Field Trip Program FAQ's
What grades should come to Vulcan Park and Museum?
Individual programs are targeted to specific grade levels. Pay close attention to the recommended grade levels for each program. Those grade level recommendations result from expert evaluation of various programs.
Who evaluates Vulcan Park and Museum’s educational programs?
Evaluators come through our Education Advisory Committee, which is made up of experts in the field of child development, social studies, fine arts, and other disciplines. Additionally, teachers are asked to evaluate their field trip experience. Vulcan Park and Museum staff regularly reviews teacher and Education Advisory Committee evaluations and fine tune educational programs accordingly.
How do students learn at Vulcan Park and Museum?
Students learn by exploring their natural curiosities about where they live and what they see in the exhibits. At Vulcan Park and Museum, they are invited to push buttons, turn knobs, look through stereoscopes, and make other choices that reflect their natural interests and questions about their environment. On a Guided Tour, students are encouraged to ask their docent questions. In the case of Anything is Possible and Self-guided Tours, students are encouraged to learn socially through discussion with teachers and one another.
What is the educational value of a Vulcan Park and Museum tour?
One of the best things about Vulcan Park and Museum is that it both conveys facts and excites interest in learning about our region’s history; teachers can take advantage of this excitement back in the classroom. At Vulcan Park and Museum, students can:
- Experience life in a company town
- Imagine working in Lone Pine Mine
- See Vulcan at the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair
- Meet a host of famous and everyday people who made the dream of a city based on iron and steel a reality
- Take in views from atop Red Mountain of Birmingham and aerial views of the region from Vulcan Tower
What is the educational value of Linn-Henley Gallery?
Linn-Henley Gallery expands upon the Birmingham story through periodically changing exhibits. Its exhibits amplify content found elsewhere at Vulcan Park and Museum.
Will students be able to go to the top of the tower?
Almost always. Weather permitting, students ascend Vulcan tower for an unforgettable view of the region – usually at the end of their visit. This is one of the most unforgettable features of a school field trip. On rare occasions and as a safety precaution, Vulcan Park and Museum closes the tower because of inclement weather.
How can I integrate a VPM tour with classroom goals?
Educational content at Vulcan Park and Museum can be adapted to meet classroom goals in a variety of subjects. While the most direct connections are with Alabama and United States history, students who come to Vulcan Park and Museum also explore geology, metallurgy, mythology, map reading, and fine arts. Vulcan Park and Museum encourages students to think critically and comprehensively about our great symbol and the region it represents.
What can I do to prepare my students to be receptive to learning at Vulcan Park and Museum?
Please take time before arriving at Vulcan Park and Museum to prepare your students for their visit. Studies show that students learn better in museums if they are prepared to be receptive to the content through materials such as our Teachers’ Guide. Studies also suggest that if teachers take time to answer seemingly small questions before the visit – about the gift shop and restrooms, for example – students are more attuned to learning. Vulcan Park and Museum has several suggestions in the Classroom Resources section of the website and in the Teachers’ Guide. Each Guided Tour has suggested readings and online resources.
Will students be able to visit the gift shop?
Visiting the gift shop is optional. The gift shop is small and we ask teachers and chaperones to limit the number of students in the gift shop to ten at any one time. We also ask teachers to inform their students that we do have a gift shop so that students can be prepared to purchase a souvenir if they like.
Will students be able to visit the restroom?
It is ideal that students use the restroom prior to loading the bus and coming to Vulcan Park and Museum. In the case of emergencies or of school buses traveling longer distances, Vulcan Park and Museum makes available to students restrooms on the main level of Vulcan Center. As teachers know, taking an entire class to the restroom can take up to 20 minutes; please budget bathroom visits into your trip to Vulcan Park and Museum to maximize the educational value of your visit.
Can I have a picnic lunch at VPM?
Absolutely! There are picnic tables on the east side of the park. Vulcan Park and Museum features one of the city’s most beautiful green spaces and many school groups opt to spread out on the lawn rather than use the picnic tables. Picnic table use is free, but you are encouraged to schedule their use in advance. Contact Lindsay Gustafson at lgustafson@visitvulcan.com, 205.933.1409 x.29 to add a picnic to your visit.
How do I integrate the Teachers’ Guide into a visit?
Teachers opting for the Self-guided Tour should use the exhibit descriptions portion of the Teachers’ Guide to plan what to say. Teachers opting for the Guided Tour should still feel free to use the exhibit descriptions to offer comments that help tie docent content to classroom goals.
Implement the classroom activities portion of the Teachers’ Guide both before and after the actual visit. Studies show that learning through museums is optimal when students prepare through classroom activities and continue to explore museum content after the visit. Evidence supports that museum learning resonates for weeks, maybe months, after the visit.
For more information or to book a field trip, contact:
205.933.1409 x29
fieldtrips@visitvulcan.com
