The virtual field trip has finally come of age, and if you haven't yet taken one with your students, now is the time. Whether you are studying the geology of the Galapagos Islands or learning about the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Library of Congress, there is bound to be a museum or organization that has set up a Web site that enhances your curriculum. In some cases, the exhibits have been long gone, but online visitors still have the opportunity to visit the exhibition on the Web.

Many reputable museums and organizations have created online exhibits that allow students to learn in an online multimedia environment. The experience might include still photographs, audio clips, streaming video, text, or interactive games.

Like any worthwhile instructional activity, arranging and conducting a virtual field trip requires planning. Here are a few basic guidelines that may help you make your virtual field trip a success.

1. Unlike a regular field trip, your worries about students running off in all directions and getting lost are diminished, but not gone. Be sure students know the URL they need to be on and that it is not acceptable to leave the site.

2. Complete your own research before attempting to lead students on the field trip. Spend time at the site or exhibit yourself and get to know it thoroughly. If there are external links (links that go to other sites), follow them to make sure they are appropriate for your students.

3. Build excitement around the virtual field trip. Like a regular field trip, students should look forward to visiting the exhibition. Prepare students with background information about the subject area, including key vocabulary and concepts. Try to come up with a mystery or riddle that students will solve once visiting the online exhibit.

4. Provide goals for students to reach while on the field trip. If computers are limited, divide students into groups and have them complete a treasure hunt. As with all lesson plans, consider how long it will take for students to accomplish the objectives.

5. Provide activities that engage students and extend learning. These activities can include an analysis of data, identification of patterns, or comparing and contrasting information.

6. Create follow-up activities that students must complete after they have left the exhibit.

So get online and start researching your next virtual field trip today—it's the next best thing to being there.

Virtual Field Trip Ideas

Smithsonian Institution
http://www.si.edu/
The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. is the world's largest museum system. Funded by the federal government, it includes 15 complete museums covering everything from art, design, and culture to history, science, and technology. Their Web site is one of the most thorough on the Internet and worth more than one visit.

Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/
Yet another rich Web site managed by a prominent federal institution, the Library Congress has a wealth of online exhibits to use in the classroom. At last count there were more than 40 exhibits online. Here you can find historical documents, videos, and images collected by the library of congress.

Exploratorium—The Museum of Science, Art, and Human Perception
http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/exhibits.html
Astronomy, biodiversity, and DNA are just a few of the fascinating subjects taken up in the online exhibits available from the Exploratorium. One of the first online science museums in the world, the Exploratorium has over 16,000 Web pages that explore a wide variety of topics.

Historical Virtual Tour of the White House
http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/whtour/
Avoid the long lines that string outside the White House every muggy August day and get an insider's look at the White House. This site includes information about the history of the White House, its collections of art and furnishings, games and puzzles, as well as virtual video tours given by the President, First Lady, and others.

U.S. Capitol Virtual Tour
http://www.senate.gov/vtour/
Visit the U.S. Capitol Web site for a virtual tour. This site includes extensive historic information and interactive images that can be viewed panoramically.

Fibonacci Sequence
http://www.mcs.surrey.ac.uk/Personal/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fib.html
Mathematics exhibits can be somewhat more difficult to come by, but this wonderful site from Surrey University provides a fascinating exploration of the Fibonacci Numbers, the Golden Mean, and their relevance in nature, science, and art.

John Muir Exhibit
http://www.sierraclub.org/john_muir_exhibit/
From the Sierra Club, the John Muir exhibit contains a staggering array of information about the life, writings, and interests of John Muir. The exhibit is well-organized, and teachers can choose to focus on a number of different aspects of Muir's life.