overview

Explore science, technology, history and much more with our expert educators and a variety of hands-on programs, either at the museum, your school, community center, library or other educational venue.

• Please call for class size limitations.
• One adult supervisor is required for every ten students when visiting the museum or Gillespie Field facility.
educator guide
Download our educator guide which is full of great information for your classroom.
download the guide
• A 30-minute guided tour of the museum can normally be added to all classes held at the museum at no extra cost: this must be requested when making your booking, and is subject to tour guide availability. Some classes already include gallery tours, as noted in the descriptions.
• A mileage fee of 75 cents per mile (in both directions) will be added for school outreaches.
• The teacher must remain with the class.
• These classes can also be taught for your group at our Gillespie Field facility in El Cajon.

education program descriptions

Things that Fly

Grades: K-2
This activity-oriented program introduces younger students to the history and science of flight, learning from designs in nature and those created by humans.
Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: $120
Notes: Maximum class size is 25 students.

It's a Blast

Grades: 1-3
Students build and launch paper rockets as they learn about Newton's Third Law of Motion - a brief study of rocket aerodynamics made fun! Please note that in order to keep the cost of this class down, we need to re-use our film canister “rocket motors.”
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $120
Notes: Maximum class size is 25 students.

Kites!

Grades: 2-6
Students use household materials and imagination to build and fly kites, and learn how kites have been enjoyed and used around the world for thousands of years.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $130
Notes: Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level.

Aviation Art

Grades: 1-12
Using our "Fantastic Voyage" traveling poster exhibit as inspiration, students will create individual aviation-related art projects. The Museum graphic design department will then convert the students' work into take-home stickers and book covers. This is a wonderful way to blend science and art while inspiring future artists!
Time: 2 week rental of Fantastic Voyage, with a 2 hour classroom visit.
Cost: $100
Notes: Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level. Does not include mileage fees required for set up.

Magic Planet - Solar System Tour

Grades: 3-6
Students go on a high tech tour of our solar system featuring the Magic Planet digital globe. Features and characteristics of the planets, our sun and moon are addressed.
Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: $120

Magic Planet - Concepts of Scale

Grades: 4-6
Students learn about our solar system through hands-on explorations of scale to appreciate "how big and how far" the planets really are.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $130

Balloon Builders

Grades: 3-9
After a short visual presentation on the history of lighter-than-air flight, students work in teams to build and launch hot air balloons.
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $150
Notes: Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level.

Awesome Aerodynamics

Grades: 3-12
After a visual journey through aviation history, students use the familiar medium of paper to make innovative kinds of airplanes and learn the not-so-familiar concepts of aerodynamics.
Time: 2.5 hours at the museum (Includes 60 minute tour), 1.5 hours for outreach
Cost: $120
Notes: Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level. At the museum, two classes (70 students) may be accommodated during the same time frame for a fee of $160.

International Space Station

Grades: 3-12
Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities teach students about spaceflight and living and working on the International Space Station (ISS). The presentations cover concepts such as orbits, microgravity, rendezvous, spacesuits, and living in space.
Time: 1.5 hours
Cost: $130
Notes: Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level

Gliders Galore!

Grades: 4-6
Students learn the basics of aerodynamics, then directly apply that knowledge in a hands-on way by building working, student-steerable model gliders.
Time: 2.5 hours
Cost: $140

What Goes Up...

Grades: 5-10
Discovering the basics of aerodynamics with paper airplanes leads to a practical application of aircraft design as students build balsa wood flying models.
Time: 4 hours (includes half hour for lunch)
Cost: $180
Notes: Includes 60 minute museum galleries tour

Rocket Science for Real

Grades: 4-9
Day One: Students are introduced to Newton's Laws of Motion and learn about the history of space flight as they build model rockets. This portion of the program can be taught at the Museum or at your school. Day Two: "Launch Day" at the Fiesta Island launch site as the students enjoy the drama of launching their own rockets, followed by a debriefing and review of the launch data. Schools are responsible for transportation to the Mission Bay Fiesta Island launch site.
Time: Two-day program (3.5 hours per day; includes half hour for lunch)
Cost: $350 (up to 20 students, $15 for every extra student)
Notes: Rocket Launches subject to FAA approval/cancelation.

Aquarockets

Grades: 4-12
Newton's Laws come to life as students turn simple soda bottles into amazingly high-flying rockets. Students can bring their own 2 liter bottle and take it home as a rocket.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $140

Science Of: Da Vinci

Grades: 4-12
Students will examine da Vinci's life and the science of his designs and will then build da Vinci inspired gliders.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $120

Air Rockets

Grades: 5-12
Introduce your students to Newton's Laws of Motion as they build their own paper rockets which will be launched outside using a pneumatic rocket launcher. The perfect alternative to our Rocket Science for Real class for those who only have one day.
Time: 2 hours
Cost: $120

Engineer Design Challenge

Grades: 5-12
Based on a well-known college egg drop test, your students will be challenged to engineer a creative and functional impact-resistant capsule. Students work with limited materials and within a budget to design vehicles capable of protecting their "astronaut" from the impact of reentry. A great team-building project, and a fun way for the world's future engineers to learn the scientific method!
Time: 3 hours
Cost: $120

The Story of Bessie Coleman: First Black Woman Pilot

Grades: 5-12
Join author Connie Plantz as she tells the amazing story of Bessie Coleman, who overcame gender and racial prejudice in order to earn an International Pilot's License in 1921. Coleman's life from sharecropper's daughter to daredevil pilot and businesswoman is told using original photos and materials from the museum's archives.
Time: 1 hours
Cost: $135 for an assembly, $50 for one class

science festival descriptions

Paper Rockets

Grades: 1-6
Learn about rocket stability by building simple paper "rockets" launched with a drinking straw. A brief study of rocket aerodynamics made fun.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100

Puff Gliders

Grades: 3-6
Design, build and launch straw gliders that allow students to lean first-hand how some aircraft and gliders fly.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100

Kites

Grades: 3-9
Build and fly a cool paper kite.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100

Aerodynamics with Paper Airplanes

Grades: 3-12
In this popular program, students make and use innovative paper airplanes to discover the concepts of heavier-than-air flight.
Time: 45 minutes per program
Cost: $100 for two programs
Notes: At least two programs must be scheduled per visit. Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level.

International Space Station

Grades: 3-12
Interactive demonstrations and hands-on activities teach students about spaceflight and the International Space Station (ISS). The presentations cover concepts such as orbits, microgravity, rendezvous, spacesuits, and living in space.
Time: 45 minutes per program
Cost: $100 for two programs
Notes: At least two programs must be scheduled per visit. Curriculum adjusted to students' grade level.

Foam & Balsa Gliders

Grades: 4-12
Build and fly a foam and balsa glider with adjustable tail and wing positions.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $150

Foam Flyers

Grades: 4-12
Design, build and fly a glider, based on historical designs or imagination.
Time: 1 hour
Cost: $100

traveling exhibit descriptions

Fantastic Voyage

Grades: 1-12
Travel around the world and inspire your students without leaving the classroom! You will receive a beautiful set of vintage travel posters to display. Each poster features a different country and aircraft. Information provided in the curriculum enables your class to make a trans-world flight while learning about geography, history, science, and art.
Time: 2 week rental
Cost: $75 plus mileage fees
Notes: $75 fee includes set up and removal by museum staff, it does not include mileage fees. Each additional week is $25.

Space at Your Place

Grades: 1-12
This exhibit includes two kiosks providing information on the solar system, satellites, rockets, spacecraft, and the International Space Station. Three additional display cases showcase models of Atlas, Titan, and Saturn rockets.
Time: 2 week rental
Cost: $75 plus mileage fees
Notes: $75 fee includes set up and removal by museum staff, it does not include mileage fees. Each additional week is $25.