Field Trips

Course work in the Stonehill curriculum requires students to learn through real world problems and have real world experiences. Extended, and often overnight, field trips are an essential component of learning, especially for the higher grades in subjects like biology, geography and economics. They provide realistic opportunities to demonstrate the interconnectedness of learning.

Teachers from different disciplines work collaboratively to gather data from field trips for research and graded course work.

For example, a trip to an offshore island would give students an opportunity to investigate the ecology of an offshore reef, the mangrove forest in the littoral zone and the rainforest inland. The humanities teacher could direct inquiry into the economic and social patterns characteristic of island life and the economics instructor could investigate the local hotel industry for its use of resources and impact on the environment.

For Grades M1 to D2, Stonehill will develop an annual field work trip each academic year. These expeditions will be an integral part of the assessed curriculum. Data collected and research produced will be graded and used for reports that will be assessed both internally and externally. Parent support for attendance on these trips is critical for students to gain the maximum benefit.

The units of inquiry in Primary School are often supported by day trips to visit local places of interest where students can actively gather information and conduct research.