Find the Perfect Program for Your Young Railroader!
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SDMRM program Information for the 2026-2027 School year
The Able Arch & the Trusty Truss
Level #1 – Grades 3-5
Level #2 – Grades 6-8
Available to be taught in Spanish!
What makes arches and triangles so strong? Students will learn about both the physical science and history of arch and truss bridges. Students will perform four experiments to investigate the inherent strength of these shapes and understand why civil engineers frequently use them in the design and construction of structures in general and bridges in particular. Leveled content, including a student assessment accompany the program.
Standards:
NGSS:
3-5 ETS1-1, 2, 3
MS-ETS1-1, 2, 4
PS2.A, B
Working with Scale
Grades 6-8
Available to be taught in Spanish!
In Working with Scale, students explore the concepts of scale and proportion, along with the relationship between ratios, fractions and decimals. They will learn the various scales used in model railroading and understand that any object can be scaled either up or down. Students will create three-dimensional robots using a few different scales.
Standards:
CCSS.Math.Content.6RP.A1
CCSS.Math.Content.7.G.A.1
Communities Then & Now: Making a 3D Model
Grades TK-2nd
Available to be taught in Spanish!
How are we alike and/or different from people who lived in the past? This program features our unique collection of historic California model railroads to engage students in an exploration of the past, and an understanding of how some things change while others stay the same. Students identify community elements on model railroad layouts and compare and contrast them to their contemporary equivalents. Finally, students build a 3D model of their community.
Standards:
NGSS:
K-PS2-1, K-ESS2-2, 1-LS1-1, 2-PS1-2
California History-Social Science:
K.4., K.6., K.6.3.,1.2., 1.2.1., 1.2.2., 1.4, 1.4.2., 2.2
Transcontinental railroad
Grades 3-5
Available to be taught in Spanish!
Connecting the East and West coasts, the Transcontinental Railroad was the first continuous railroad line across the United States. Students will explore map scaling, topography, U.S. regions, the Railroad Acts of 1862, key figures, government funding, environmental and social impacts, and the railroad’s role in unifying the nation.
During this one-hour workshop, students will create a scale model map of the United States, identify the routes taken by competing railroad companies, and collaborate on a poster showing the completed Transcontinental Railroad. The program aligns with California History-Social Science Content Standards and Environmental Principles and Concepts while connecting local California railroad history to the national story.
Standards:
CA History Social Science: 3.1.1, 3.1.2,, 4.1, 4.4, 5.9
California Environmental Principles and Concepts: Principle 2 - Concept A-D, Principle 5 – Concept A-B,
To book or ask any questions, please email igonzalez@sdmrm.org or call (619) 320-6242
STEAM for school - now booking for 2026-2027 school year
Students will have a one-of-a-kind experience in our STEAM programs!
Our flexible & enthusiastic education team can offer programs in one of three ways:
In-Museum
60-minute educational program with our team (see program descriptions below)
All programs are available in Spanish
60-minute self guided tour of the museum that connects to & applies what they learn in their program
$13/student, $10/student for Title-1
In-Class
60-minute educational program with our team (see program descriptions below)
All programs are available in Spanish
Each student receives 1 museum buy one, get one free pass to visit in their free time
$13/student, $10/student for Title-1
Virtual
60-minute educational program with our team delivered via Zoom (see program descriptions below)
Each student receives 1 museum buy one, get one free pass to visit in their free time
Program materials are included in the price and will be given to teachers in advance of the program
If school/educator’s home are within 15 miles of Balboa Park, program materials will be delivered to school/educator for distribution to their students.
If school/educator’s home are 15 miles or more from Balboa Park, program materials can be collected from the museum via contactless pickup at a pre-scheduled time.
*STEAM for School programs are not included with museum membership or any other complimentary offer
Unguided Field Trip
Reservation required for groups of 20 or more
All Aboard, Little Learners!
G-Scale Preschool Presentation
Flat rate: $200
Presentation length: Approximately 15–20 minutes
For our presentation, we bring trains, engines, and track to create a working model railroad for students to explore. Students are introduced to different types of locomotives and train cars while learning about their unique purposes in a fun, engaging, and age-appropriate way.
The presentation also encourages students to explore the colors they see, meet familiar characters such as Thomas and Percy, and discover more about the exciting world of trains!
To book or ask any questions, please email igonzalez@sdmrm.org or call (619) 320-6242
“My students loved the trip and it gave me a great starting point for teaching engineering!”
- Jenifer Da Luz, 5th Grade Teacher at Chesterton Elementary School
“I loved how hands-on and educational the experience was...We came back to class after and put our community creations together! So much fun! Thanks again and looking forward to visiting soon!”
-Kristen Kilian, Ocean Beach Elementary, on her experience at Communities Then & Now (2019)
“Thank you so much for leading us in the virtual field trip last week! On behalf of my colleagues and I, we want to say thank you; the students LOVED the experience!…I look forward to hopefully being able to do this again next year.”
- Josie Gomez, Mae Ellis Elementary School, on her experience at Communities Then and Now (Virtual, 2021)
Special thanks to The Cushman Foundation, The thoresen Foundation, and our SDMRM Educational Program Donors for their generous Support toward Educational Outreach Services and making programs accessible to underserved students in San Diego
The Cushman Foundation
The Thoresen Foundation
In Memory of Michal Zelinski
Steven R. Pierce
