School Programs

We offer 15 different history and science programs (select links below), each specifically designed to comply with the New Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks / Common Core for specified grade levels. We are able to tailor our programs to fit the needs of your students. Contact Brian Witkowski, Education Programs Manager, for more details.

History programs are 75-100 minutes in length, and include a hands-on guided tour of the Museum. Most history programs can accommodate up to 75-100 students at one time.

Science programs are 90-120 minutes in length, and include hands-on opportunities and a tour of our whale galleries with Science Director Robert Rocha. Science programs can accommodate up to 30 students at one time.

Thinking of staying for the day? Visit with one or two classrooms and participate in one science AND one history program, or arrange a joint program with the National Park Visitor Center, Ocean Explorium or Buzzards Bay.

Rates:

$7/student for one program, $12/student for two programs (one history program & one science program)
Free admission for one adult per every ten students
$10/adult for each additional adult

Subsidized School Groups:

New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven and Westport school groups receive free admission through the Jessie B. duPont Educational Fund and Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust.
Boston school groups receive free admission and free transportation through the Schrafft Charitable Trust.
*Carver, Plymouth, Rochester and Wareham receive free admission and/or transportation through the AD Makepeace Neighborhood Fund.
Funds are limited - contact the education department for details
*Funds are no longer available for 2013.

Telling a 'Real' Story (K-1), What is a Museum (K-1), Bird's Eye View (2-3), Learning about Whales (2-3), Sorting It All Out (3-8),
Cultures with Connections(4 & 6), Working on the Water (4 & 6), Looking Closely at Plankton (4-9), Understanding Marine Food Webs (Grades 4-9),
A Natural Connection to the Azores (5-10), Portraits of a Port (5, 8-12), New Bedford & Global Whaling (6), Harbor of Hope (8-12), Moby-Dick (10-12)

Download our School Programs Brochure pdf.

History: Telling a 'Real' Story (preK - 1)

Explore life at sea in the simplest terms through music, role-play, and vocabulary.

What is a Museum All About? (K&1)

Students create collections and patterns, and learn that a museum is a place to have fun.

A Bird's Eye View of a City (2&3)

An introduction to geography with a focus on mapping.

Learning About Whales (2&3)

Compare and contrast whales and humans through focus on biology, history, and mapping.

Sorting It All Out (3-8)

Students take on the role of taxonomists to organize a variety of marine creatures in this science program.

Cultures with Connections (4&6)

Discover connections between local and foreign cultures through role-play and mapping.

Working on the Water (4&6)

Compare and contrast living conditions and history between fishing and whaling industries.

Looking Closely at Plankton (4 - 9)

Hands-on activities enable students to learn about these tiny organisms in a larger-than-life fashion.

Life in the Trophics: Understanding Marine Food Webs (Grades 4-9)

A Natural Connection to the Azores (5-10)

Follow the brig Sullivan as it sails from New Bedford to the Azores. Use journal notes from the voyage to chart its course and learn about the marine animals seen along the way.

Portraits of a Port (5, 8-12)

Learn the history of New Bedford through stories of explorers, settlers, entrepreneurs, whalemen, and the Underground Railroad.

New Bedford and the Story of Global Whaling (6)

Follow a whaling voyage around the world and learn about the history of the whaling industry from the 11th century to present with a focus on New Bedford.

Harbor of Hope (8-12)

Explore the social relationships forged by the whaling industry, focusing particularly on the experiences of African Americans, Cape Verdeans and Azoreans in New Bedford.

Moby-Dick (8-12)

Work with us in setting goals for your program to bring the characters to life for your students.