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FOR TEACHERS
FIELD TRIPS and LESSON PLANS

PreSchool | First Grade | Grades 3 to 5 | Field Trips | Lesson Plans | Virtual Tour
 

PRESCHOOL GROUPS

       
 
  • Interactive Storytelling
  • Trolley and Railroad Songs
  Story Telling at NCTM
       
 
  • Hands-On Passenger/Conductor Experiences
  Horse-Drawn Trolley in Georgetown DC
       
    NCTM Line
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GRADES 1 & 2

       
 
  • Listen to a Trolley/Railway Story
  How Tracks Are Laid
       
 
  • Experience Hands-On Activities with Trolley Equipment
Rail Spike Rail Spike Track and Tie
Spikes - to hold down the rails and ties Spikes - to hold down the rails and ties Rail and tie - is that heavy!
       
    NCTM Line
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GRADES 3 TO 5

       
 
  • Learn About the Development of Chevy Chase (a Streetcar Community)
  Map of DC and rail and trolley lines (around 1900)
      From the NCTM's Lt. Col. John E. Merriken Collection
       
 
  • Understand How Development Changed the Natural Environment
  • Compare/Contrast Rural, Suburban and Urban Communities
  Downtown Washington DC (about 1900)
       
 
  • Role-Play to Illustrate the Purchase of Land
  Student as Real Estate Broker
       
 
  • Set Up Houses According to 1895 Building Restrictions
  • Lay the Tracks to Enable Freight and Passenger Streetcar Service from the Suburbs to Washington, DC
  Students build the streetcar line
       
    Students ride the trolley
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SCEHDULING FIELD TRIPS

  • The Museum offers age-appropriate programs for children’s groups, ages 4 thru 11 years, on Thursdays and Fridays from October 1 through November 15, and March 15 through May 15.
  • Each group on a field trip participates in a
    • session with the Educational Director leading an activitiy appropriate for the age group,
    • a ride on a vintage street car, and
    • guided visit in the exhibit hall.
  • Thirty minutes are scheduled for each activity.
  • A picnic area is available on the grounds.
  • Up to 25 children can be accommodated in a group. If more than one class participates in the field trip, we will ask the organizers to divide the students into groups no larger than 25 (plus teachers and chaperones for each group). Up to 75 students can be accommodated with one scheduled booking. Please note: with multiple groups, each group may be doing a different activity at the same time. Not every group will start their activities with the educational session.
  • There is an educational fee of $25.00 for each group.
  • Tickets to ride the vintage streetcar are $3.00 for each rider [child, teacher, or chaperone].
  • Group bookings must be made at least two weeks in advance of the museum visit.
  • Please note that your booking is not reserved until the educational fee has been received.
  • Should you wish to schedule a field trip for times when the museum is not normally open, there is an additional special opening charge.
  • A different alternative, without a special educational program, is to make group arrangements.
  • For more information or to discuss or schedule a field trip, contact Joanie Pinson at 301-384-6352 or educator@dctrolley.org.
 
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LESSON PLANS

INTRODUCTION (131 KB)
 
CONDUCTOR'S HAT (181 KB)
(A craft activity)
 
COUNTING WITH A FARE REGISTER (233 KB)
(Subtraction; graph report)
 
MY STREETCAR REPORT (85 KB)
(Creative writing)
 
TICKETS PLEASE (212 KB)
(Addition and subtraction with play money; quantity discounts)
 
Curriculum guides with these and additional exercises are available for school groups upon request.
 
For more information or to schedule your visit, contact Joanie Pinson at 301-384-6352 or educator@dctrolley.org.
 
 
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Copyright © National Capital Trolley Museum
December 15, 2007