virtual field trips

If you and your students are getting a bit stir crazy, take a virtual field trip! Many museums, zoos, and other cultural institutions are offering virtual tours. There’s something for everyone, between watching the adorable penguins waddle their way through the Shedd Aquarium or traveling to the storied halls of the Palace of Versailles.
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Here are some of our top picks for exploring the world from your own home. For more information about virtual field trips, check out our Online Teaching and Learning libguide.

​Google Arts and Culture feature cultural landmarks and institutions from around the world.  You can even explore world-class museums. Just one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites you can explore is the ancient Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple that dates back to the 9th century. After centuries of being abandoned, Borobudur is now restored and  used as a place of worship and pilgrimage. Explore Borobudur and other cultural landmarks through Google Arts & Culture.

Arches National Park via Google Earth - The US National Park system is like no other in the world. Arches National Parks in Utah is one of the most spectacular. Explore some of the stunning arches and geographical features via Google Earth. They also have 31 more National Parks to explore, including Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, and Acadia.

Georgia Aquarium and Explore Live Cams. Looking for something a bit more peaceful? Look no further than the Georgia Aquarium. The Georgia Aquarium is the only aquarium in North America to have whale sharks. Check out the Ocean Voyager livestream for a chance to see these gentle giants. Explore Live Cams also feature high-quality live streams, you can watch everything from adorable kittens to NASA’s space cam.

Street Art with Google Art Project.  Explore some amazing street art from across the globe with Street Art with Google Art Project. There are audio tours, online exhibitions, a world map filled with artists, and artist stories. Check out The Talking Walls of Buenos Aires and Artscape 2014 audio tours.

The Metropolitan Opera House and concert hall live streams.  Missing out on live performances? The Met is having nightly streams at 7:30 pm EST of opera performances. The streams are up for 20 hours after they air. Many other institutions are doing live streams of concerts, check out NPR for an extensive list.

Arizona State Virtual Field Trips. Arizona State University is offering interactive virtual field trips. Many of these field trips include videos, ambient noises, and some even include virtual labs and interactive lessons. These field trips are heavily science-focused and explore topics such as biodiversity in the rainforest and the red rocks of Mars.