The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA, has partnered with the Tukwila School District and Showalter Middle School to introduce a series of field trips focused on aerospace education and career pathways for sixth and seventh-grade students. The program is intended to connect classroom learning with aviation and aerospace topics through museum visits, hands-on activities, and guided exploration. Tukwila School District, located in King County, Washington, includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. According to Showalter Middle School Principal Suzanne Rieger, the partnership is designed to strengthen ties between the school and the local community while giving students greater access to educational opportunities tied to science and technology. The Museum of Flight said the partnership also aligns with its broader effort to expand local aerospace education programming and encourage student interest in aviation and related careers. Under the program, sixth-grade visits will introduce students to the experience of visiting a museum and participating in structured field trips. Seventh-grade visits will focus more directly on science concepts connected to the district’s curriculum.
“Through hands-on exploration,” said Principal Rieger, “project-based learning, and collaboration between museum educators and classroom teachers, science instruction is aligned to engaging, real-world experiences that spark curiosity and innovation. Together we are creating pathways for access, exploration, and future possibilities for every scholar.” “At The Museum of Flight, we believe every student should have the opportunity to see themselves in the future of aerospace,” said Rafael Gallardo, the museum’s Director of Education Programs and Initiatives. “Partnering with the Tukwila School District allows us to welcome students from our closest community into the Museum, connect their classroom learning to exploration and hands-on experiences, and introduce them to careers in the aviation and aerospace industry.”
(Image credit: Museum of Flight)
As part of the program, Showalter Middle School students may take part in two self-guided museum explorations. “Beyond the Blue Planet” focuses on the museum’s space galleries and introduces students to topics such as space science, human habitability, and careers connected to living beyond Earth through collaborative activities. “Flying Through Time” explores aviation history, science, and technology through galleries featuring aircraft ranging from early aviation designs to modern jets, with guided activity booklets encouraging students to examine how aviation developed over time. The museum also noted that the partnership is part of a wider range of K-12 educational initiatives already offered through its education department. Those programs include the Challenger Learning Center, Aviation Learning Center, Aerospace Camp Experience, Amelia’s Aero Club, the Michael P. Anderson Memorial Aerospace Program, the Aeronautical Science Pathway, and Washington Aerospace Scholars. For more information and to support The Museum of Flight, click on the link: www.museumofflight.org.
