episode.

I'm not sure what you're looking for? What do you mean by "structure"?

Wow, sounds cool! Do you pass this on to other teachers ? Does anyone else but your class benefit? I guess I am looking for any structure to some 'hands on' education, like you are doing?

Interesting thread! I've spent the better part of my energy in the last 2-3 years doing exactly this.

I'm a middle school Science teacher. I have made dozens of videos "on location" teaching lessons!

I teach a unit on plants. I have a half our show with video, pictures, labels, music, interviews with experts, etc. that shows me walking up on examples of all that we learn. They're filmed on location from various trips that we've taken.

I teach an energy unit, and have a show of my young boys (middle school aged themselves) taking a tour of the Glen Canyon Dam. The students really enjoy this one!

I don't have Geology in my current grade level, but our trip to the Southwest 2 years ago was perfect for those standards. We followed the Colorado river basin the entire trip!

The concept has expanded into a periodic talk show that the students themselves film and star in with me. Our school has built us a small studio with green screen for this purpose.

I have activities planned in class that go along with the video series. This way, the videos become resources that they refer back to many times. More than just a movie to watch.

The movies serve two purposes besides teaching my standards. First, I work in a Title 1 school. Nearly 100% of my students are in poverty and haven't traveled more than an hour from home. So I get to take them along and open the world for them! Second, movie making has become a hobby. I enjoy the filming, but especially the editing.

This summer we are heading to Yellowstone and Glacier. Hoping to film some great things for our animal unit!

Thanks for the replies. I am not a teacher and don't have any young ones in a school. So do the teachers in the group here do a 'video/slideshow' while they are at specific sites so you can use it for class? do you share it with other teachers as a teaching tool?

Jayco23FB wrote:
My wife teaches 4th grade. They study Lewis and Clark in history so this year we will be all over the west to see those sites.

That's going to be fun. If you don't have it yet, you can order "Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark" by Fifer and Soderberg. It is somewhat dated but all the info still applies, of course, including maps and CG info.

One good campground on their trail is Lewis & Clark State Park in Onawa, Iowa, where you can camp right by the water. Another one we enjoyed was American Creek CG in Chamberlain, SD right on the Missouri.

It's great to climb up Pompey's Pillar to see Clark's signature carved in the rock in Montana.

Next year we hope to go to the Pacific end of their journey.

My wife teaches also we always find something to do see the she takes lots of pictures she has gotten several places have given her stuff to take back to her class for her kids

My wife teaches 4th grade. They study Lewis and Clark in history so this year we will be all over the west to see those sites.

That music link looks good, thanks for sharing. I have never done music with video, so will try it out.
Yes, I was thinking of adding local info or interesting facts.