| Student travel group leaders and teachers often take | | | | taken from the Hubble Space Telescope with pictures |
| school groups to Washington D.C. on history and | | | | of planets, galaxies, black holes and views of earth |
| government tours. Our nation's capitol has a rich | | | | taken from outer space. Students may view movies |
| history, and the executive, legislative and judicial | | | | of earth and outer space in the Science on a Sphere |
| branches of government are centrally located there. | | | | projection room, where film is projected onto a |
| This makes the trip to Washington D.C. perfect for the | | | | spherical screen. Student groups will also learn about |
| study of history and government. | | | | information gathered from satellites and other vehicles |
| Yet Washington D.C. is also an ideal location for | | | | designed to explore deep space, through photographs |
| student trips which focus on science based learning. | | | | of phenomenon on earth, the sun, and planets. Student |
| There are numerous points of interest in the | | | | education is enhanced through the lens of high tech |
| Washington D.C. area that complement the study of | | | | devices, utilized by the NASA scientists to further our |
| science including: Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, | | | | knowledge about the universe. |
| Smithsonian American & Natural History Museum, | | | | Maryland Science Center & Baltimore National |
| NASA Goddard Visitor's Center, Maryland Science | | | | Aquarium |
| Center, Baltimore National Aquarium, Marian Koshland | | | | Located in Baltimore, MD, just an hour outside of |
| Science Museum, and the National Zoo. In addition to | | | | Washington D.C., are two premiere attractions for the |
| scheduling visits to these locations on the itinerary, | | | | science student: Maryland Science Center and the |
| student tour groups can also allow time to visit the U.S. | | | | Baltimore National Aquarium. The Maryland Science |
| Capitol/Supreme Court, take an illuminated tour of | | | | Center has a rooftop observatory as well as nightly |
| Memorials and Monuments, and see the U.S.S. Barry -- | | | | Sky and Stars SkiCasts to help the astronomy student |
| all in a three or four day tour. | | | | interpret the activities of stars, planets, and other |
| This article will provide a brief overview of major | | | | celestial bodies and occurrences. Students can watch |
| points of interest for a science tour of Washington | | | | live chemical and scientific experiments on the Demo |
| D.C. | | | | stage, see science films projected onto a sphere, or |
| Smithsonian Air and Space Museum & Smithsonian | | | | ride on Segways when they tour the Maryland |
| American Natural History Museum | | | | Science Center. |
| These two museums are a great starting point for an | | | | At the Baltimore National Aquarium, students will be |
| educational science trip. U.S. explorations of space and | | | | especially pleased by the new exhibit, "A Dolphin's |
| innovations in flight are well-documented and | | | | World" an extraordinary Dolphin Show that teaches |
| preserved in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum. | | | | students about the ocean planet, and the way human |
| Students can participate in guided tours, or educational | | | | behavior in and near the Chesapeake Bay watershed |
| programs that are appropriate for specific grade | | | | affects the dolphins' environment on a daily basis. The |
| levels. A visit to the Air and Space Museum will | | | | Baltimore National Aquarium also has a 4-D Immersion |
| provide interactive learning about airplanes, outer space | | | | Theater with daily shows as well as 16,500 animals on |
| explorations and pivotal moments in U.S. history when | | | | exhibit. It's no wonder the Baltimore National Aquarium |
| American scientists and programs led the world in | | | | is internationally known and recognized as one of the |
| discoveries in flight and space missions. | | | | finest aquariums in the United States. The opportunity |
| The American Natural History Museum provides | | | | to visit the Baltimore National Aquarium will |
| guided and self-guided tours and educational programs | | | | complement any classroom studies on oceanography |
| related to the history of the earth: fossils, stones, | | | | and life beneath the sea. |
| animals, pre-historic wildlife and remains, oceanic | | | | Marian Koshland Science Museum |
| environments, and more. Student tour groups can visit | | | | The National Academy of Sciences Marian Koshland |
| permanent or special exhibits related to their curricular | | | | Science Museum in Washington D.C. features |
| studies and teachers can focus the visit on exhibits | | | | interactive exhibits that teach visitors about the |
| which complement actual classroom learning | | | | immediate impact science has on our daily lives. Here |
| experiences in the natural sciences. A visit to these | | | | students will learn about the importance of safe |
| two Smithsonian Museums provides an excellent | | | | drinking water, infectious diseases, DNA, and some of |
| opportunity for learning about science. | | | | the wonders of science. The exhibits are ongoing and |
| NASA Goddard Visitor's Center | | | | will change from time to time. Teachers are advised to |
| At the NASA Goddard Visitor's Center, student tour | | | | check the Museum website to coordinate curricular |
| groups gain a deeper level of insight into contemporary | | | | plans with current exhibits. |
| space exploration. The group can view photographs | | | | |