Tour Curricula

Fifth Grade Curriculum

Choose from these three tour options:

1. 30 minutes: 20″ tour + 10″ paper airplane activity
2. 45 minutes: 10″ introduction + 20″ tour + 15″ paper airplane activity
3. 60 minutes: 5″ introduction + 10″ math activity using log books + 20″ tour + 15″ exhibit response activity + 10″ paper airplane activity

The curriculum for 5th grade focuses on using critical thinking skills such as sequencing, categorizing and summarizing to understand the roles of women in WWII. Students will also explore technological developments during the war years and ways these changes and the war in general affected the US economy. Lessons on tour or available for use in the classroom will share music and art of the era, and they will explain the significance of Memorial Day and Veterans’ Day.

Logbook Activity
Students will look at the logbook that belonged to Eloise Huffhines Bailey. They will learn a little about her life and will add up hours in her logbook to see how much time she spent in one aircraft.

Exhibit Response Cards
Students will work singly or in groups to choose exhibits that in their opinion(s) correlate to the prompts on the cards. Cards should be placed below or beside the exhibit, not on the exhibit. The docent will guide students to piles of cards. Students will verbally state why they chose to pair a card with an exhibit.

Paper Airplane Activity
Students will create one or two paper airplanes. The docent will explain basic aerodynamics.

After your visit to the museum, check our website again for “Post-visit Activities for Fifth Graders.” Here you will find directions to the following activities.

  1. Sequencing and Summarizing Using Timeline Cards
  2. Creating Poems, Songs, and Posters that Describe Wartime Feelings
  3. Planning Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day, or Aviation Day Events
  4. Learn to Communicate Your School Mascot’s Name in Morse Code

TEKS: Social Studies 5(A), 7(C), 9(A)(B), 14(E), 18(D), 22(A)(B), 23(C), 24(B)(C)(E), 25(F), 26(C)

Eighth Grade Curriculum

Choose from these three tour options:

1. 30 minutes: 15″ tour + 15″ kite design activity
2. 45 minutes: 5″ introduction + 20″ tour + 20″ kite design activity
3. 60 minutes: 5″ introduction + 10″ poetry activity + 20″ tour + 25″ kite design activity

The curriculum for 8th grade focuses on using critical thinking skills to understand time by comparing and contrasting events from 1776 to 1865 with events in the 20th century, primarily, WWII. Students will discuss the importance of personal responsibility, differing points of view and patriotism.

Poetry Activity
Students will hear Anne Noggle’s “Sky High” poem and one of the camp songs. Name (or better yet sing) a popular tune and change it to include your school mascot.

Kite Design Activity
Students staying 60” will create and decorate a delta kite. Students with less time will decorate a template for a kite.

After your visit to the museum, check our website again for “Post-Visit Activities for Eighth Graders.” Here you will find directions to the following activities.

  1. What it Took to Get an Eight Grade Education in 1895
  2. Patriotism: What Does That Mean?
  3. The Golden Rule in My School

High School Curriculum

Choose from these three tour options:

1. 30 minutes: 20″ tour + 10″ rotor motor activity
2. 45 minutes: 10″ introduction + 20″ tour + 15″ rotor motor activity
3. 60 minutes: 5″ introduction + 10″ math activity + 20″ tour + 10″ primary source activity + 15″ rotor motor activity

The curriculum for high school American History students focuses on the use of critical-thinking skills to explain and apply these methods of interpreting the past: historical context and points of view. Students will identify reasons for and major events of WWII. They will learn about the impact of this war on American economy. They will see or look up maps and databases that will enhance their understanding.

Math Activity
Students will answer two math questions posed to WASP in training.

Primary Source Activity
Students will look at a variety of primary sources – copies of documents such as an Army Air Forces Diploma, an immunization register, a War Department “Notification of Personnel Action” or orders, and a Pilot’s Flight Log or logbook. Ask the students: Do they have any of these kinds of documents at home? What is the value of looking at these belonging to the WASP now?

Rotor Motor Activity
Explain the basic force of lift: the pressure differences caused by the shape of rotating blades or by rapidly moving air over the top of the blade/wing while air beneath the blade/wing is moving slower produces the lifting of an aircraft. A paper model has no motor so the only source of lift is the spin created when it falls. The spin will however, reduce the rat of fall by producing lift, resisting the force of gravity.

Source: Aeronautics: An Educator’s Guide with Activities in Science, mathematics and Technology Education - NASA

After your visit to the museum, check our website again for “Post-visit Activities for High School Students.” Here you will find directions to the following activities.

  1. My WASP Exhibit
  2. One View: A Student’s Look at WWII from the Point of View of a WASP, the Parent of a WASP or another Soldier
  3. America at War: 1941-45
  4. America at War Today
  5. American Aviation Today: Visit an Airport or Invite Airport Personnel to Visit You
  6. Science Projects: Collaborate with the School Science Department

TEKS: Social Studies 1(A)(B)(C), 5(B), 6(A)(B)(C), 8(B), 14(B), 19(B), 20(A)(B)(C), 21(D), 22(A)(B)(C), 23(A), 24(A)(B)(C)(D)(H), 25(A)(D), 26(A)(B)