Mountains, Music & Fascinating Museums
The Volunteer State offers a range of outstanding field trip destinations, from the wilds of the Great Smoky Mountains to being the music capital of the US. Tennessee’s array of locations will captivate learners of all ages through highly interactive experiences that bring science, history and art to life. Students can explore the wonders of nature one day and delve into American history and diverse cultures the next, allowing them to appreciate and understand what makes the Volunteer State a Southern wonder.
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“Hear engaging stories about pioneering music makers while highlighting the intersection of soul music and civil rights.”
Country Music Hall of Fame (Nashville)
At the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, students can immerse themselves in a world of sound while learning about the history of country music. Visitors can trace country music roots from folk traditions to the global influence it has today. Explore interactive exhibits and galleries showcasing historic musical instruments and costumes, and listen to recorded performances. Take a guided tour for in-depth history and cultural studies, or participate in educational workshops, including songwriting opportunities, with professional musicians to create original works. For meaningful engagement, educators are encouraged to utilize the museum’s pre-and post-visit activity packets to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences.
Tennessee Aquarium (Chattanooga)
The Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga offers a state-of-the-art learning experience that engages students through hands-on learning. The aquarium’s guided tours and educational programs provide unique opportunities for students to learn by doing, including lab-based experiments, live animal encounters, and lessons on conservation and biodiversity. The ability to customize field trips to include a river conservation workshop further enhances the hands-on learning experience.
Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge (Oak Ridge)
The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge offers an interactive learning experience that engages young minds. The museum’s exciting exhibits encourage hands-on learning, allowing guests to play and touch while learning about atomic energy, physics, and engineering. The inquiry-based approach to education will enable students to make connections to history, science, energy, and innovation, providing a robust and engaging learning experience.
Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum (Memphis)
Learn by listening to the musical stories of American soul at the Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. Showcasing vibrant displays of multimedia exhibits, students will learn about Memphis’ pivotal role in the shaping of soul music. Groups can discover musical instruments, stage costumes and authentic recordings from top artists for immersive learning. Guided tours allow students to hear engaging stories about pioneering music makers while highlighting the intersection of soul music and civil rights. Prepare students for a powerful experience with pre-field trip materials offered by the museum, and enrich programs focusing on cultural history and the context of Memphis music. This is an ideal field trip location for middle and high school groups.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (multiple locations)
Spanning several states, including Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers exceptional outdoor learning opportunities for students of all ages. As the most visited national park in the country, there is no shortage of authentic, hands-on learning experiences here. Explore nature on ranger-led hikes and discover the park’s biodiversity, along with topics such as ecology, conservation and biology. History-centric programs teach about the Appalachian traditions, including what pioneer life was like and who the Cherokee people were. Day field trips can be adapted to overnight camping experiences for a truly memorable experience.
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