Interactive field studies programs provide students with authentic experiences using scientific practices and crosscutting concepts from the Next Generation Science Standards. Workshops and Field trip essentials sessions are provided to prepare teachers with lessons and materials that support learners for the field trip topics.
Phriendly Physics
Grades 1-5
Help your students think about and solve problems like scientists at the Phriendly Physics field trips at Fermilab. Each of the four Phriendly Physics field trips includes special hand-on activities at Lederman Science Center. Each field trip is designed to wrap up a unit of study with exciting activities serving as focal points for the exploration of a topic.
Insects at Work in Our World
Grades 1-2
Students investigate the important roles insects play and the benefits they provide humanity and ecosystems through three engaging hands-on outdoor explorations. Students are provided the opportunity to observe and study insects, using authentic tools in science, be apprentice entomologists, and learn about the need to protect insects and their environment.
Beauty and Charm at Fermilab
Grades 6-9
How do scientists work? How can we study things we can’t even see? Beauty and Charm at Fermilab is an activity-based program designed to introduce middle schoolers to particle physics. Beauty and Charm provides students with authentic experiences using scientific practices and crosscutting concepts from the Next Generation Science Standards.
Energy and Ecosystems: Prairie, Water, and Woods
Grades 6-9
Students will explore and compare the biodiversity of the prairie, woodland, and wetland ecosystems of Illinois in this field trip. They will learn the many services these ecosystems provide as they collect authentic data using scientific practices and field survey tools to expand their knowledge of the interdependent relationships of organisms and the effects of abiotic factors and human impacts on the organisms’ environment.
High school physical science field trip
Grades 9-12
Have your classroom get to know Fermilab’s facilities and research with our high school tours! These tours are designed to introduce students to particle physics and to help them understand some of the cutting-edge research that goes on at Fermilab. We provide a unique experience with the support of a Fermilab scientist/engineer and visits to some of our unique research facilities.
High school life science field trip
Grades 9-12
Students develop and enhance their knowledge and understanding of the concepts of soil, ecology, water, pollution, ecosystem services, and climate change through engaging field activities, using authentic scientific methods and tools to collect data in woodland, wetland, and prairie ecosystems. Students learn the value of stewardship as they participate in natural areas restoration supporting the ecological science of Fermilab to increase biodiversity, which creates resiliency to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Field trip essentials (for teachers)
Prerequisite: To fully prepare your students for a physical science or life science visit, teachers must participate in either a two-hour training session or a summer Teacher Workshop. These will give you all of the information and resources to implement engaging preparatory activities in the classroom that introduce the essential concepts, content, and logistics of the field trip. Your participation will allow your students to learn more about the research and ecology of Fermilab and to better appreciate their on-site experience.
Questions?
Contact Education and Public Engagement registrar at edreg@fnal.gov.