What questions should I ask my son about his field trip?

My kids’ school had a list of questions to ask a kid about their day. They were open ended and were meant to ask the child about his feelings and impressions while learning.

“What was the most unusual thing you learned today?”
“What was the funniest thing that happened today?”
“What was the most boring part of the day?”
“What was the most exciting thing you saw today?”

They are all variations on a theme, and can be followed up with a question about “why was that the most unusual/funny/boring/exciting ?”

These questions are good from first grade all the way through high school. I asked my kids what was the funniest thing, and when they said “nothing” I would follow up with “really? You didn’t laugh all day? did you smile, or just frown all day? were you sad and crying?”

What was the best part of the tour?
Did you have fun?
What is the most exciting part ?
Is there anything that you liked better?
Do you see yourself in this Job?
Did you think that this is what a TV station was about?
Do you think that you would like to be behind the camera or in front of it?
Do you like photography?
What was the best part of the tour?

I would avoid the questions framed with superlatives (most, best, strangest, etc.) because they require an unnecessary and distracting step, namely, rank-ordering everything within a category. It’s enough just to ask “What did you like about it? What was surprising? What would you like to know more about?” etc.

If I were there with my son during his visit, I wouldn’t go armed with a list of questions unless I were already familiar with the ins and outs of a PBS station and knew what he was going to see. Instead I would go in receptive mode, model my own learning response to it (noticing things, listening, asking questions without hogging the guide’s attention, etc.—as well as showing respect for the environment and the group), relating it to knowledge I already had (or he already had) and processing as I went. I’d point things out to him and pay attention to everything he pointed out to me.

Mainly I would follow his interest instead of prescribing where he should focus his attention.

Afterward I would probably ask my son if he saw anyone doing things he’d like to try himself and also check his understanding with queries such as “Do you know why they…?” and “Did you notice…?” I would suggest following up areas of interest with a little research and then leave him to it; if I pushed, I know it would kill his enthusiasm by making it my thing instead of his.

That’s great advice. Thanks @Jeruba.

Where do they get the money for….

Ad him if he had a good time and let it go at that. Field trips should be fun and if mom and dad give him the third degree about them they will not be.

@rojo She is taking him on the field trip as part of her home schooling. It’s a lesson plan, actually. As his teacher she is trying to come up with questions for him to find the answer to so he can learn.

I still think having him ask where the money comes from in order to pay wages, rent, artists etc. is a good question because for the most part PBS doesn’t advertise.

What does PBS stand for? Aren’t ALL TV channels “public”?

Well, as it turned out there was nothing to worry about. Ian took to the guided tour like a fish to water, and was thoroughly engaged. He was also the only kid actively asking questions like “Why is the station named WEDU?” and “Why is the wall of the stage curved?

They also let him operate a TV camera, which was absurdly cool.

I might wait a while and then give him a sort of audio interview about the experience. See what he remembers and what stuck out in his head.

Why wait? If you ask him now, while it’s fresh, it will be a re-teaching, which is important. Teach and reteach and teach again, in different ways.

We just talked about it in the car on the way home. I want to test his retention.

So…why was the wall curved?

Does it have to do with lighting and light reflection?

It’s a “psyche” wall. It’s there to look like a horizonless, empty space.

What do they use it for? I mean, what kind of shots?

See in this image how there’s no line where the wall stops and the floor begins?

Ah, yes. Thank you! I learned something new today. Here. Have an apple, Teach!

Oh, and with regards to money: They rent out their studio space for infomercials, Dillard’s commercials, and stuff. That’s one thing. Also philanthropists and pledge drives and stuff.

Ah. Thank you.