Any tips for a field trip to a pumpkin patch?
Few things are more “fall” than trips to the Pumpkin Patch, right? They rank right up there in this season’s royalty alongside pumpkin spice lattes (#PSL4Lyfe), flannel shirts, and Gilmore Girls.
Visiting them as a teacher on a field trip can be a different story. Nothing like taking a large herd of 6 year olds into an open field full of fragile produce, am I right?
Ok, actually… it’s not too bad! Here are some of my top tips for getting the most out of this quintessential fall field trip…
Top Tips for a Successful Pumpkin Patch Field Trip
1. DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Step one: Layers. Those farms are unpredictable when it comes to weather so make sure you are wearing something for when the sun is beating down and for when the wind kicks up. Speaking of wind, bring a ponytail holder and/or hat… and sunglasses while you’re at it. Speaking of sun, don’t forget the sunscreen. Finally, shoes - the closer to boots/tennis shoes, the better. You never know where a wandering 6 year old will take you so be prepared - those pumpkin patches can be mudddddy. Oh, and a water bottle - does that count as attire? (This one from Owala is leak proof which is a MUST). Bonus: Bring a wagon if you have one you can borrow!
2. PERMISSION SLIPS
While we’re at it, make sure that your permission slips include a heads up about students dressing for the weather, too! If you need an easy, editable version (with 30+ helpful pages), you can get your hands on mine here.
3. NAMETAGS
Make sure that all students have name tags that also include your name, school name, and a contact number for the school. That way, if they get separated from the group, all important informations is literally attached to them. (I go with colorful name tags so I can use one color per small group - helps the kids, tour guides, chaperones, AND me!) **P.S. Always bring a few backups!
4. PAINTERS TAPE (and a sharpie or two)
Take painters tape and a marker to label the pumpkins that students pick out with their names. I saw a teacher do this my first year and my life was changed. Also great for securing the stems that will inevitably break off when the pumpkin is dropped.
5. CHAPERONES
The pumpkin patch can be quite the large area to watch excited kiddos on the first field trip of the year. The more chaperones you can bring - the better! Assign chaperones to groups of 2-6 kids and play some man-to-man defense while at the patch. Bonus: the chaperones can also help with the pumpkin juggling.
5. FIRST AID KIT
Cuts and scrapes are bound to happen during your time on the farm. That’s why I always like to bring a First Aid Kit with materials like bandaids, wipes, gloves, tissues, hand sanitizer, bags for dirty clothes, etc.
6. TEACHER BAG FOR IT ALL
Of course, a bag to carry it ALL is a must. I prefer a backpack so I can remain hands-free. (Here’s a simple backpack that is water resistant, has a wide opening, and all the pockets you could ever need… oh, and plenty of 5 star reviews while staying affordable!) I also love this accordion style folder to keep me organized - CUTE and under $10!
7. BE PREPARED
Speaking of paperwork - This is one of those trips that sometimes involves the dreaded money for purchasing pumpkins, so you need a way to keep track of the shopping money that has been turned in ahead of time. I like to do this right on my permission slip tracker.
(Need a copy to use? Here are allllllll of the papers and forms I use to organize our pumpkin patch field trips - from planning pages to permission slips, chaperone letters, activities when you get back, and more. It’s EDITABLE so make it fit your needs, print, and go!
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