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Hello, I am currently in the process of planning for my middle school's field trip. I will like to take them to a new place that will allow them to experience and observe Science in a new way. Do any other teachers from Illinois know of any great locations to go visit? All suggestions wiill be greatly appreciated.

Chicago has such an incredible array of science resources! What emphases do you have in your curriculum? Are you trying to focus on technology, or natural science, physical science, etc? I live in southern Wisconsin, and we often bring our students to Chicago. One class went to Six Flags after studying force and motion. There are some excellent tie-ins for roller coasters and amusement part rides, including 'The Physics of Roller Coasters' at the TeachEngineering site http://www.teachengineering.org/view_lesson.php?url=collection/duk_/lessons/duk_rollercoaster_music_less/duk_rollercoaster_music_less.xml or the JASON Project Coaster Creator curriculum. Six Flags may even offer support - it seems that they did participate in the event with the students.

Also, what kind of a budget are you working with? That will also have some bearing on the suggestions that might be offered.

That would be my vote, but there are so many options.

Hi Jurema,
Jennifer makes a good point asking what you are teaching right now. That might influence where you decide to go. The Museum of Science and Industry is my all time favorite. You can find exhibits there for so many different curricular/content connections. The website is filled with help, too. I have also taken my students on field trips to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. All of these world class organizations have an education department and field trip information available on line. Their education departments have field trip guides your students can use while they are exploring and learning on the day of their field trip, too!
You and your students are so lucky to be so close to so many great places!
Carolyn

I LOVE the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago! Here is a link to their education programs: http://www.msichicago.org/education/ The Museum offers an activity called m.stories that is a great combination of science and writing, especially in consideration of the new Common Core Learning Standards in language arts. Here is a link to that activity: http://www.msichicago.org/mstories/index.html They even have an online science experience: http://www.msichicago.org/online-science/

I worked at the Field Museum and the Chicago Botanic garden before becoming a teacher and both of these institutions are fantastic. Another hidden gem is the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum. It is located on the campus of Benedictine University and although it is quite small and intimate, students can get up close and see specimens out in the open... and it is FREE to get inside!! Here is the link: http://www1.ben.edu/museum/ I designed and built some of the exhibitions here so I know they are exceptional :) I also have been thinking about a field trip sometime to the Indiana Dunes. It is nearby Chicago and they have done a great deal in signage and education of this unique area.

I really enjoy the Chicago Botanic Garden. The gardens are open year round. Of particular interest to me is the enabling garden - in which the CBG presents ways that all people, regardless of ability, can enjoy gardening and plants. This would be a wonderful way to present the concept of biophilia to students. Also, all the plants have markers and identifiers. The CBG also has educational resources for the public and teachers. This is a reasonably priced field trip, too. Good Luck! http://www.chicagobotanic.org/ctl/