Write about a school trip that takes a turn for the unexpected.

Posted in Kids on May 12, 2023

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✍️ 15 stories

“Do Not Lick the Glass” by Aeris Walker

Submitted to Contest #198

“Who are we missing?” Mrs. Clogs looked over her bifocals and scanned the school bus full of third graders, wordlessly moving her thin, wrinkled lips. “We should have five chaperones and I’m only seeing four.”Then thirty children jumped, startled by a loud bang outside. Mrs. Clogs squinted through the fingerprint-smeared window; someone was running along the side of the bus, beating its metal belly—behaving in that uninhibited way one does when tardiness has subdued all sense of propriety.“Wait up! I’m coming!”“Oh, Jesus Christ.” Mrs. Clogs ...

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“Salamanders” by Myranda Marie

Submitted to Contest #198

The annual sixth grade class trip was approaching, and best friends Rachel and Laurie were equally excited as they were apprehensive. Five days and four nights away from their homes, their families and their own cozy beds made the two twelve-year-olds rethink the decision to attend. However, this particular trip was mandatory attendance with the only exceptions accompanied by a note from a doctor. A rite of passage for the last year in elementary school, each class passed down stories of survival as if they were a perpetual urban legend stra...

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“Once Upon a Time on a School Bus” by Ralph Aldrich

Submitted to Contest #198

My name is Ralph Ferguson, and I’m a tenth-grader at Union High. It’s almost the end of the year, and time to plan our annual class trip. Every tenth-grade class before us has gone to Spencer’s Beach, so we all voted to do the same. It’s a large lake with a small amusement park attached. The food hall serves chili dogs and clam cakes with corn on the cob. For five dollars a student, it’s an all-you-can-eat affair.I’m excited about the trip because the girl I like is also going. She’s a cute little redhead named ...

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“A School Trip and a Sighting” by John Steckley

Submitted to Contest #198

The school trip to the local observatory did not begin well. It was the first such trip I, as a newly minted high school science teacher, had ever taken my students on. Now when I was a high school student (my classes hate it when I say stuff like that), school trips had students full of energy and sound. We talked and laughed, but at least we exhibited some enthusiasm on the bus ride to our eventual educational destination. This school trip had a vacuum of...

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“Stop trippin' ya'll!” by David Drake

Submitted to Contest #198

Maybe I can start this journal with some gratitude thought like my counselor, Ms. Crystal New Age Healer etc…that sarcasm is just because I can’t remember her real name…says to do. I can’t think of any other way to put all this down….. I’m grateful that nobody else remembered what happened on last Friday’s class trip. So glad, so gratitude. Now for the literal gory details. Mr. Terrance’s history class never sat still for long. For that, I’m also grateful to the old fart. He loved field trips to the museum when they got in an e...

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“The Amber Alert” by Joe Smallwood

Submitted to Contest #198

Of all the school trips I was ever on, this one was the worst. Everything went wrong. It started with not all the permission forms coming back and got steadily worse from there. The school secretary had to phone three parents.Now if it was up to me, I would never bother to call. Leave them at school! Wouldn’t this be the perfect opportunity to teach children and even their parents that not being responsible has consequences? But no, we had to wait, the bus driver fuming while the secretary called three parents, first calling at hom...

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“Queen Lila” by Abigail Geurts

Submitted to Contest #198

The trip to King Arthur Park was a yearly treat for the fourth graders of St. Olga Elementary. Lila had been looking forward to it since her brother had gone two years before. Two years felt like a long time for someone so young. It had felt like a long time to her family too, as they had to hear her excited rambling more often than anyone else. It wasn’t often that the kids got to go on field trips. The school district didn’t have a lot of money to spend on things like that, and all of the money they managed to raise usually went to buildi...

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“Maev and the Destiny of Dragons ” by Daniel Rosas

Submitted to Contest #198

“Your daughter, King Corliss, is lost!”, the oracle declared darkly. “Consumed by the callous flames of war.” “Bah!”, Corliss said hotly. “I don’t come to you to tell me what I know! Where is her body? We must retrieve it before the humans desecrate her making impossible for her soul to pass to afterlife.” The oracle gave Corliss a look of distaste then waved a clawed hand through the thin, white smoke that rose from a candle and closed her eyes. “Close she is. And yet,” the oracle broke off her eyes opening w...

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“Never Miss A Trip” by Gary Jefferies

Submitted to Contest #198

“Good morning, Houghton Secondary School, my name's Lisa. How can I help you?” “I certainly hope so. Is Emma Strickland available?” “Just a moment; I'll see if she's teaching. Whom shall I say is calling?” Conrad thought before deciding that honesty was the better option. “It's Conrad Carmichael, and it's to do with one of her students.” “Thank you, transferring you now.” He waited for about a minute. Be nice if utility call centres were this fast, he thought. “Hello, Em...

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“The purple talking thing” by Ksenija Rubež

Submitted to Contest #198

The morning of the trip. As I brush my teeth, I feel those butterflies in my stomach. The bad ones. My mother. Buttons up my shirt. Keeps looking me in the eyes. Smiles. Smile of support. In the car, I look through the window. I try not to think of what is coming. My focus on the trees. On the parking lot. A few meters away from us the bus. My mother. She talks to someone. She is so tall. Her shadow protects me from the hot sun. I look at her great hand around my tiny hand. My fingers so small and short. Her thumb gently go...

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“A HUGE ENCOUNTER” by Tim Frater

Submitted to Contest #198

“What was that!?” My question was prompted by a high-pitched blood curdling sound that disturbed the peace of the night air.“Moose?” suggested Ryan Colquhoun, one of the three roommates I was bunked with in our tent.“Doesn’t sound like any moose I’ve ever heard,” said Cory Bush.“That’s for sure,” added Grant Lewis. My name is Tim Forsyth, a grade 12 student at Pattison High School, Vancouver, Canada. I and fifteen of my classmates, under the watchful care of four of our teachers, had taken the ferry across to Vancouver Island, departing...

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“Finding My Porpoise in Life” by C.C. Knight

Submitted to Contest #198

My day starts like any other school day at Crescent City High, except it's the day of the big field trip. I feel the excitement buzzing through the halls as I walk towards Heather's locker, where she's adding yet another picture of Harry Styles, no surprise there. "What did you bring for lunch today?" I ask, already dreading the tuna fish sandwich my step mom packed for me. Heather slams her locker shut and sighs, "Bologna." "Thank God! Want to swap?" I plead, desperate to get rid of the smelly tuna in my backpack. "Yes, if it's turk...

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“Trippin” by Shanelle Monique

Submitted to Contest #198

Today is the big day! It is the 8th grade class trip to the Science Museum. Adrian had been excited and preparing for this day for a month. It had finally arrived and he could hardly contain himself. It has always been his dream to be an entomologist because he loves to play with bugs. For Adrian to see all the different kinds of insects and bugs for the 8th time, would make his day. Each and every time, his fascination with bugs has grown. When Adrian arrived at school, he ran excitedly to his...

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“The best thing about the zoo” by Nathanael Geach

Submitted to Contest #198

Sam and Tom were best of friends,Always thick as thieves.Outside they'd play. Well Tom would sitWhilst Sam kicked through the leaves.Tom prefers to be indoorsPlaying with his toys.He loves his Lego pirate shipAnd shouting "land ahoy!"In the garden Sam would search for bumblebees and slugs,But there were things he’d rather find than teeny tiny bugs.He’d love to spot great jungle cats or monkeys in the trees,Penguins in the Arctic, and Great White Sharks in the seas.Sam knew about these animals by researching in books.He’d carefully turn the p...

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“A Journey into the Unknown” by Ella James

Submitted to Contest #198

Hi. My name is Emily Hanshaw. I am 12 years old and I live in Northland. This is my story on how when I took a school trip, It’d take an unexpected turn. It was a crisp autumn morning when our school bus rumbled to life, ready to take us on a much-anticipated adventure. The destination? The sprawling countryside of Northland, known for its scenic beauty and rich historical landmarks. We were a group of wide-eyed high school students, eager to escape the confines of our classrooms and immerse ourselves in a day of exploration and discovery. L...

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Write about a school trip that takes a turn for the unexpected.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 15 stories

“Do Not Lick the Glass” by Aeris Walker

“Salamanders” by Myranda Marie

“Once Upon a Time on a School Bus” by Ralph Aldrich

“A School Trip and a Sighting” by John Steckley

“Stop trippin' ya'll!” by David Drake

“The Amber Alert” by Joe Smallwood

“Queen Lila” by Abigail Geurts

“Maev and the Destiny of Dragons ” by Daniel Rosas

“Never Miss A Trip” by Gary Jefferies

“The purple talking thing” by Ksenija Rubež

“A HUGE ENCOUNTER” by Tim Frater

“Finding My Porpoise in Life” by C.C. Knight

“Trippin” by Shanelle Monique

“The best thing about the zoo” by Nathanael Geach

“A Journey into the Unknown” by Ella James

🌟 Similar prompts

Write a story about an unconventional teacher.

Start your story with somebody getting called to the principal’s office.

Write a short story about a teacher or mentor figure who recognizes hidden (or magical!) potential in someone and helps them cultivate it.

Write a story that contains the phrase “Okay class! Pop quiz.”

Contest #198

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

182

Contest entries

105

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: