From local field trips to excursions abroad —The many benefits of learning beyond the classroom
Print Edition
School trips give children wonderful educational experiences away from their daily classroom environment. The chance to venture into the big city, away to the countryside, or even to another country is an exciting opportunity for students. Not only do school trips provide students with a sense of independence, they also add to their in-class studies with real cultural, historical, and social contexts.
According to a study conducted by the UK Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services, and Skills, “Learning outside the classroom contributes significantly to … improving pupils’ personal, social, and emotional development.” In addition to these benefits, Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) integrates hands-on learning with travel on a local, China-wide, and international scale to also provide students with further cultural insight.
Starting close to home
with big benefits
Shanghai is a historical and cultural gem, and local field trips that are integrated into schools’ curricula are a great way for students to explore the fantastic city they call home. At YCIS, regularly scheduled field trips to key attractions around Shanghai allow students to delve further into their studies. Trips this year have included a Year 12 IB Art trip to the Power Station of Art Museum for an exhibit on modern Chinese art, a Year 8 trip to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum to enhance students’ scientific studies on energy and force, and a Year 5 trip to an Apple store that was directly connected to the students’ technology integration coursework.
As YCIS has a strong emphasis on Chinese language and culture acquisition, local field trips are another way to bring the classroom learning to life. Recently, Year 4 students from the Hongqiao campus visited Shanghai’s Grand View Garden to complement their Chinese Studies unit on fengshui. Holly Zhang, the students’ Chinese co-teacher who helped coordinate the trip, says, “In class, students gained a basic understanding of fengshui and how to apply it to location and furniture. In order to gain further understanding, we visited the historical garden.”
Truly experiencing a country helps bridge cultural connections
Living in the magnificent and massive country of China puts students in close proximity to a wealth of diverse cultural experiences. To make the most of students’ time here, YCIS immerses Secondary students in the cultures of regions throughout China for one week each year through its Education Outside of the Classroom (EOTC) program.
EOTC trips connect directly with the students’ classwork, but also require extensive reflection once the trip concludes. Through the EOTC program, students have an abundance of unique experiences including history and art lessons by visiting the terracotta warriors in Xi’an, experiences in traditional Chinese culture in rural Guizhou, and lessons in environmental studies and eco-tourism in Moganshan.
However, EOTC is not only about taking in what China has to offer, it also involves giving back. During the trips, students have conducted community service projects like building a fishpond for fish farmers, and have visited schools in rural areas to teach lessons in subjects such as English, art, and music. Sangitha, a Year 11 student at the Century Park campus, visited a school outside of Beijing during an EOTC trip earlier this school year. She says, “From teaching at a local school in a tiny village, to sleeping on the Great Wall underneath a sky full of stars, the trip was truly a once in a lifetime experience. My favorite part of the trip was teaching a kindergarten class at a local school, and the experience was unforgettable.”
Seeing the world with an international perspective
Shanghai is already a hub of internationalism, and students at YCIS interact daily with classmates from nearly every part of the globe on campus. However, to help guide students on their journeys to becoming global-minded citizens, YCIS’s World Classroom program takes learning internationally.
Through World Classroom, students aged 12-16 travel to countries such as India, Spain, Sri Lanka, the Czech Republic, the US, and Tanzania. Through these carefully planned trips, students develop social skills, an appreciation of culture and different world views, and a heart for community service. As just one example of their authentic worldwide exchange, the YCIS students who traveled to Tanzania last year visited a local school where they exchanged cultural demonstrations, including eating customs. The YCIS students showed the Tanzanian children how to use chopsticks, and subsequently learned about the eating traditions of the Masai tribe.
Another unique part of the World Classroom program is that it’s shared with students from all YCIS locations throughout China. Ellie, a Year 9 student from the Gubei campus recently attended the trip to Sri Lanka. She comments, “One of my favorite moments from the trip was bonding with new friends. I got to know many new people from different backgrounds that I never would have met had I not joined this trip.”
No matter the distance traveled, a meaningful trip awakens the senses and broadens the mind. By providing students with a host of opportunities beyond the classroom, with a social, cultural, and educational focus, schools help students gain lifelong lessons and experiences that stay with them as they develop a sense of purpose and perspective in their own lives.
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