Field Trip Social Story Printable: Real Photos + a Mini Flap Book Printable

Okay, let’s be real—field trips are fun and chaotic. You’ve got the wiggly kids, the loud kids, the anxious kids, and the ones who always lose a shoe right before the bus shows up. (Why is it always the same one, too?)

That’s why I never go on a trip without prepping my kiddos with a field trip social story printable. It’s my not-so-secret weapon for keeping the day smooth, fun, and meltdown-free. Well… mostly meltdown-free. We’re still working on that.

If you’re looking to expand your SEL library, you’ll love these ready-to-use social story templates—they’re perfect for customizing routines like field trips, assemblies, or transitions. I often mix and match them with my adapted books for extra practice.

Stay tuned, you will get a fun flap book printable below that you can use with your students.

Social Skill Stories (written in language for kids):

Grab the Free Token Board to Pair With This Social Story

If you are using this keeping clothes on social skills story, I highly recommend pairing it with a simple token board. Kids do so much better when there is something visual and concrete they are working toward, especially when we are teaching a new boundary or replacement behavior.

I created a FREE printable token board that you can laminate and use with Velcro coins, real tokens, or even little stars. Your student picks a preferred activity, earns five tokens for demonstrating the expected behavior, and then celebrates reaching their goal in a positive and structured way.

It works beautifully with this story, but honestly, it also works with accepting no, toilet routines, gentle hands, and any other social skill you are teaching. You can grab the free token board below and start using it right away in your classroom or at home.

[Grab the FREE Token Board Here]

Why Social Stories Are a Must for Field Trip Prep

So here’s the thing: new experiences = unpredictability. And for our little learners—especially those with autism, anxiety, or sensory sensitivities—that unpredictability can be a lot.

I started using social stories for field trips when one of my students had a full-on panic attack before a trip to the zoo. Poor kiddo didn’t know what to expect and just froze.

That night, I pulled together a super basic social narrative for a field trip, complete with stick-figure drawings and a clip art bus. It wasn’t fancy, but it worked. The next trip? Smooth sailing.

Now, I never leave for a trip without reviewing a printable social story for behavior expectations beforehand. And I keep a few versions handy—one for preschoolers, one for special education students, and a few that are visual schedule-friendly for our kiddos who thrive with pictures.

Before any trip, I also make sure we review how to behave on the bus. This riding the bus social story pairs perfectly with our field trip prep and helps remind students about safety, waiting their turn, and using quiet voices.

A Peek Inside My Go-To Field Trip Social Story

Here’s a simple field trip adapted social story that works beautifully for preschool, kindergarten, and even first grade.

I’ve previously written a field trip social narrative using clipart images and this one did really well with the students. You can find that printable book along with the editable certificates here. Below, I created a photo visual story which can be used like an adapted book to reinforce what they’ve learned.

Field trips often throw off our regular rhythm, so it’s a great time to review our back to school routine story too. It helps bring back those expected daily patterns that kids thrive on, especially after a big outing.

It’s short, visual, and easy to personalize for different destinations.

Social Story: “Going on a Field Trip”

Today, we are going on a field trip!

I will ride the bus with my friends and teachers.
I will stay with my group and listen to my teacher.
There will be new things to see and do!
Sometimes, I might have to wait my turn.
If I feel nervous, I can take deep breaths.
I will try to be safe, kind, and respectful.
After the field trip, we will come back to school.
I will have fun and learn something new!

This first field trip story helps set expectations, ease anxiety, and spark excitement. I usually read it as a group a few days before the trip, then send a copy home for parents to read, too.

Some students may get overwhelmed or overstimulated during field trips—and that’s okay! I like to use this frustrated social skills story ahead of time to give them coping tools they can use on the go.

Grab the Free 4-Page Printable Mini Book!

I’ve put together a fun field trip mini-book you can download and print today! It’s just four pages, super low-prep, and folds into a little booklet that kids can color and take with them. They love feeling like they have their own “guidebook” for the big day.

You can send it home, keep a few copies in your calming corner, or add it to your social emotional field trip lesson toolkit. Click the download button below to grab it!

I’ve found that many of my kids need extra support with social cues when we’re out and about. This eye contact social story is simple, visual, and a great refresher before field trips where students meet new people.

How I Use This with My Kiddos

Before any field trip, I gather my class on the carpet and we read the social story for a field trip together.

Sometimes, I even turn it into a group project—kids help act out parts, or we draw our destination on the whiteboard.

One time, I turned our classroom into a pretend zoo and made animal noises for the full experience. (Yes, I was the giraffe. It was a moment.)

For my one-on-one students, especially those in special education, I use a visual schedule for field trips alongside the story. It really helps break things down into manageable chunks and builds that sense of “I know what’s coming next.”

Want to keep the learning going after the trip? Try asking a few WH-questions for kids based on their field trip experience. It’s an easy way to build comprehension and speaking confidence during a post-trip activity.

Easy Extension Activities to Reinforce the Story

Once we’ve read the story, I love using a few follow-up activities to help reinforce the routine and build excitement.

1. Create a Visual Timeline

This one’s gold for our autism field trip support needs. I print photos of key steps—lining up, riding the bus, eating lunch—and we glue them in order. Some kids even carry a mini version with them during the trip!

2. Role-Play Scenarios

We act out what to do if we get separated from the group or if we need to use a quiet voice in the museum. It becomes a super fun and interactive social emotional field trip lesson.

3. Draw and Journal

Kids draw what they’re most excited to see. Older students can write a few sentences—perfect for a special education field trip prep writing center!

4. Calming Strategies Practice

We talk about things we can do if we feel overwhelmed on the trip: deep breaths, asking for help, or taking a break. Practicing calming strategies for field trips ahead of time makes a big difference.

Field trips are such a highlight of the school year, but they can also be overwhelming for our little learners. That’s why I always lean on a good field trip social story printable to set the stage.

Whether it’s your student’s first field trip, or just one of many, having a social story, a visual support, and some time to talk about feelings goes a long way. And when your student who was once terrified of the unknown is now confidently hopping off the bus with a smile? That’s the win we’re all here for.

So grab the free printable mini book, get those kids prepped, and make your next adventure a smooth one. You’ve got this!

And for those students who get the pre-trip jitters (don’t we all?), I always pull out this anxiety social story the day before. It gives kids a calm, supportive way to manage those butterflies in their tummies.