Museum to Offer Students STEM-Based Field Trip

We’ve all heard the warning cries that US students are falling behind in crucial STEM subjects of science, technology, engineering, and math.  WWII history offers a wealth of opportunities to explore innovations in these fields—many of which have a direct impact on our science and technology today.  Two years ago, the Museum’s Education Department created the Science & Technology of WWII website to explore the history of that subject.  Now we have created a hands-on field trip specifically for middle and high school science students that gives them a chance to experience that science and technology close up.

Students start with a tour of the Museum’s exhibits where they use problem solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and some basic math to create innovative solutions to complex problems America faced during WWII.  Armed with data sheets, calculators, and their own creativity, students improve WWII vehicles, calculate firing trajectories, crack a secret code, determine the rate of bacterial growth in an infected battlefield wound, and even figure out how much wool is needed to clothe an army of 16 million soldiers.

In the second part of the field trip, students enter a design competition where their skills in creativity, teamwork, and data evaluation, will be put to the test.  Responding to an RFP, students compete for a contract to create a simple vehicle that can perform specified tasks.  Winning designs will be “awarded” the contract!  This field trip is perfect for introducing students in any science class to the design process.

To schedule a WWII Museum STEM Field Trip for your students or for more information, call 504-528-1944, x 225, or visit our Plan A Field Trip page.

Print out a flyer for your school!

P.S. While we’re talking about WWII Science and Technology, our 2012 Middle School and High School Essay Contests asks students, “What WWII invention or innovation has had the biggest impact on YOUR life?”  View full contest rules and submit your essay!

This post by Director of Education Kenneth Hoffman.