Earth Sciences Professor how-to

How to Lead a Geology Field Trip

Field trips bring textbooks to life.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Field trips bring textbooks to life. In short: scout; plan; give, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Scout outcrops.

  2. Plan safety and logistics.

  3. Give students a field guide.

  4. Teach at each stop.

  5. Have students sketch and record.

  6. Debrief.

Safety reminders for earth sciences professors

  • Plan for field hazards like cliffs and heat
  • Carry first aid
  • Follow ship and lab safety
  • Protect student privacy

Plate tectonics · Igneous rock · Sedimentary rock · Metamorphic rock · Seismology · Stratigraphy: see the full earth sciences professor glossary.

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