VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Virtual Field Trips combine a documentary film and an educational hands-on activity. With Virtual Field Trips, there are no transportation costs and no logistics to worry about, because the films and hands-on activities take place online! Students and groups can participate in the classroom, in an assembly space or from their homes. The learning experience can be extended at home when family members join in on the screening at no additional fee.
Films available for streaming through CLC Online are suitable for a variety of grade levels with content ranging from STEM to literacy to social studies. Current titles include Space Next, Mysteries of Egypt, Watermelon Magic and more! For each film, experts and educators provide complementary interactive activities that extend the educational impact of the film.
Use the links below to learn more about each film and the hands-on activities that pair with it.
- Building Minds with Chess
- Dragons: Real Myths and Unreal Creatures
- Expedition Chesapeake: a Journey of Discovery
- In Saturn’s Rings
- Mysteries of Egypt
- Pioneers in Skirts
- Space Next
- Watermelon Magic
When you’re ready to schedule your Virtual Field Trip, please complete our quick online form here.
Expert Presenter: Janet Ivey of Janet’s Planet
Ages 4–8 years old/Grades PreK–3
STRAW ROCKETS
Traveling through the universe is no easy task for an astronaut! In order to journey through the stars, you are going to learn what it takes to fly outside our stratosphere by building a straw rocket. Using 3 straws, scissors, tape and a template (that must be printed out beforehand) you will create your own spacecraft and lift off!
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Ages 9–13 years old/Grades 3–7
LUNAR LANDER
Use what you know and can investigate about gravity, motion, forces and a target of your choosing (the Moon, Mars or beyond!) to design and build a lander that will protect two “astronauts” when they touch down. Just as engineers had to develop solutions for landing different kinds of vehicles on the Moon and Mars, you will follow the engineering design process to design and build a shock-absorbing system out of simple materials and improve your design based on the results of your test landings.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
SPACE ELEVATOR
Today our mission is to BUILD THE TALLEST space elevator using only 20 pieces of uncooked spaghetti, 1 meter of string, 1 meter of tape and 1 large marshmallow. But here is the challenge: the structure you build must be able to support the weight of the one large marshmallow…and the only thing you cannot do is SKEWER the large marshmallow with the spaghetti. Can you engineer the future? Make sure to have a measuring tape handy! The tallest structure wins a prize!
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
SOLAR SAIL
Did you know that Engineers at NASA are taking classes in origami to better understand how to fold and deploy everything from solar sails to parachutes? Today your task is to create your very own solar sail using the same techniques NASA technicians use! If Janet has time, she will even show students how to create their own 2D satellite, which also turns into an origami ninja star!
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Expert Presenter: Jim O’Leary
Ages 8–12 years old/Grades 2–7
MODEL THE SOLAR SYSTEM
When we travel to other worlds in the Solar System—to the Moon or even on to Mars—we need to know how far away they are. How long will it take to get there? How much fuel will we need? How many supplies to feed and care for the crew?
Our Solar System is small in comparison to our Milky Way Galaxy or to the entire Universe. But to us on a small planet, the Solar System is huge. In this activity, students will make a model of the Solar System on a long strip of paper showing the proper distances between planets—with surprising results!
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Mathematics
Technology
BEADED SOLAR SYSTEM
Students will construct and calculate a scale model of the Solar System using beads and string. They will observe the relative distances of the Sun, planets, asteroid belt and dwarf planet Pluto and gain an understanding of the vast distances between planets in the outer Solar System compared with those in the inner Solar System.
We will also introduce the idea of the speed of light, how fast it is and how fast it takes light to travel from the Sun to each planet – and beyond.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Mathematics
Technology
Ages 9–13 years old/Grades 4–8
SODA-STRAW ROCKETS
You become the engineer as you build and test your own rocket, one powered by a soda straw. Then modify your rocket to make it fly better and farther. You will discover how thrust works, how individual details of rocket design work together to make a successful rocket. Be an engineer and design a better rocket!
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Ages 10–16 years old/Grades 5–10
HOW BIG, HOW FAR, HOW HOT, HOW OLD
Examine stunning NASA images of Earth and space and work to fit them into the cosmic scheme of things. Which objects are biggest? Which are closest or farthest? Hottest or oldest? Youngest or oldest? The sizes and distances of objects in space can be confusing. Use your critical thinking skills to work out the details in this cosmic puzzle.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Mathematics
Technology
Expert Presenter: Nicole Willett, The Mars Society
Ages 4-7 years old/Grades Kindergarten-2
MARSMALLOWS
As human explorers of Mars you will learn all about Mars and what types of foods humans will eat on Mars. We will discuss the importance of making humans a multiplanetary species. Meanwhile, you will make a snack of your own to enjoy while asking questions and getting answers about space travel.
SUBJECTS
STEAM
MOONMALLOWS
As human explorers of the Moon you will learn all about the Moon and what types of foods humans will eat on the Moon. We will discuss the importance of making humans a multiplanetary species. Meanwhile, you will make a snack of your own to enjoy while asking questions and getting answers about space travel.
SUBJECTS
STEAM
Ages 10–16 years old/Grades 5–10
BUILDING YOUR OWN ROCKET
This project will explore rocketry, engineering, gravity, and plotting trajectories to the Moon and Mars. Students will consider and contemplate how the mass of planetary objects affects how a spacecraft maneuvers and orbits. What would happen if the trajectory of a spacecraft travelling to Mars, more than 50 million kilometers away, was off by 10 kilometers after launch? What happens to the amount of fuel needed?
SUBJECTS
STEAM
Ages 14-18 years old/Grades 9-12
BUILD A ROCKET WITH DIET COKE AND MENTOS
This project will explore rocketry, engineering, gravity, and plotting trajectories to the Moon and Mars. Students will consider and contemplate how the mass of planetary objects affects how a spacecraft maneuvers and orbits. What would happen if the trajectory of a spacecraft travelling to Mars, more than 50 million kilometers away, was off by 10 kilometers after launch? What happens to the amount of fuel needed?
SUBJECTS
STEAM
WATERMELON MAGIC
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Watermelon Magic is about the magic of growing your own food and sharing it with others. This tender film entertains and educates all ages, and it appeals to young viewers in particular. CLC offers educational, hands-on activities around the themes of gardening and food (see below).
Expert Presenter: Garden Farms
Ages 5–8 years old/Grades Kindergarten–2
FRUITS COME FROM FLOWERS
In this activity, students will learn that like the watermelon, all fruits (that have seeds) grow out of a flower! We will discuss pollinators (bees in particular) and why they are important to the fruit we eat. Students will then create their own paper flower, complete with real seeds. These can then be planted into soil to grow plants! (Adult Assistance Required)
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
Ages 8–10 years old/Grades 3–5
PAINTING FRUIT
In this activity, students will learn Native American methods of using plant material as color for different methods of painting! Students will then create their own paints using plant material or fruit/vegetable scraps! (Adult Assistance Required)
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
Ages 11–13 years old/Grades 6–8
FROGGY FRUIT SALAD
In this activity, students will learn about the nutritional benefits of watermelons. We’ll discuss healthy servings of fruits, eating with intention and eating the rainbow! Students will then follow along on a tutorial to carve their own watermelon to look like a frog. As an added bonus, the fruits inside the frog’s mouth will be prepared and ready to serve as a delicious, nutritious fruit salad! (Adult supervision required.)
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
EXPEDITION CHESAPEAKE: A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Expedition Chesapeake takes you on a stunning visual journey from New York to Virginia with Emmy Award-winning expedition leader Jeff Corwin, and a complementary activity offered by Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts (see below) deepens the educational experience. All of the CLC Virtual Field Trips offered by Whitaker Center are connected to NGSS science standards and use Science Process Skills to bring students biology, ecology, geology and meteorology content coupled with hands-on learning. Each Virtual Field Trip is designed for a class of up to 30 students, costs $510, and includes a kit with materials for experiments and activities, which will be mailed in advance.
Expert Presenter: Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts
Ages 5-6 years old/Grade Kindergarten
Build an Animal Home
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Ages 6-7/Grade 1
Amazing Adaptations
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Biology
Ages 7-8/Grade 2
Seed Dispersal
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Biology
Ages 8-9/Grade 3
Fossil Mayhem
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Paleontology
Ages 9-10/Grade 4
Fabulous Feet
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Biology
Ages 10-11/Grade 5
Be a Citizen Scientist!
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Ages 11-12/Grade 6
Hurricane Task Force
SUBJECTS
Environmental Science
Meteorology
IN SATURN’S RINGS
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
In Saturn’s Rings is a grand tour of the universe starring Saturn. From the earliest images after the Big Bang to the final photographs from Cassini, this film is a journey of the heart, mind and spirit that moves audiences with some of the most amazing space images ever seen. CLC offers complementary interactive activities for young space enthusiasts (see below)!
Expert Presenter: Nicole Willett, The Mars Society
Ages 8-13 years old/Grades 2-7
SPINNING MODEL OF SATURN
Saturn is a dynamic planetary system with great opportunity for learning STEAM concepts. In this project we will create a spinning Saturn and rings using simple supplies most families have around the house. This activity will allow students to learn how Saturn and its ring system move together.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Engineering
Space
Mathematics
Technology
PIONEERS IN SKIRTS
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Pioneers in Skirts is an engaging documentary that follows director Ashley Maria’s journey as she examines the barriers and setbacks women confront in their careers. CLC offers the “Finding Your Inner Pioneer” interactive event (see below) to pair with the film.
Expert Presenter: Director Ashley Maria and Producer Lea-Ann W. Berst
Ages 9 years and older/Grades 4-Adult
Finding Your Inner Pioneer
The filmmakers behind Pioneers in Skirts, director Ashley Maria and producer Lea-Ann W. Berst, will lead an interactive program about using one’s ambition to start a journey toward visualizing and achieving personal and professional goals. The Finding Your Inner Pioneer program will demonstrate how to counter biases and nay-sayers and provide the building blocks we all need to take charge of our own “Pioneering Path.” In the end, participants will see that the best goals are the ones that are important to us, and that when we personalize our goals, we are energized to keep going!
SUBJECTS
Career
Gender Equality
Women
Expert Presenters: Jenny and Paul McFarlane
Ages 8-11 years old/Grades 3-6
Paper Sundial
Ancient Egyptians were one of the first cultures to widely divide days into generally agreed upon equal parts, using early timekeeping devices such as sundials. With this activity, students will use a paper template to create their own sundial to tell time on sunny days.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
Ages 8-11 years old/Grades 3-6
Mummify a Hot Dog
Royal and wealthy Egyptians saw the preservation of the body after death as an important step to living well in the afterlife. In this experiment, students will learn about the science behind the process of mummification by mummifying a hot dog.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
History
Ages 8-11 years old/Grades 3-6
Paper/Sugar Cube/LEGO Pyramid
Using a variety of materials, students will recreate their own versions of the ultimate symbol of ancient Egyptian engineering, and older students can calculate the volume and surface area of their pyramid.
SUBJECTS
History
STEM
Mathematics
Ages 8-11 years old/Grades 3-6
Personalized Cartouche
Using Hieroglyphics, ancient Egyptians created Cartouches (an oval frame which is surrounded by a protective rope) to visually indicate the names of Pharaohs, royals or Egyptian gods. Students will utilize a Hieroglypic alphabet to make a Cartouche of their own name, then create their own modern-day pictoral alphabet.
SUBJECTS
History
Visual Arts
Ages 8-11 years old/Grades 3-6
Water Clock
How did the ancient Egyptians tell time on a cloudy day, or at night, or indoors? With a water clock, or clepsydra. For lower grades, students will make a simple water clock and track the passage of time. For intermediate grades, students will undertake an engineering challenge to create the most accurate water clock and track their results.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
Ages 10-13 years old/Grades 5-8
Build Your Own Astrolabe
Like many ancient peoples, the Egyptians studied the night sky, taking measurements from the stars to accurately align their pyramids and sun temples, and to tell the time at night. Students will construct an astrolabe and use it to measure position and time.
SUBJECTS
STEM
Environmental Science
Mathematics
DRAGONS: REAL MYTHS AND UNREAL CREATURES
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
For thousands of years, dragon mythology has existed across many cultures and continents, inspiring stories of terror, heroics, majesty and national pride. CLC provides interactive educational activities that pair perfectly with this film (see below).
Expert Presenter: TBD
EVENTS COMING SOON
BUILDING MINDS WITH CHESS
VIRTUAL FIELD TRIPS
Building Minds With Chess introduces the highest-ranking Black chess Grandmaster in the world, Pontus Carlsson, and explores how playing chess helps participants (especially kids!) improve in math, critical thinking, memory, problem solving and more. Building Minds With Chess is a short film with a big impact, especially when it’s paired with an event featuring a chess expert!
Expert Presenter: TBD
EVENTS COMING SOON
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BIG & Digital distributes films and works with producers and theaters to inspire audiences with intelligent films that leave a positive impact.