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A virtual field trip is a powerful way to bring exciting, real-world experiences into your preschool classroom—without ever leaving the building. Whether you're exploring a zoo, museum, or even outer space, these digital adventures allow young learners to see and interact with the world in fun, age-appropriate ways. Especially when in-person outings aren’t practical, virtual field trips offer a flexible, cost-effective solution that still inspires curiosity, creativity, and connection to your curriculum.
In this article, we'll discuss virtual field trips, their benefits, creative trip ideas, and how to plan them.
What is a virtual field trip?
A virtual field trip is a guided, digital experience using multimedia, such as video, images, animation, and sounds. Although virtual field trips have been around for years, the rise of remote learning has created a greater need for them. Virtual field trips offer children enriching and educational experiences with varying types of involvement and topics. For example, some virtual field trips are interactive to create an immersive learning experience for the children. They can focus on various subjects, including science, history, geography, and more.
The benefits of a virtual field trip
Virtual field trips offer a range of benefits to preschoolers and educators.
Learning meets entertainment
Virtual field trips combine education with fun, making them a powerful tool for engaging preschoolers. Children are more likely to absorb new information when they’re having fun, and these digital experiences offer just that—through videos, interactive tours, and virtual exploration of exciting topics.
Accessible to all children
Because virtual field trips can be experienced from home or the classroom, they eliminate many traditional barriers. Children can “visit” places they might never see in person due to financial, physical, or geographical limitations. This helps ensure that all students—regardless of background—have equal access to enriching learning opportunities.
Flexible and easy to schedule
With no need to arrange transportation, chaperones, or permission slips, virtual field trips are easy to plan. Educators can schedule them during regular class time or as part of a flexible learning plan. They can even be paused and resumed to fit attention spans and classroom needs.
Cost-effective for schools and families
Traditional field trips can be expensive for schools and families. Virtual field trips remove the financial burden while still offering exciting, meaningful experiences. There’s no cost for buses, meals, or entry fees—just a simple internet connection.
Encourages deeper engagement
Virtual destinations often include detailed activities, guided walkthroughs, and hands-on learning tools. Whether students are exploring a zoo, an aquarium, or a space center, they can dive deeper into the subject matter. This immersive approach helps spark curiosity, boost comprehension, and support academic growth.
Virtual field trip examples
There are many options for exciting and engaging virtual field trips. Some examples include:
- The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History: The Smithsonian offers virtual tours that allow visitors to take self-guided, room-by-room tours of select exhibits and areas within the museum from their desktop or mobile device. They can also access select collections, research areas, and past exhibits that are no longer on display.
- NASA: Children can gain an out-of-this-world experience through NASA's International Space Station Tour. They'll learn what daily life is like for astronauts who live and work in space.
- Yellowstone National Park: The National Park Service allows visitors to virtually experience the wonders of one of the most popular parks in the United States. This virtual tour lets you and your children see amazing wonders like the Mammoth Hot Spots, the Fountain Paint Pot, and the Old Faithful geyser.
- Great Wall of China: Children can get a dose of culture and explore one of the wonders of the world. Through Google Arts and Culture, you and your children can virtually walk the Great Wall of China, including 360-degree views and interesting architectural details about the landmark.
- The zoo: If your lesson plan includes a section about animals, there are several online options for zoo experiences. Your children can learn about polar bears and pandas through engaging live webcams such as the Kansas City Zoo Polar Bear Cam and the Giant Panda Cam at Smithsonian's National Zoo.
- Discovery Education: If you're looking for a hands-on field trip from the comfort and convenience of the classroom, then Discovery Education is a great resource. They have multiple virtual field trips every month covering a variety of topics.
How to plan a virtual field trip
If you want to bring thrilling and engaging experiences to your children in the classroom, then it's time to plan a virtual field trip. You can easily integrate them into your lesson plans as an extension of your activities and to bring excitement to the topic. Some tips for planning and structuring your virtual field trip include:
Connect the trip to your curriculum
Ensure that there's a clear connection to the lesson and goals to create an experience that's meaningful and relevant. For example, a virtual zoo field trip is a good match if you're teaching a unit on animals.
Reach out to the museum or park directly
If you have a place and topic in mind for your virtual field trip, don't hesitate to reach out to them to see if they're willing to talk to the children virtually about a specific topic.
Prepare accordingly
To introduce the field trip's topic to the children, create an activity beforehand. This will give them some background knowledge before diving into the virtual experience.
Additionally, while these trips may not require you to leave the classroom, keeping families in the loop about upcoming virtual field trips is still a good idea. While a permission slip may not be necessary, you can include information about the trip in messages to families or a monthly newsletter. A tool like brightwheel's communication feature offers an easy-to-use solution for messaging parents and distributing newsletters.
Identify what the children need to know
Before the virtual field trip, determine what knowledge the children should gain. Come up with a list of questions they can ask if there's a live expert during the trip. You can also have the children complete a KWL chart to identify what they know and what they want to know about a particular topic before the journey begins.
Discuss and reflect
Set aside time to review the virtual field trip afterwards and discuss what they learned. You can also extend the learning into another lesson or activity. This can also be discussed using a KWL chart to revisit and reflect on their learning.
A fun and exciting trip is just a click away
Now that you know more about planning and conducting a virtual field trip, it's time to bring the experience to your classroom. Whether you're pressed for time or don't have the resources to travel physically, a virtual field trip can take your children on the adventure of a lifetime. It's a great way to teach them while keeping them entertained and engaged.
Frequently asked questions about virtual field trips
What is a virtual field trip?
A virtual field trip is an online experience that allows children to explore new places through videos, interactive tours, live streams, and web-based resources. These digital excursions are often designed to be educational and age-appropriate, making them ideal for preschoolers.
How do I plan a virtual field trip for preschoolers?
Start by choosing a theme or destination that supports your curriculum—like animals, space, or nature. Then, select a platform or website that offers engaging multimedia (e.g., videos, 360° tours, or live cams). Prepare your classroom with discussion prompts, pre-trip activities, and follow-up projects to make the experience meaningful.
What are the benefits of virtual field trips?
Virtual field trips are cost-effective, accessible, and easy to customize. They eliminate transportation concerns, support differentiated learning, and expose young children to places and concepts they might not otherwise experience—like the ocean floor or the International Space Station.
Do virtual field trips require special equipment?
Not necessarily. Most virtual field trips can be accessed through a computer or tablet with internet access. Some experiences may be enhanced with smartboards, projectors, or VR headsets, but they aren’t required for a successful experience.
Can I take my class on a live virtual field trip?
Yes! Many museums, zoos, and cultural institutions offer live-streamed tours or sessions with educators. These real-time experiences add interaction and excitement, giving children the chance to ask questions and engage with guides during the trip.
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