The Museum of Flight in Seattle and Highline Public Schools are marking 15 years of collaboration on educational programming that has introduced more than 20,000 fifth-grade students to aviation, space science, and STEM-related learning opportunities. According to the Museum, the partnership was established to create field trip experiences specifically for Highline students, with programs developed in collaboration with district teachers to support classroom learning. The field trips are provided at no cost to participating schools through support from 4Culture. The partnership has continued to evolve alongside changes in classroom curriculum. Over the past two years, educators from Highline and the Museum worked together to redesign the program, resulting in Highline Goes to Space, a new experience aligned with the district’s fifth-grade science curriculum.
(Image credit: The Museum of Flight)
“This program gives our students opportunities to see new possibilities for themselves in STEM and beyond,” said Dr. Tanisha Brandon-Felder, Director of PreK and Elementary Success. “The partnership is a clear example of what happens when we center student needs and connect classroom learning with meaningful, hands-on experiences.” The program combines classroom materials with activities at the Museum, helping students prepare for their visit and continue learning afterward. During their field trip, students participate in a planetarium program exploring astronomy and space science concepts connected to classroom lessons. Students also take part in the Museum’s Beyond the Blue Planet experience, where they explore space-related exhibits through observation and inquiry-based activities. Museum officials said the redesigned program reflects extensive collaboration between district teachers and Museum educators.
(Image credit: The Museum of Flight)
“Having supported this partnership for many years, I believe Highline Goes to Space is our strongest work yet,” said Arthur Bednar, Senior Program Manager for Education at The Museum of Flight. “Working alongside Highline’s outstanding teachers to create programs that support the curriculum while keeping students engaged and excited to learn has been incredibly rewarding. It’s a great example of what we can achieve when working together to create meaningful, engaging learning experiences.” The Museum reports that more than 20,000 Highline students have participated in the partnership since its launch 15 years ago, making it one of the institution’s longest-running collaborative education programs. For more information and to support The Museum of Flight, click on this link: www.museumofflight.org.
