Please remember not to include any information that could identify your school or any students or staff members specifically.
So without further ado, let’s get started!
Prompt 1: Find destinations that support your educational aims
💭Prompt:
Suggest school trip destinations within [X miles/km/hours/minutes] of [approximate school location] that would help [year group] students develop their understanding of [specific learning objective] in [subject/topic]. Prioritise locations that offer interactive learning experiences, guided tours, or hands-on activities. Include key details such as cost, accessibility, how the trip supports the learning goals, and include references for where I can find out more.
Just replace the square brackets with the information, and if needed, update the bold text to match your priorities for this trip. Once you’ve done that, you’ll have a prompt that looks something like this:
📝Example:
Suggest school trip destinations within 30 miles of Oxford that would help Year 9 students develop their understanding of the English Civil War in History. Prioritise locations that offer interactive learning experiences, guided tours, or hands-on activities. Include key details such as cost, accessibility, and how the trip supports the learning goals and include references where I can find out more.
💡Output:
We tested the above example in ChatGPT, and here’s what it said:
As you can see, it’s provided us with a list of suitable locations, the approximate distance, what the students might learn, the key features of each venue (based on my priorities), a rough cost estimate, a note on accessibility, and a link to the venue’s website for more details.
Prompt 2: Compare destinations to narrow down your options
Once you have compiled your list of suggested venues or locations, you might wish to delve a bit deeper into the pros and cons of two or three of them. This prompt will help you do that, fast!
💭Prompt:
Compare [destination A] and [destination B] for a [number] day residential trip abroad for [year group] students. Consider how well each destination supports [subject/topic], the availability of group-friendly accommodations, educational activities, and costs. Recommend the best destination and explain why. Provide references for where I can find out more.
Remember to replace the square brackets with information about your trip, and customise the text in bold where necessary.
📝 Example:
Compare Vienna and Rome for a 7 day residential trip abroad for year 9-13 students. Consider how well each destination supports musical learning, the availability of group-friendly accommodations, suitable venues for a choir to perform in, educational activities and costs. Recommend the best destination and explain why. Provide references for where I can find out more.
💡Output:
We tried using Google’s Gemini AI assistant for this prompt, and here’s what it came up with:
We really liked the use of bullet points here to break down the analysis and keep it easy to read. The small down arrows also linked to references so it was easy to delve deeper into the analysis. (Spoiler alert: Vienna won 😉)
Prompt 3: Create a draft itinerary
You’ve made your choice, now it’s time to create a detailed itinerary and start planning the finer details of your trip. This prompt will help ensure the itinerary is realistic, achievable, and meets the learning objectives, all while being as environmentally sustainable as possible.
💭Prompt:
Create a [number] day residential trip itinerary for a school trip from [approximate school location] to [destination] for [year group] students studying [subject/topic]. The trip should include a mix of educational activities and leisure time, travel times, meal breaks, and sufficient rest. Ensure the schedule is balanced and keeps students engaged throughout the trip and is as environmentally sustainable as possible. Include travel time to and from the destination and accommodation details. The trip should meet the following educational aims: [specific learning objectives]. Provide references for how I can find out more.
📝 Example:
Create a 4-day residential trip itinerary for a school trip from Bristol to Amsterdam for Year 9 students studying Geography and Art. The trip should include a mix of educational activities and leisure time, travel times, meal breaks, and sufficient rest. Ensure the schedule is balanced and keeps students engaged throughout the trip, and ensure the trip is as environmentally sustainable as possible. Include travel time to and from the destination and accommodation details. The trip should meet the following educational aims:
- Explore Dutch geography, including urban planning, sustainability, and renewable energy practices in Amsterdam.
- Understand the role of art in reflecting culture and history, with a focus on the works of Van Gogh.
- Learn about Amsterdam’s historical architecture and its impact on the city’s development.
- Develop skills in interpreting landscapes and urban spaces through art.
Provide references for how I can find out more.
💡Output:
We tried this out on Claude AI, and while it definitely needed more time for loading the coach (a lot more time!), we loved how it gave regular updates on how to make sustainable choices.
Prompt 4: Customise your itinerary to the needs of your students
Now that you’ve drafted your itinerary (or found a suggested itinerary online), it’s time to ensure it suits the needs of your students. This prompt allows you to cater to pupils with specific physical, dietary, educational or other needs.
💭Prompt:
Modify this itinerary to be more engaging for [age group] students with [learning need]. Add more hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and breaks to keep students focused. Ensure the trip aligns with learning objectives for [subject].
You can either add this prompt to the end of a conversation with an AI assistant about your itinerary, or share the itinerary at the end of the prompt by pasting it in or attaching it.
📝Example:
Modify the attached itinerary to be more engaging for year 3 students, some who have ADHD. Add more hands-on activities, interactive exhibits, and breaks to keep students focused. Ensure the trip aligns with learning objectives for History.
💡Output:
We attached a generic itinerary in PDF format from the English Heritage website to this prompt, and DeepSeek did a great job of reading the itinerary and extracting the main points. We particularly liked how it clearly outlined ways to cater for students with ADHD. Further down in the output, it also provided additional notes on ensuring movement breaks and offering sensory-friendly options.
Prompt 5: Find alternative activities nearby
So, you’ve planned the perfect trip–congratulations! Now, it’s time to prepare for everything that could go wrong 🫣 But don’t panic! As you know, at TripPA, we’re all about helping you create trips without trip-ups! Whether you have time to prepare for changes to your trip or not, this prompt makes it quick and easy to prepare alternative activities your students won’t forget!
💭Prompt:
Suggest alternative activities near [location] for a school trip if the [original venue/activity] is closed or affected by bad weather. The activities should be engaging, educational, and suitable for [age group] students. Provide references for where I can find out more.
Remember to customise the information in the square brackets, and change the phrases in bold as necessary!
📝Example:
Suggest alternative activities near South Bank, London for a school trip if the Globe Theatre is closed or affected by bad weather. The activities should be engaging, educational, and suitable for year 6 students. Provide references for where I can find out more.
💡Output:
We tried this prompt through Perplexity, and it came up with some fantastic alternatives. We really liked how the references are easy to view at the top of the page and linked throughout.
Next time you’re planning an educational visit, why not give these prompts a try? Once you’re happy with your itinerary, be sure to update it on the TripPA app for your staff and parents to see!
