Educational Field Trips

Educational field trips are facilitated by Missouri certified retired classroom teachers, each with over 30 years of experience in the classroom.

Children naturally gravitate to hands-on experiences, so we have prepared a wide range of developmentally appropriate activities to further your students' cognitive, physical and social growth. We have developed a series of field trip curriculum that are informational, exciting, and fun for our visitors.

Our Field Trip Programs are two hours in length and designed to appeal to children of all ages. The field trips include one hour of curriculum-directed learning and one hour of exploratory learning.

Our Upper Level Field Trip Programs for Middle and High School students are customized and include exploratory learning opportunities in our family entertainment center. One example of an upper level program is the Fatal Vision Field Trip that is perfect for 5th through 10th grade students.

The information below details our current curriculum options in alphabetical order, as well as scheduling and pricing information - everything necessary to design your field trip and book it today! Once you have made your field trip reservation, a field trip coordinator will work with you to help prepare your students for their day of learning and fun.

Call us at 816-246-5224, ext. 105, e-mail us or click here to submit an inquiry form to make your educational field trip reservation today!

Educational Field Trip Curriculum Samples

ALPHABET MANIA
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through Kindergarten

Curriculum Concepts
The alphabet is the basis for our written language. Literacy skill development is essential for all areas of expressive and reactive language. (Please note this field trip does not introduce or teach the alphabet. Rather, the field trip supports and reinforces the teachings and learning already taking place in the classroom.)

Objective
Students will apply skills in letter recognition, sounds and sequencing through the use of food, art, song and problem solving.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Exploring the alphabet through the use of CHICKA, CHICKA, BOOM, BOOM by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault in the Performance Area.
• Creating a coconut tree art project using letters in the Art Sudio.
• Acting and dancing to the story and finding missing letters for our coconut tree in the Performance Area.
• Ordering letters of the alphabet in the Performance Area.
• Problem solving to find missing letters in the Performance Area.
• Singing a song using a letter code in the Performance Area.
• Locating letters, words, and pictures in a game of concentration in the Themed Location.

ANIMALS ON THE FARM
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through Kindergarten

Curriculum Concepts
Animals on the Farm is all about the different animals that live on a farm and why these animals are important to us.

Objective
Students will recognize, name and identify the sounds of various farm animals while exploring where the animals live on a farm and their importance to us.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Classifying various stuffed animals as farm animals and non-farm animals in the Performance Area.
• Identifying and mimicking the sound for each animal in the Performance Area.
• Discussing the appropriate name for each animal's home on the farm in the Performance Area.
• Matching farm animal babies with their mothers in the Themed Location.
• Reinforcing directional words using animals in relation to barns in the Themed Location.
• Completing a farm scene art project in the Art Studio.

DINOSAURS
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through 3rd Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Children of all ages are fascinated by dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are an interesting way to spark a child's interest and concern for preservation. Through dinosaurs, we will look at diet and the environment as it relates to extinction.

Objective
Students will investigate different types of dinosaurs and principles of paleontology as related to fossils and extinction.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Traveling through the Jurassic period, learning the types of dinosaurs and their place in geologic history.
• Going on a musical dinosaur march with a favorite dinosaur.
• Digging for dinosaur eggs or bones in the Dinosaur Dig.
• Being a paleontologist to reconstruct dinosaur skeletons using bones from several dinosaurs.
• Painting and string a dinosaur tooth necklace or making fossil teeth in the Art Sudio.
• Drawing and naming dinosaurs in a dinosaur booklet in the Art Sudio.

ECOLOGY
Grade/Age Level
All grades or ages.

Curriculum Concepts
Ecology means "household" of nature and has many aspects. It's not just about pollution. Ecology is about preservation, as well. Living an ecologically sensitive life needs to become the natural thing to do.

Objective
Students will explore, discuss and discover the effects of water pollution, ways we can reduce reuse and recycle, and become aware of what they can do to preserve the environment.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Exploring how water becomes polluted and the effects of water pollution on animals living in and near the river at the Water Table.
• Creating a poster using recycled and reused media in the Art Studio.
• Discussing ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle in our personal daily lives in the Performance Area.
• Sorting trash by the recycle logo and number in the Performance Area.

FALL HARVEST
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through 2nd Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Fall celebrates crisp weather, fresh air and abundant harvests. This field trip, only offered during the fall months of September, October and November, includes a hayride, harvest songs, and activities related to the fall harvest.

Objective
Students will learn the basics of a successful fall harvest including seeds, fruits, vegetables and plants commonly harvested in the Midwest.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Building a scarecrow and observe the parts of a pumpkin.
• Hunt for the perfect mini pumpkin on the tractor drawn hayride while singing harvest songs.
• Creating a seed pumpkin in the Art Studio.

FATAL VISION
Grade/Age Level
5th through 10th Grades

Curriculum Concepts
The Fatal Vision field trip demonstrates how quickly fun can turn into devastating consequences for anyone, especially drivers, while impaired by alcohol or other drugs. Students will have the opportunity to wear Fatal Vision Simulator Goggles to literally "feel what it looks like" when impaired by alcohol or drugs. The goal is to impress on students there are no exceptions. No matter how skilled you are, impairment affects the brain, and no amount of skill can offset that fact.

Objective
Students will experience the effects of impaired reflexes, slowed actions and altered vision using simulator goggles for varying degrees of intoxication or drug impairment while experiencing the problems caused by drinking or using drugs and driving in a controlled environment.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Wearing Fatal Vision Simulator Goggles while participating in a variety of physical activities and gathering, recording and interpreting data.
• Driving pedal go-karts or bumper cars while wearing simulator goggles.
• Performing a variety of fine and gross motor skills and other forms of mental activities using the simulator goggles.

FIVE SENSES FUN
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through Kindergarten

Curriculum Concepts
Children are stimulated by the use of their senses each day. The children will learn about the five senses through hands-on fun!

Objective
Students will investigate their five senses and use the organ associated with each.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Fixing Mr. Potato Head--he has no face; then taking him on a walk to practice listening skills in the Performance Area.
• Learning about the senses of touch, hearing, and smell using sensory boxes and equipment--no peaking allowed!
• Exploring the five senses by observing changes in powders while making and eating pudding in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Making an "optical illusion" art project and learning about the eye and how the brain can be fooled in the Art Studio.
• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.

FORCE AND MOTION
Grade/Age Level
1st through 8th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Forces affect the actions of all movement. Students often do not recognize how these forces affect their movements, play and work. The studen of forces and motion is a way for students to understand the factors affecting their daily lives.

Objective
Students will understand balanced and unbalanced forces, momentum, and gravity as factors effecting force and motion.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Testing student hypotheses of effects of mass and gravity on the forces of a moving ball.
• Discovering the effects of momentum on the movement of objects.
• Experiencing and defining balanced and unbalanced forces while climbing the Rock Wall.
• Calculating student horsepower while learning about force, power, and work.
• Determining best materials to increase or decrease friction on surfaces.

HOLIDAY MAGIC
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through 1st Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Children's fascination with the holiday season makes learning about various traditions associated with the holiday season a popular field trip for preschool through first grade students.

Objective
Students will learn the origins of many holiday traditions.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Decorating a holiday tree complete with a snowball fight in the Performance Area.
• Creating a special craft by decorating an evergreen tree in the Art Studio.
• Exercising with the "Twelve Days of Christmas" using puppets and props of the gifts in the Themed Location.

HUNTING GEOMETRY
Grade/Age Level
2nd through 8th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Children's fascination with shapes is evident as they draw. Using a scavenger hunt, students will identify geometric shapes used in the Paradise Park environment.

Objective
Students will learn to identify, compare and contrast attributes of geometric shapes including three dimensional objects from different perspectives.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Identifying geometric shapes throughout the facility.
• Finding the geometric shapes used to build a bridge.
• Locating geometric shapes in nature throughout the facility in a scavenger hunt format.

MATH COUNTS
(presented by Bank of Lee's Summit)
Grade/Age Level
1st through 8th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Math is a part of our everyday lives. We are constantly being called upon to use our skills in calculating, measuring, figuring averages, finding proportions, counting money, and determining which operation to use for problem solving.

Objective
Students will apply various grade/age appropriate math skills and data gathering strategies in order to problem solve in different areas of Paradise Park. Please note, we can "customize" your math field trip to meet the needs of your curriculum and class. We will be happy to work with you!

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack based on a certain amount of money to spend in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Collecting data at age-appropriate attractions.
• Calculating averages and ratios from data collected in the Themed Location.
• Creating graphs to show results of data collected in the Themed Location.
• Counting various groups of money in the Performance Area.
• Problem solving using addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division in the Performance Area.
• Taking a shopping trip to purchase groceries in the Pretend Village Hy-Vee Store.

NUTRITION ADVENTURES
(presented by Hy-Vee)
Grade/Age Level
Kindergarten through 6th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Quality nutrition affects growth and development. Students will be given the opportunities to examine and explore good nutrition while applying math and science concepts.

Objective
Students will develop vocabulary, skills and facts related to nutrition and food shopping.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Participating in a Jeopardy-style game featuring nutrition facts and information showcasing the Food Pyramid in the Performance Area.
• Discovering nutritional labeling while shopping in the pretend Hy-Vee Store.
• Evaluating the benefits of exercise with the Carrot Hop and the Strawberry Relay in the Themed Area.
• Using knowledge of the Food Pyramid to collect a complete assortment of food in the Themed Area.

ROCKS AND MINERALS
Grade/Age Level
Kindergarten through 8th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Rocks and minerals compose most of the abiotic world around us. Knowledge of rocks and minerals will help students understand the ever changing dynamics of the earth.

Objective
Students will understand the process of rock formation, evaluate minerals and rocks, and understand the origin of fossils.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Determing the differences between sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks in the rock cycle in the Performance Area.
• Classifying common rocks and minerals using scientific geological techniques in the Themed Location.
• Associating modern animals with actual fossil remains and casts in the Performance Area.
• Creating a simulated sedimentary rock formation in the Art Studio.

SIMPLE MACHINES AND YOU
Grade/Age Level
2nd through 7th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Simple machines are used in every part of our daily living to make tasks easier, faster, or more convenient. The focus of our study will be how simple machines are used in daily lives.

Objective
Students will learn the six simple machines, their mechanical advantages and identify simple machines in common tools.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Using various pulley systems to move objects (their classmates) and determining the mechanical advantage of each pulley system.
• Lifting weights using all three lever systems and determine the efficiency of each lever.
• Exploring the relationship among wedges, screws, and inclined planes and identifying their application in our daily lives.
• Building a "Big Wheel" to create the maximum mechanical advantage.

SPRING PLANTING
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through 2nd Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Spring brings new growth, fresh rains, and warm weather to spark every child's interest. The students will learn about planting seeds and the conditions that are necessary for the new plants to grow.

Objective
Students will learn about plants from seeds to adults, plus the seeds' structures and basic needs.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Learning the parts of a seed and what a seed needs to grow in the Performance Area.
• Planting a seed to take home in the Themed Location.
• Cutting and gluing a model of a seed and its parts in the Art Studio.

STUFFEE'S HEALTHY HABITS
(presented by Lee's Summit Medical Center)
Grade/Age Level
Pre-K through 3rd Grade

Curriculum Concepts
Stuffee is a 7-foot tall cloth doll with removable internal organs. Stuffee provides a wonderful platform for teaching health education. Stuffee is one more way to reach children and encourage them to use safe and healthy habits.

Objective
Students will learn healthy eating, exercise, good hygiene and rest are essential to maintaining a healthy body.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Explore nutrition and the digestive system with Stuffee's removable organs in the Performance Area.
• Shopping for healthy foods in the Pretend Hy-Vee store and classifying them by food group.
• Make healthy fruit kabobs in the Interactive Cooking Area.
• Classifying healthy foods by color with "Eat the Rainbow" in the Art Studio.
• Using exercise to demonstrate the effects of work and play on the heart and lungs.
• Learn that eating good foods can be tasty and healthy.
• Stretching, exercising and relaxing in a fun and positive environment.

WEATHER AND SEASONS
Grade/Age Level
Kindergarten through 6th Grade

Curriculum Concepts
The Midwest portion of the United States certainly has all four seasons in extreme forms thorughout the year. Students will become more aware of different weather conditions and learn to appreciate each season.

Objective
Students will explore the weather through the use of thermometers, rain gauges, water cycle, and weather maps.

Educational Activities on-site may include, but are not limited to:

• Creating an edible snack in the Interactive Kitchen.
• Seeing a water cycle demonstration and making a water cycle chart in the Performance Area.
• Making a cloud in a bottle in the Performance Area.
• Learning the symbols and concepts of a weather map on the news in the Themed Location.
• Making a "four seasons" art poster of an apple tree in the Art Studio.
• Using the weatherman's friends--thermometer and rain gauge--while in "Paradise City" in the Themed Location.
• Exploring the formation of tornadoes and hurricanes in the Themed Location.

Scheduling & Pricing Information for Educational Field Trips and Groups

Reservations
Paradise Park offers group rates in two different formats: “Educational Field Trips” (described above) and “Creative Free Play”. Educational Field Trip and Creative Free Play group reservations are made by calling (816) 246-5224, extension 105, or via e-mail. These reservations are accepted on a "first come, first serve" basis, so it's best to plan ahead!

Lunch
The Paradise Park Café offers a special Field Trip lunch to satisfy your appetite.

$3.50 per person = 1 slice of pizza and one small beverage
$5.50 per person = 2 slices of pizza and one medium beverage

Field trip coordinators should report the breakdown in numbers for the type of pizza desired (cheese or pepperoni) at least five days in advance for proper planning.

Outside food is not allowed for health and safety reasons at Paradise Park.

The only exception to this policy is applied exclusively to public and private schools that have internal requirements to bring a sack lunch for an Educational Field Trip. These groups will be assessed a $50 set-up/clean-up/tear-down fee to have a private eating area that is separate from the general public. This policy prevents cross contamination and complies with the Jackson County health code requirements. The designated area will be assigned based upon availability.

We strongly encourage Field Trip leaders to either purchase a lunch special through the Paradise Park Cafe or plan the event before or after the lunch hours and return to school for lunch.

Adult chaperones may also purchase a lunch special in addition to the students. Field trip leaders should include the adults in their final lunch headcount for proper planning purposes.

Educational Field Trip Admission
A structured educational Field Trip requires added resources, activities and staffing exceeding our day-to-day programs; therefore, we do require a minimum fee of $200 to constitute an educational Field Trip. Prices for an educational Field Trip are as follows: