North Carolina's public schools are about to quickly get a dose of maritime history and natural science, all thanks to the North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort. Educators from the museum, which is currently undergoing HVAC renovations, have launched free programs for schools, hauling a bit of the coast into classrooms with hands-on experiences for students of all ages. While the museum itself is on a short hiatus, education programs are hitting the road, entering schools to teach about the state's rich maritime heritage.
According to an article on the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources website, Courtney Felton, the museum's Education Curator, said, "We know teachers are always looking for meaningful ways to bring lessons to life," emphasizing the engaging nature of the programs. These educational sessions are tailored for different age groups, with activities ranging from exploring seashells for preschoolers to in-depth topics like navigation, oceanography, and maritime archaeology for older students.
These initiatives are not only interactive but also align with North Carolina's social studies and history curriculum standards. The museum's goal is to effortlessly integrate with the existing educational structure, making it a hands-on extension of the classroom content. The full program details and alignment with curriculum standards are listed on the museum's website, alongside a Group Planning Guide that teachers can use to plan and schedule a visit from the museum educators.
Realizing that budgets are often tight for schools, the museum has also promoted the DNCR Learning Happens Here Field Trip Fund, as mentioned by Anna Kellner, Group and Volunteer Coordinator. The fund aims to reimburse schools for expenses like transportation when visiting DNCR sites. "We want to make it as easy as possible for teachers to connect their students with these experiences,” Kellner told the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Information and application details about this fund can be found from the links provided on the museum's education page.
