- Definition
A field study is when students learn by going outside, like on a trip to a park or museum, to see and experience things firsthand.
Going to a local park to count how many different types of birds you can see is a field study.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: A field study is like being a detective outside, looking for clues about the world around you.
Ask your child: What clues can we find on our walk today?
Common mix-up: Kids may think a field study is just playing outside. The key idea is that you are looking for something specific, like a scientist or an explorer.
Examples
- Collecting different leaves from the park to sort them by shape or colour.
- Walking around the block to make a map of important places like the crosswalk.
field study is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
