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 too- check out four of them below!
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 Morgan Library & Museum
Off the Wall Math, Geometry and Architecture at the Morgan
The Off the Wall Math, Geometry and Architecture at the Morgan encourages students to take a deep look at quadrilaterals and how they are represented in parts of the Morgan’s collection as well as within the architecture of the building itself. Depending on the needs of the group, student activities range from identifying and drawing different types of quadrilaterals, to solving simple equations relating to the facade of the building.
Level: Grades 2-5
Cost: Free!
Duration: 1.5 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!