25 virtual field trips for your classroom

Ed Tech

Ed Tech | Tuesday, March 23, 2021

25 virtual field trips for your classroom

25 Virtual field trips+10 activities for your classroom icon

Virtual field trips allow us to take our students where the bus can’t. Here are 25 field trips and 10 activities to do while you're on one!

Imagine your class traveling to see the Great Pyramid of Giza, touring the International Space Station, or having a face to face conversation with a beloved author. All of these experiences are possible through virtual field trips.

Virtual field trips allow us to take our students on adventures we never could before.

They are fun, very engaging and best of all most virtual field trips are absolutely FREE! There are tons of exciting places to go and connections waiting for you and your class that are already available.

So where are the best places to find a virtual field trip for your class? And what activities can you provide your students to take the learning further?

Here are 25 virtual field trips plus 10 extension activity ideas for your class. 

Getting Started with Virtual Field Trips

A NEW online course from Ditch That Textbook!

✈️ TONS of FREE virtual field trips you can use TOMORROW

✈️ Activities and resources for your students

✈️ Tutorials and templates to create your own

✈️ A resource locker, certificate of completion, and lots more!

25 virtual field trips for your class

Volcano with lava

Part of Google Arts and Culture, The Hidden Worlds of National Parks tour takes participants on a journey through some of the worlds most amazing places. See the Kenai Fjords, Hawaii Volcanoes, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon and the Dry Tortugas.


Explore more: Google Arts & Culture

Stage of a Theater

See some of the most beautiful theaters, concert halls and opera houses in the world. Carnegie Hall, The Colosseum in Rome, and The Sydney Opera House are just a few of the amazing tours you take!


Explore more: Google Arts & Culture

Beaver eating Fish

Geared towards students in grades 3-5, this virtual field trip from the American Museum of Natural History explores how animals adapt to their environments in order to survive.


This field trip includes a teachers guide, student worksheets, and extension activities.

Picture of Earth

Geared towards students in grades 6-8, this virtual field trip from the American Museum of Natural History explores how plate tectonics explains specific Earth formations.


This field trip includes a teachers guide, student worksheets and extension activities.

Monarch Butterfly

A perfect field trip for K-2! This virtual field trip from the American Museum of Natural History takes children through a 360 video as they observe butterflies and compare their patterns.


This field trip includes a teachers guide, student worksheets, and extension activities.

Mars Rover

If you have ever wondered what the surface of Mars really looks like now you can find out! View the surface of Mars in 360 recorded by NASA's Curiosity rover.

Great Wall of China

Explore one of the seven wonders of the world without leaving your classroom! The free version of this virtual tour includes four 360 scenes from The China Guide.


Also visit The Great Wall of China on Google Earth

Polar Bear

Using breathtaking photographs this virtual tour from the National Wildlife Federation takes students through the world. They will learn about beautiful animals while also exploring ways to protect and conserve wildlife.


This virtual tour includes five activities and more nature activities to explore.

Picture of Earth from Space

Using NASA's satellite imagery students can hunt for letters in Earth's landforms from space! 

International Space Station

You can take a tour of 18 different scenes from the International Space Station with this Google Earth tour. Visit the Columbus Research Laboratory, SpaceX Dragon Docking Vehicle and more!


 Pair this virtual tour with these fun interviews and space quizzes from Kahoot! 

Pyramids of Giza

Travel back in time and explore the last standing ancient world wonder through Google Maps Treks. Learn more about the history, location, purpose, materials, and labor required to build these magnificent structures.


Explore more: Google Maps Treks  

Shark swimming in the Ocean

This collection of images was part of the first group of 360 images added to Google Maps. You can explore more 360 views through the Google Maps Street View collection.


Explore more: Google Maps Treks  

Fountain in a Garden

This virtual field trip, embedded within a Nearpod VR lesson, uses real-world examples of geometry to help students analyze and design physical spaces.  

As with all of the Nearpod VR lessons, this virtual field trip includes a teacher guide and student resources.


Explore more:  Nearpod VR Field Trips Library

Mount Everest

Through National Geographic's YouTube 360 collection you can explore the high-mountain environment of Mount Everest and learn how climate change is impacting this place.


Pair this virtual tour with this Expedition Everest Kahoot!


Explore more: National Geographic 360 Videos collection

Paul Revere riding a Horse

This virtual  event from HistoryView.org takes students through the afternoon of April 19, 1775, the first day of the American Revolution.


Pair this virtual field trip with this American Revolution HyperDoc for a full unit of study.


Explore more: HistoryView VR library of virtual tours

Picture of a city from the Air

16. Changing Climate, Changing Cities: Virtual Field Trip from Phoenix to Shenzhen

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore the connection between water and climate in Shenzen, China and learn about heat islands in Phoenix, Arizona.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Play the Changing Climate, Changing Cities Kahoot!

Sea anemone on a Coral Reef

17. The Secret Life of Corals

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will learn how scientists are finding ways to restore corals damaged by human activity.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Play the Secret Life of Corals Kahoot!

Monkeys in Borneo

18. Borneo: The Symphony of the Rainforest

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will learn how experts find out where rainforests are healthy and where they need help.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Lake by a Mountain

19. View from a Canoe

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore the Emerald Edge coastal temperate rainforest.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Desert in Arizona

20. Wild Biomes: America's Rainforests & Deserts

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will travel to two vastly different ecosystems as they explore the desert in Arizona and the American rainforest in Seattle.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Play the Wild Biomes Kahoot!

Diver in Coral Reef

21. The Coral Reefs of Palau

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will discover the underwater cities in the coral reefs of Palau.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Pandas eating Bamboo

22. China's Great Forests

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore two provinces in China and examine the role these areas play in the carbon cycle and climate change.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Windmill

23. Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore the question: How can we get the energy we need without harming nature?


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Play the Powering the Planet: Renewable Energy Kahoot!

Clouds over a Lake

24. Journey of Water: Colombia’s Páramo

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore the mountain landscapes and the pàramo ecosystem. They will take a walk among sunflower-like plants that capture rain and provide water for the residents of the city.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Play the Water Security Kahoot!

Cliff Coastline

25. Peru: A Coastal Ecosystem

In this virtual field trip from the Nature Conservancy students will explore one of the most productive ocean ecosystems learning about the Humboldt Current and the ecosystems animal inhabitants.


Watch the video

Download the Teacher Guide

Virtual field trips directory page

There are TONS of virtual field trips just waiting for you and your students.

Visit our virtual field trips page for a directory of fantastic places to go with your class.

Ditch That Textbook virtual field trips directory page

Directory of Virtual Field Trips

10 virtual field trip activity ideas

1. Pair it with a digital escape room

Unlocked Lock Icon

After taking a virtual field trip have your students use what they learned and try a digital escape room. Check out this Wakelet collection or Teacher pack full of digital escape rooms.

Can't find one that fits? Click here to learn how to create your own.

2. Play a Kahoot!

Kahoot logo

Kahoot has partnered with loads of organizations like National Geographic, The American Museum of Natural History, Nature Lab and more! Check out all of their games and find one that fits. Play before your trip and again after to see how much your students learned.

3. Record their observations in a journal

Virtual field trip journal template

Ask students to jot down their observations while on your virtual field trip. Use this virtual field trip observation journal or create one like it for your kiddos to use.

4. Create a travel suitcase unboxing video

Lightbulb in a Box Icon

In this activity students unpack a suitcase (a box is OK, too) with artifacts, souvenirs and important items from a location they just visited. This can be a real life trip, an imagined trip, or even a recap of a virtual field trip. Visit The Unboxing Video: A fun classroom video activity for a how-to and examples.

5. Create or find an accompanying HyperDoc

HyperDocs Logo

HyperDocs are a great way to immerse students in a unit through blended learning. Why not pair your virtual field trip with a HyperDoc lesson or unit to enhance the experience before, during and after the trip? Check out these sample HyperDocs to find one that works with your unit.

6. Utilize pre-made lessons

Nearpod VR Field Trips Logo

Many of the virtual field trips mentioned in the section above include teacher guides and activities that are already prepared for you and your students. Also be sure to check out the Nearpod VR Field Trips Library. You can search by subject, grade or standard.

7. Add a stem connection with 3D printing or a makerspace challenge

STEM Icon

After visiting a place have students create an artifact from the destination. Students can use everyday household items to create or take it up a few notches by having them create a 3D object in a program like Tinkercad. If you are lucky enough to have access to a 3D printer students can even print their artifact and share with the class.

8. Create an "All About a Topic" presentation

Google Slides Logo

In this applied digital skills lesson students pick a topic and share information about it by creating an interactive presentation in Google Slides. This would be a perfect extension activity for a virtual field trip about climate change or other area of study students may feel passionate about. Check out Google Applied Digital Skills: 5 reasons why you should try this FREE curriculum for more ideas.

9. Take others to your destination with green screen

Green Screen Icon

Have students share what they learned about a location by creating their own news report. Use an app like DoInk to transport students back to the location of your trip with Green Screen.

Check out 10 green screen project ideas for the classroom for inspiration.

10. Play Virtual Field Trip BINGO!

Virtual Bingo Board

Although this choice board BINGO board created by John Meehan can be easily adapted to fit any unit it makes a great follow up to a fun virtual field trip. Students will have a blast creating videos, building with Lego, writing a rap, creating social media posts and more.


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  • Kelly Ranftl says:

    Thank you for sharing these virtual field trip ideas- I love that there are several unique ones that I haven’t seen on other lists. I also appreciate the Activity Ideas to extend the student learning. I’m going to try Virtual Field Trip Bingo this fall!

  • Anonymous says:

    Nice

  • Mary E Hickey says:

    Amazing collection!
    So many diverse options

  • Alex Jordan says:

    Hello! I found this blog to be very up-to-date as well as informative. I think it will help numerous students. I also believe that technology is the way of today, and we need to familiarize ourselves with it. Thank you!

  • Hi Thanks for sharing these amazing tips! Ads are really helpful since a lot of people can see it especially in virtual Tourist .

  • […] Students unpack a suitcase (or a box is OK, too) with artifacts, souvenirs and important items from a location they just visited. This can be a real life trip, an imagined trip, or even a recap of a virtual field trip. (See this post on easy virtual field trip ideas.) […]

  • […] Students unpack a suitcase (or a box is OK, too) with artifacts, souvenirs and important items from a location they just visited. This can be a real life trip, an imagined trip, or even a recap of a virtual field trip. (See this post on easy virtual field trip ideas.) […]

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