35 Lesson Plans and Activities to Prepare for a New York City School Trip

How can I make a trip to New York City more educational?

New York City is the perfect learning ground for a variety of focus topic areas. Architecture, foreign language, geography, immigration, history, foreign policy, music, acting, city planning, and more can all be explored in-depth and with hands-on activities on a New York City school trip.

Begin exploring your focus topic prior to departure with these New York City specific lesson plans. Learning in advance of the trip will deepen student engagement and add greater meaning to the travel experience.  Select one focus topic and devote a full day, week, or semester to the study of the topic. Consider collaborating with other teachers to make it a unit.

These lesson plans can help get you started.

Lesson   Plans

9/11 Memorial Lesson Plans – Topics include: 

• Days of Infamy
• Global Responses to 9/11
• The Heroic Actions of the Passengers of Flight 93
• Honoring Our Heroes
• Geology of Lower Manhattan
• Creating a Memorial Museum
• 9/11 Memorials Around the World

The United Nations Lesson Plans – Topics include: 

• History, Structure, and Accomplishments of the United Nations
• The Role of the United Nations – Writing Exercise
• Introduction to the United Nations
• Rights Auction
• Function of the United Nations – Powerpoint
• Peacebuilding: Taking Home Lessons Learned in Africa
• Model UN Courses

New York City Subway System Lesson Plans 

New York City Architecture Lesson Plans – Topics Include:

• Higher and Higher: Amazing Skyscrapers
• What is a Skyscraper? + Activity
• Designing a Skyscraper + Activity
• Building a Skyscraper + Activity
• Changes in a City Over Time
• Empire State Building Run-Up

Immigration in America Lesson Plans via the Tenement Museum – Topics Include: 

• Oral Histories
• Primary Sources
• Historical Objects

Foreign Language Acquisition Tools (Free) – Topics Include:

• Italian – Use in Little Italy!
• Mandarin – Use in Chinatown!

 Musical Theatre Lesson Plans – Topics Include:

• Musical Theatre Components
• Introduction to Musical Theatre
• Learning Through Musical Theatre
• Adapting a Musical
• Les Miserables, Oliver!, Andrew Lloyd Weber Musical Theater Worksheet

City Planning Lesson Plans – Topics Include:

• American Planning Association Lesson Plans
• Urban Growth in America
• Power Builders: Leaders And Cities
• Simulated Urban Planning

 

Ready to plan your school trip? Click the button below to get started!

Request More Information