Classroom Programs at the Museum

Classroom programs take about 30-45 minutes and can be offered in conjunction with a full or partial museum tour. Programs are available on a variety of topics, and the museum will also try to accommodate advance, specific requests for programs.

For All Grade Levels

Bicycles: This program teaches students the rules of the road for bicycle safety, and the science of how a bicycle works.

Street Signs: The variety of street signs and what they mean. Tour covers Bumper To Bumper and Wagons, Wheels and Wings exhibit areas.

Railroad Safety: Look, Listen and Live! Railroads are still very active in North Carolina, and can be very dangerous. Handouts and visual aids teach students safety around trains and railroad tracks.

Communication on the Railroad: A train can be very long. How do train crew members communicate with each other? How have communication tools changed during the last 100 years? This program allows students to see, touch, and understand the changes and uses in communication on the railroad

Traveling Trunk: Learn about the history of railroading in North Carolina, railroad jobs, the development of the railroad, and more. Trunk comes with an engineer's outfit, conductors hat, interactive programs, teacher's handbook and Power Point presentation. The Traveling Trunk meets N.C. Dept. of Learning standards for 3rd, 4th and 8th graders. The Traveling Trunk is available on site or it can be rented by teachers for a refundable $15 deposit. Teachers can pick up the trunk from the museum, or have it shipped for a $15 shipping fee. For more information contact LeAnne Johnston at 704.636.2889, ext. 258 or e-mail LeAnne at kathryn.l.johnson@ncmail.net.

Pre-Kindergarten

What Is Transportation?: There are many ways of going places. Students are introduced to the concept of transportation and the variety of ways of moving people and goods.

Third Grade and Up

Map Skills: Knowing where you are going is an important part of transportation. This program allows students to use maps to interpret symbols, legends, directions, and develop map-reading skills. Students use mathematics to plan their own trip by car.

Time Zones and the Railroads: The railroad made standard time a necessity. Airplanes made switching time zones a common occurrence. This program discusses the history and math of keeping time.