School & Education Programs

USS Hornet School Programs

The goal of each HORNET educational program is to use the unique, stimulating environment of this historic aircraft carrier to teach science and history concepts in an interesting, interactive, fun manner. Each program features a theme-based tour of the ship with hands-on activities.

We currently offer four different programs:

• Pathways to History: 41,000 Tons of Fun (K-12) – tour the ship as veterans share first-hand experiences
• Pathways to Science: Apollo Mission (K-12) – tour the ship and learn about America’s space program
• Step into History: 11th Grade Curriculum
• Step into Science: 9th-12th Grade Curriculum
• Junior Crewmember Live-Aboard – students experience ship-board life

To book a school fieldtrip: contact the Ticketing Office at (510) 521-8448 x 282, fax a reservation form to (510) 749-3699, or mail to: School Programs, USS Hornet Museum, PO Box 460, Alameda CA 94501

Pathways to History: "41,000 Tons of Fun Field Trip"

This program expands students' horizons, develops new vocabulary and concepts, and helps them explore the ship's unusual educational environment. Participants:

• Tour the historic Navigation Bridge where the captain commanded
• Learn how aircraft were launched and recovered on the Flight Deck with its catapults and control tower
• Learn how 15 men worked together to fire the big 5-inch guns
• See historic aircraft on the Hangar Deck
• Experience how the crew lived below decks in their own “city”
• Walk on the footprints of the astronauts' first steps back on earth
• Enter the Mobile Quarantine Facility used by the Apollo 14 astronauts
• Ride the flight simulator featuring a mission that takes off and lands on the deck of a carrier

Our Pathways to History program is available at three general grade levels and is easily adjusted to create a range of activities for different skill levels (Level I: grades 1-3, Level II: grades 4-6, Level III: grades 7-12)

Download Classroom Activities

School Rates

Rates are for 15 or more students with advance reservation. (The museum requires a minimum of one adult for every eight children.) The school prices apply on weekdays during school hours.

	Tour Only	w/ Flight SimulatorStudents
Students	$4.00	$7.50
Adult Chaperones	$8.00	$11.50

Box Lunches available for $6.50 per person.

Information and Reservations

View the Application Form and Guidelines (includes classroom discussion topics).

Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader from:

To book a school fieldtrip: contact the Ticketing Office at (510) 521-8448 x 282, fax a reservation form to (510) 749-3699, or mail to: School Programs, USS Hornet Museum, PO Box 460, Alameda CA 94501

Pathways to Science: Apollo Mission

Students follow the path of the Apollo 11 and 12 astronauts as they rocket into space, explore the moon's surface, and safely return to HORNET's famous decks. Participants:

• Learn about rockets and space travel-today's children will be the 21st century space explorers
• Stand where President Nixon watched helicopter 66 land on board with the Apollo 11 astronauts
• Walk on the footprints of the astronauts' first steps back on earth
• Watch a special program on HORNET's historic recovery of the first men to walk on the moon
• Sit in the Mobile Quarantine Facility area and learn about biological barriers
• Experience the "Origins of the Universe" flight simulator ride

Our Pathways to Science program is available at three general grade levels and is easily adjusted to create a range of activities for different skill levels (Level I: grades 1-3, Level II: grades 4-6, Level III: grades 7-12)

Download Apollo Classroom Activities

School Rates

Rates are for 15 or more students with advance reservation. (The museum requires a minimum of one adult for every eight children.) The school prices apply on weekdays during school hours.

	Tour Only	w/ Flight SimulatorStudents
Students	$4.00	$7.50
Adult Chaperones	$8.00	$11.50

Box Lunches available for $6.50 per person.

Information and Reservations

View the Application Form and Guidelines (includes classroom discussion topics).

Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader:

To book a school fieldtrip: contact the Ticketing Office at (510) 521-8448 x 282, fax a reservation form to (510) 749-3699, or mail to: School Programs, USS Hornet Museum, PO Box 460, Alameda CA 94501

Step into History: 11th Grade Curriculum

This day program based on the California Standards uses the ship as a platform for teaching various aspects of 20th century U.S. and World History in our unique venue.

Students board the ship in the morning, are provided workbooks, split into groups and rotate through 7 learning stations staffed by a Hornet Educator.  Using location, artifacts, multi-media presentations, and historic film footage, students:

Learn about World War II Pacific Strategy on the Admiral’s bridge from which it was actually directed

Are given an overview of the Cold War in a pilot Ready Room where pilots of that era were briefed on their missions

Get an “insider” education on the Space Race -- 10 feet from an Apollo capsule and quarantine used by the Apollo astronauts

 

Subject Focus and Locations

“Cell Phone, Hybrid Car? Thank WWII”	Engine Room and Crew’s Mess
“One Small Step for a Man…”	Hangar Bay 2 – Apollo Exhibit
“Life or Death, Hide and Seek”	Navigation Bridge
“The Greatest Battle You’ve Never Heard Of”	Hangar Bay 1 – TBM Avenger
“Rise of a Superpower”	Officer’s Wardroom
“Overcoming Oppression”	442nd Regiment Exhibit
“US vs Them – A Way of Life”	Forecastle

Download Teacher Guide

Program Rate

Rates are for 15 or more students with three weeks advance reservation. (The museum requires a minimum of one adult for every eight students.) School prices apply on weekdays during school hours. Call for price.

Information and Reservations

To book the Step Into History educational program, contact the Education Office at (510) 521-8448 x 228.

Step into Science: 9th-12th Grade Curriculum

Science from Stem to Stern!
A Fun Applied Science and Math Fieldtrip aboard the USS Hornet!

Welcome to the California Standards based 9th-11th grade Science/Math day program held on board the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier that exhibits textbook science and math, from calculus to physics in hands, on user friendly setting. We hypothesize that you will have a unique and experiential adventure into science!!!

By exploring the operational functions of a WWII Aircraft Carrier, your students will utilize math and physics to relative locations throughout the ship. Apply mathematical concepts to Hornet’s Engines and generators. Explore the principles of thermodynamics using our balloon towers. Examples of this exclusive educational experience include how vectors are applied to Navy navigation on the Admiral’s Bridge.

We provide you with advance lesson plans in your classroom prior to your day on the USS Hornet. You and your students come aboard in the morning, and can choose from 4 separate locations throughout the ship, staffed by our educators, which teach the exciting concepts of the scientific and mathematical world.

The Stem to Stern program uses the historic surroundings of the USS Hornet to offer a one-of-a-kind learning environment and a seamless plan of the day for an unforgettable and unique lesson in science.

Come, let us educate you from Stem to Stern!

Subject Focus and Locations

“Work & Power - Vectors / Multivariable Calculus”	Admiral’s Bridge
“Energy Transfer - Physics / Algebra”	Engine Room / Aux Generator
“Sonar Principals \ Thermodynamics - Physics & Trig”	Combat Info Center (CIC) / 02 Level
“Energy Transfer - Work & Powe \ Calculus \ Physics”	Catapult / Flight Deck

Download Teacher Guide

Program Rate

Rates are for 15 or more students with three weeks advance reservation. (The museum requires a minimum of one adult for every eight students.) School prices apply on weekdays during school hours. Call for price.

Information and Reservations

To book the Step Into History educational program, contact the Education Office at (510) 521-8448 x 228.

Junior Crewmember Live-Aboard

For the ultimate history experience, bring your class on board as junior crewmembers in a fun-spirited, educational sleep-over. Youth and their chaperones:

• Sleep in restored berthing compartments of real HORNET sailors
• Enjoy dinner and breakfast in the crew's mess
• Hear sea-stories and ghost stories, watch historic movies, and play shipboard games
• Earn special souvenir patches and junior crewmember certificates
• Receive free admission to the museum and free flight simulator ride

Information and Reservations

Rates are $60 per person, with a minimum of 20 students and chaperones. For more information and reservation forms, click here or contact the Live-Aboard Department at (510) 521-8448 x 242.