Flight Museum

Purpose: To have a better understanding of the purpose and design of a museum

Procedure

1. Discuss the importance of a museum and its role in preserving our history.
2. If the Internet is available, take a virtual tour of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. (http://www.nasm.edu/) or visit the web site of a local museum.
3. Discuss how a museum is set up. Ask the students if there is any rationale for the arrangement of a museum and, if so, what it is? (categories, time periods, inventors, or so on)
4. Designate the space allotted for the museum (shelves, floor, counter, and so on). Have the students work individually or in groups to plan and design a classroom aviation museum. Have students draw their design and layout for exhibits and list possible artifacts that will be in each exhibit.
5. Discuss the designs and select one.
6. Assign groups parts of the exhibit to create. They can draw murals, build models, construct dioramas, and write detailed captions for visitors to read.
7. Discuss how to display each item (e.g., suspend from ceiling or set on a pedestal or shelf).
8. Once your aviation museum is complete, have students role-play various museum jobs (curator, artist, historian, or docent).
9. Invite parents or other classes to a museum opening to view your exhibits.