Education Programs
The Battleship IOWA Museum education team hosts a variety of education programs which include virtual field trips, in-person field trips, and overnight encampment programs. Have a question? Reach out to education@labattleship.com.
IN-PERSON FIELD TRIP PROGRAMS
Create incredible memories and connections to educational concepts in real-world applications your students will never forget with one of our in-person educational experiences. Click the boxes below for details on the programs and how to get your school involved.
STEAM At Sea
Day Of Discovery
History Field Trips
BATTLESHIP IOWA STEAM AT SEA
What is S.T.E.A.M. Education?
S: Physical and Social SCIENCES
T: Incorporation of TECHNOLOGY
E: Principles of ENGINEERING and Design
A: English Language ARTS
M: Application of MATHEMATICS
The hands-on activities that take place on board the IOWA align with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for teaching STEM topics. Students learn the fundamentals of STEM through activities with a backdrop of history, maritime science, and international trade.
Our goal is to engage students in STEM concepts such as buoyancy, simple machines, communications, and projectile motion in an environment that will help develop their critical and creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and communication skills. This program was born out of a desire to use the historic Battleship IOWA as an in-situ platform focused on STEM related subjects.
As a museum, the Battleship IOWA offers an all-encompassing tactile artifact for the students to explore. The Pacific Battleship Center, the 501 (c)(3) Educational Non-Profit Corporation responsible for operating and maintaining this historic naval ship, is constantly developing innovative STEM-related education programs for students at all grade levels.
We have teamed up with local and regional partners to establish a maritime-driven curriculum that is engaging and relevant. We honor the men and women that were responsible for designing, building, and serving on board the Battleship IOWA by connecting the past to the future. Students realize “how” and “why” cutting edge technology of the 1940s survived, and how the newest technologies of the 1980s were integrated into the ship’s design and function to keep her relevant during the Cold War era.
For more information or to book a field-trip visit contact contact Group Sales at 877-446-9261 ext. 706 or at groupsales@labattleship.com.
DAY OF DISCOVERY AT BATTLESHIP IOWA
Battleship IOWA Museum in Los Angeles is host to the LAUSD Office of Outdoor Education Day of Discovery STEM Field-Trip program presented by Marathon. Students learn the fundamentals of STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) through activities with a backdrop of history, maritime science, and international trade. Secondary program focuses include leadership, teamwork, camaraderie, and building skills in a unique environment.
Primary STEM program activities include simple machines, depth measurement, water displacement/ buoyancy, straw projectiles, and a tarp flip team builder. A take-home guide is provided to students with additional learning activities. The guide includes hydrodynamics, ventilation, navigation, distance calculation, and the parabolic path. Day of Discovery Field-Trip Program aims to engage students in STEM concepts, critical and creative thinking, communication skills, problem solving, team building, risk and reward, and innovation.
For more information or to book a field-trip, visit LAUSD Office of Outdoor Education website.
BATTLESHIP IOWA HISTORY FIELD TRIP
We offer general field trips to Battleship IOWA for all grade levels that present an array of entirely novel stimuli to the student. The features of a battleship compel their attention as they view portions of eight different decks on board on their guided tour.
Most student visitors have never been aboard a ship of any type, much less an historic vessel like the Battleship IOWA. They will walk through President Roosevelt’s private cabin, and climb above to the Navigation Bridge for an unmatched vista of the Port of Los Angeles and the surrounding community.
Students begin to understand that this ship was a true “city at sea” for the 2,700 to 2,800 sailors that served on her during WWII and the Korean War years and the 1,800 plus sailors that called IOWA their home during the Cold War era. All the services you would find in a city were contained in a ship that was almost three football fields in length and as tall as a 21-story building, yet only 108 feet wide at its widest point.
For more information or to book a field-trip visit contact contact Group Sales at 877-446-9261 ext. 706 or at groupsales@labattleship.com.
VIRTUAL LEARNING, FIELD TRIPS, AND TOURS
Virtual Learning, Field-Trips, and Tours
Our interactive Virtual Tours and lessons for schools and youth organizations are customizable for students and youth groups ranging from 2nd grade to 12th grade. Our education team is ready and able to modify content to best fit the needs of participating student groups.
Virtual Tours & Programs Include:
- Virtual History and STEM Tour
- Virtual General Themed Tour
- Virtual STEAM at Sea: Buoyancy
- Virtual STEAM at Sea: Projectile Motion
- Virtual STEAM at Sea: Naval Aviation
- Virtual STEAM at Sea: Energy Conversion
These engaging virtual tours and programs allow for a personalized session where students engage with our ship-based educators for synchronized learning and activities, providing the best alternative to an in-person visit to the IOWA.
Virtual History and STEM Tour
Join us for an interactive combination of history and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education! Start with a 1 hour and 20 minute guided tour of the Battleship IOWA, covering the ship’s physical specifications and historical impacts. End with a 35 minute STEM lesson and activity covering one of the following scientific/engineering concepts related to the IOWA: Buoyancy, Projectile Motion, Naval Aviation, or Energy Conversion. All activities were designed to use common household items, like aluminum foil and paper! This two hour program can serve groups of up to 40 individuals for $200.
STEM lesson and activity details:
- Buoyancy – How does something as big as the Battleship IOWA float? Students will be introduced to the concept of buoyancy, focused on balanced and unbalanced forces and density. STEM activity – build an aluminum foil boat and test how much weight it can hold in the form of pennies.
- Projectile Motion – What forces act on the various projectiles the IOWA utilized in times of war? This lesson focuses on Newton’s Laws of Motion and balanced/unbalanced forces. STEM activity – Construct two straw rockets and test which one travels farther based on design.
- Naval Aviation – What aircraft were carried on the IOWA in the past? Students will study forces acting on a plane in flight. STEM activity – Construct a paper airplane launcher and two paper airplanes of differing designs. Measure how far each flies.
- Energy Conversion – What powers the IOWA? This lesson investigates the conversion of energy through the ship’s boiler systems and steam turbine engines to propel the ship through the water. STEM activity – simulate the operation of the ship’s steam turbines by making a pinwheel and spinning it with the warm air produced from a hair dryer.
Suggested Grade Levels: 2nd – 8th.
FOR TEACHERS AND COORDINATING STAFF:
Contact us to schedule the tour at groupsales@labattleship.com or 877-446-9261
Before the interactive Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What special needs Battleship IOWA staff should be aware of to make this experience the most successful for your students?
2. What do you hope your students gain from this experience?
During the Battleship Zoom Tour:
You work hard every hour of the day. Sit back and enjoy the experience!
After the Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What did you like about this experience?
2. What suggestions do you have for us to better support students and teachers?
Virtual General Themed Tour
The Battleship Virtual Tour includes a brief overview of US History and international conflicts via the Battleship IOWA’s involvement from WWII to 1990, as well as concepts of geography that are adapted to each age group accordingly.
Suggested Grade Levels: 3rd to 12th
FOR TEACHERS AND COORDINATING STAFF
Contact us to schedule the tour at groupsales@labattleship.com or 877-446-9261
Before the interactive Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What special needs Battleship IOWA staff should be aware of to make this experience the most successful for your students?
2. What do you hope your students gain from this experience?
During the Battleship Zoom Tour:
-You work hard every hour of the day. Sit back and enjoy the experience!
After the Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What did you like about this experience?
2. What suggestions do you have for us to better support students and teachers?
Virtual STEAM at Sea Lessons
Engaging one hour sessions covering different forces acting on the ship, focusing on Newton’s Laws of Motion and balanced/unbalanced forces. Each lesson includes a powerpoint presentation and wraps up with an interactive STEAM activity using commonly found household items to support covered topics in a fun way.
Current topics include: Buoyancy, Projectile Motion, Naval Aviation, and Energy Conversion.
Suggested Grade Levels: K – 8th.
FOR TEACHERS AND COORDINATING STAFF
Contact us to schedule the tour at groupsales@labattleship.com or 877-446-9261
Before the interactive Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What special needs Battleship IOWA staff should be aware of to make this experience the most successful for your students?
2. What do you hope your students gain from this experience?
During the Battleship Zoom Tour:
You work hard every hour of the day. Sit back and enjoy the experience!
After the Battleship Zoom Tour:
1. What did you like about this experience?
2. What suggestions do you have for us to better support students and teachers?
WANT TO SCHEDULE A VIRTUAL FIELD-TRIP?
Contact us at 877-446-9261 ext. 706 or groupsales@labattleship.com or fill out the form below.
[formidable id=11]
CAMP BATTLESHIP YOUTH ENCAMPMENT PROGRAM
Overnight Encampment Program aboard Battleship IOWA
Join Battleship IOWA Museum for an exciting night of fun with “Camp Battleship” youth overnight encampment program. The popular youth overnight program is open year-round aboard Battleship IOWA Museum and includes a ship tour, chow on the mess decks, evening entertainment, and much more.
Begin your late afternoon with a muster drill in which the guides brief you on the plan of the day. Following your briefing, the evening includes a warm meal within the authentic mess decks, a ship tour, evening entertainment, viewing of the active Port of Los Angeles, and camping in the actual “racks” or bunks that sailors used when the ship was in active service with the U.S. The ship is so large, that you will almost forget that you are actually onboard a floating vessel except for the occasional noise from the ship shifting with the tides.
This is easily the most unique and memorable overnight youth encampment program in all of Los Angeles and quite possibly in Southern California. This program is popular with all youth groups including Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, YMCA Adventure Guides, Young Marines, Sea Cadets, JROTC groups, the new Mormon youth program, church groups, and many more. During the summer, many of the youth groups going to the various Catalina Island camps book the overnight encampment program instead of a hotel to enhance their experience.
The Battleship IOWA Museum Camp Battleship youth encampment program can accommodate groups of all sizes up to 180 per evening.
For more information or to make “Camp Battleship” reservations, please call 877-446-9261 ext. 706 or email: overnights@labattleship.com.
STEM ADVENTURE SUMMER CAMP
Battleship IOWA is once again hosting our STEM Adventure Camp this summer! Thanks to funding provided by the Crail-Johnson Foundation, children from moderate to low-income households in the greater LA Harbor Area are eligible for a scholarship to attend for FREE!!
Camps are separated by grade and run Monday through Friday, from 9am – 12pm. Cost of attendance for a 1-week session of camp is $115 and includes all activity materials, a camp t-shirt, and daily snacks and beverages.
Have your summer explorers join us for exciting ship tours and engage in fun STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities focused on the successful construction, operation, and maintenance of the ship.
The schedule for SUMMER 2024 is here!
- Session One (1st/2nd grades) – June 24th – June 28th
- Session Two (3rd/4th grades) – July 8th – July 12th
- Session Three (5th/6th grades) – July 15th – July 19th
- Session Four (7th/8th grades) – July 22nd – July 26th
- Session Five (1st/2nd grades) – July 29th – August 2nd
- Session Six (3rd/4th grades) – August 5th – August 9th
Scholarships will be available. For details and to put your name on the wait list, please click the button below.
To register your child as a paying participant, please complete our Camp Registration form. (Click button below.)
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Education Manager Tiffany Ellerbeck at 877-446-9261 ext. 749 or email her at tellerbeck@labattleship.com.
CONTACT US
Contact Us
Or call us at 877-446-9261 ext. 706 or groupsales@labattleship.com.
Special thanks to our supporters:
