Enhance the visit for student groups by taking advantage of these programs that inspire and engage learners of all ages. 

From story times for young learners, to hands on labs and science demonstrations for learners from kindergarten through high school—there is something for any group.

Back to Plan a Field Trip General Information

Free

These are offered free of charge.

For Groups of 10 or More

These programs are intended for school groups, homeschool groups, and community-based organizations serving youth.

Reserve Online

You will need to reserve the programs in our reservation software. We recommend you follow along in our tips page to answer any questions. 

Available Programs

Available at Both Locations:  Science Demonstrations        Story Time

Exclusive to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center:  Guided Tours        STEAM Labs

Science Demonstrations

Science demonstrations are interactive shows that bring the STEM concepts found in our galleries to life. These shows use live experiments, hands-on activities, and authentic museum artifacts to break down complex concepts.

Location: Both Locations

For Grades: 3-12

Group Size: 10-30 people

Duration: 25-30 minutes

The Explainers Program is made possible by the generous support of RTX.

Make a Reservation

Science Demonstration Options:

A young man with a light brown skin tone and curly hair wearing a red polo holds out a model of a plane straight in front of him.

Forces of Flight

Discover how things fly and experiments that illustrate the forces of flight. Learn what a force is, explore Bernoulli's principle, and investigate different forms of propulsion.

Recommended for Grades:  3-8

A young visitor is rapt with attention as they throw a paper airplane, with a similar line of young visitors behind them.

Paper Airplane Contest

Learn about stability and a plane's center of lift and gravity to determine the best design of a stable aircraft. Create your own airplanes and compete to see whose plane can fly in a stable flight path.

Recommended for Grades: 3-8

A parent and child look up at a model of a spacesuit, while a young man in a red polo gestures and points.

Living and Working in Space

What do astronauts wear on spacewalks? How is day-to-day life different in the hazardous environment of space? Discover real world artifacts from life aboard the International Space Station, watch experiments that demonstrate how space affects the human body, and discuss the innovations that allow humans to adapt to life outside of Earth's atmosphere.  

Recommended for Grades: 3-12. 

Science Demonstrations are available in other formats in addition to a field trip experience.

Story Time

Take to the skies or travel to far away planets with stories read aloud by museum educators for the youngest visitors. Each story time includes a story read-aloud, a chat about an image or other museum resources, and a craft activity demonstration.

Location: Both Locations

Group Size: Groups of 10 to 30

Duration: 30 minutes

Note: Story Times also come with additional resources in a Learning Lab and an online story time that expands the theme for teachers to use before or after the program.

Story Time programming is made possible by the generous support of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.

Make a Reservation

Story Time Options:

Cover of the book "Space Walk" by Salina Yoon

The Great Solar System Tour

Learn more about the planets with this exploration of our Solar System. Reserve a Museum educator to read Space Walk by Salina Yoon, chat about spacecraft that have travelled to the edge of the Solar System and lead students in the creation of a solar system book.

Cover of the book "Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon," by Oliver J. Corwin

Rocket Race

Read Hare and Tortoise Race to the Moon by Oliver J Corwin, examine rockets in our collection and notice what shapes they are made from, and lead students in the creation of three dimensional models of rockets.

Cover of the book "Air Show," by Treat Williams. Illustration by Robert Neubecker.

Air Show

What is it like to experience the thrill of an air show? Read Air Show by Treat Williams, demonstrate loops, rolls and other aerobatic maneuvers, and lead students in the creation of their own tricky flyers.

book cover

Inspirational Biography Series

Read an inspiring biography of a history maker in aviation or space exploration. Choose from: Amelia Earhart, Bessie Coleman, Mae Jemison, or the Wright Brothers.

Story Times are available in other formats in addition to a field trip experience.

Guided Tours

Explore the Museum with an expert docent, diving into themes in aviation and space history. 

Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

For Grades: 1-12

Group Size: Groups of 10 to 50

Duration: 60 minutes

Note: Groups of more than 20 will be divided into smaller groups, with no more than 20 visitors assigned to one docent. 

Make a Reservation

Tour Options:

The Bucker Bu-133C Jungmeister at the Udvar-Hazy Center

Flying for Fun

Explore the personal and fun aspects of aviation. Racing planes, as well as planes that typically are built not in factories but in people's garages, will be discussed. Most of the planes on this tour were designed for individuals to fly for fun, or to set new records, or both! 

Recommended for Grades: 1-8

A biplane that hangs upside down, with a red body and red and white striped wings.

Personal Aviation

Find out how airplanes can be both useful and fun to fly and how aviation affects your life. 

Recommended for Grades: 1-3

Concorde at the Udvar-Hazy Center

Air Transportation: Past, Present, and Future

Explore the evolution of aircraft that contributed to the growth of the air transportation industry. Students compare experiences of early airplane passengers with those of today's passengers and speculate on what the next 50 years will bring.

Recommended for Grades: 3-8

Planes both hand from the ceiling and stand on the ground in an aircraft hangar.

Udvar-Hazy Center Highlights Tour

Examine exciting aircraft from the early days of aviation to the space shuttle program while learning about changes in technology over time.

This tour has two options: 

Tour I : Recommended for Grades: 3-7
Tour II : Recommended for Grades: 8-12 

A black spy plane stands in an all black air hanger, lit from the light from above. The curvy form of the plane--bulging at two engines on either wing and curving up toward the cockpit--give the sense of an almost science fiction aircraft (although it's very real).

History Through Military Aviation

Investigate aviation innovations that were born from world conflicts. Discover how these history-making events pushed science and technology to new limits. Choose one the following emphasis areas:

  • World War I
  • World War II
  • Cold War
  • World War I to the present

Recommended for Grades: 6-12

The Space Shuttle Discovery, an almost-plane shaped vehicle that's white and black surface bears the wear and tear of travelling in space, stands out as the centerpiece of the James S. McDonnell Spacd Hangar. It is surrounded by other space artifacts, an astronaut's white puffy spacesuit can be seen at the front right.

McDonnell Space Hangar Highlights

Explore the Space Shuttle Discovery and other space artifacts. Join us as we trace our history, science, and technology in space.

Recommended for Grades: 6-12

STEAM Labs

Through close looking at museum artifacts and hands-on experiments, museum educators will lead your students through this inquiry-based program. 

Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

For Grades: K-12

Group Size: Groups of 10 or more, unless otherwise noted

Duration: 60 minutes

STEAM Labs are made possible by the generous support of Barron Hilton.

Make a Reservation

STEAM Lab Options:

rendering of planets in our solar system by pinkpix

Discovery and Exploration

Follow the journey of early space flight and meet some friends along the way, from Neil Armstrong to Mars rovers. Students will choose a destination and map their own journey by coding robots to discover and travel across the solar system.

Recommended for Grades: K-2

Pan American flight flying above a sheet of clouds

We Can Fly!

Students will “become a pilot” of their own private aircraft as they learn about the four forces of flight, the basic parts of an airplane, and how they allow for controlled flight. 

Recommended for Grades: K-2

Apollo 11: Buzz Aldrin on the Moon

To the Moon and Beyond

Through vivid images and hands-on activities, students will explore the phases of the Moon, its relationship to Earth, and the story of the Apollo missions. Students will work as mission design teams to create a habitat that could support human life on the Moon.

Recommended for Grades: 3-6

A young man throws a paper plane through a hoop.

Paper Airplane Design

How do airplanes fly? Using paper airplanes and scientific methods, students will explore the relationship between an airplane's center of gravity and flight stability. They will make and test their paper airplanes, collect and graph their findings, and reach conclusions on how to improve their designs.

Recommended for Grades: 3-8

A model of a Blackbird SR-71, a sleek black spy plane, in a wind tunnel.

Wind Tunnel Design Challenge

Explore the limitless possibilities of aerodynamic design and forces of flight. Create, test, and refine designs using a high-powered wind tunnel. 

Recommended for Grades: 5-12

Note: Are you teaching a unit on derby cars, physics, or 3D printing? Ask us about modifying this STEAM lab to incorporate wind tunnel test trials. 

Space Shuttle Astronaut on Spacewalk (STS-115)

Living and Working in Space

While living in space might appear to be nothing but fun, some of the known and unknown effects of space can spoil the party. Create a pressure suit for an “astronaut” to ensure they have a safe journey to “space” in the vacuum pump. 

Recommended for Grades: 6-12

A teenaged Black girl sits at a complicated simulator.

On Glide Slope

Learn how flight instruments, controls, and procedures are used to land a plane at Dulles Airport using FAA-certified Aviation Training Devices. Through this simulator experience students will apply math to real world aviation work. 

Recommended for Grades: 6-12

Group Size: 15 students per group

We are only able to offer two sessions per day to due availability of flight simulators.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reserve a program?

You can request a program in our reservation software.

We recommend you follow along in our tips page to answer any questions.

When do I need to reserve these programs?

Programs should be reserved at least three weeks in advance of visiting the Museum. 

Do I need to reserve a program to bring a field trip to the Museum?

No, these reservable field trip programs are additional experiences that can enhance a field trip. They are not required. 

If I reserve a program, do I still need to reserve free timed-entry passes?

No.

If you're visiting the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA, we do not require passes for this location.

If you're visiting the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, passes will be reserved for your group when your program request is confirmed. The passes will be sent to you separately via an email from eTix to the  email you provide in your group reservation. If you've decided not to reserve a program, you will need to reserve your own timed-entry passes for your group. 

What should I do if I need to cancel my reservation?

If you need to cancel a reservation, please do so as soon as possible by emailing us.

If reserved groups do not alert Museum staff to a cancellation at least 24 hours in advance, your group may not be allowed to reserve future programs.

Additional questions?

Please contact the Tours and Reservations Office by email. 

Additional On Site Experiences

In addition to the free reservable programs above, you can enhance your visit to either location by taking advantage of these. There may be a cost associated with these additional experiences. 

Shot of an IMAX movie screen with viewers seated in the theater.

IMAX Theater

Strap into the cockpit of some of the most advanced aircraft, or take a walk through space with our IMAX shows.

Location: Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

How to Reserve: Group tickets can be purchased online or via email.

Adult visitors recline in chairs as an illustration of the constellations appear on the domed ceiling above them.

Planetarium

Explore the cosmos without leaving the Museum in our unique planetarium shows. 

Location: National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC

How to Reserve: Tickets cannot be purchased in advanced. They must be purchased on site at the box office.

Planetarium shows are available in other formats.

Young girl in cockpit of airplane at Innovations in Aviation Day

Upcoming Events

Both Museum locations host fun and engaging events throughout the year. Check our events calendar to see if any fall on the day of your visit.