Schools:
IN PERSON OR VIRTUALLY
Everyone CAN Participate!
Programs for schools, homeschools & groups.
Creating Immersive Experiences
7 Days A Week | 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
HATS Classes | AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER-MAY
HATS Classes (Heritage Activities for Today’s Students) are the most requested programs for schools and homeschools. Learn through structured lessons, featuring hands-on experiences to connect with history in a way students can’t get from a textbook! Experience immersive opportunities in one of our unique classes at Stuhr Museum. Classes are available for kindergarten through 8th grade and each class is aligned to Nebraska State Standards at the specified grade level.
We also invite students to discover more history before or after class by visiting the Leo B. Stuhr Building, Fonner Rotunda and new STEAM Learning Center. They are open year-round and included with all class fees! With these new touring opportunities included with each registration, each group can decide if they’d like to spend a couple hours or all day experiencing history.
Classes are all 2-hours long unless otherwise noted.
KINDERGARTEN: 1 Hour
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FIRST GRADE
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SECOND GRADE
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THIRD GRADE
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FOURTH GRADE
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FIFTH GRADE
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FOURTH GRADE & UP | 5-HOUR CLASSES
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2021-2022 HATS REGISTRATION FORM
How do I register for a HATS Class?
To request a HATS Class, please download the form below to fill out or call us at (308) 385-5316. Forms may be returned via e-mail to education@stuhrmuseum.org or by mail to Stuhr Museum, 3133 W. Hwy 34, Grand Island, NE 68801.
2021-2022 HATS REGISTRATION FORM
Information Needed:
- Number of students
- School staff and chaperones you intend to bring (please note, HATS classes are not included with Stuhr Museum memberships)
- Class title and dates you would be like to attend.
With that information, we will find a date, or dates, with the proper availability and get you all set up for a fun and educational visit!
We ask for a minimum of 10 students per class, therefore smaller groups may be combined. Class maximums are listed with each class description.
Can my class visit other areas of the museum while we are here?
Yes! We invite students participating in HATS Classes to take in everything! Please note, we require 1 adult per 5 students when touring the museum outside of HATS Classes.
You’ll want to check out:
- Our new, hands-on activities at the STEAM Learning Center (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and how they relate to the steam-powered tractors on display.
- The Leo B. Stuhr Building to learn about the history of our area or take in an art exhibit!
- Railroad Town is open and staffed beginning in May, which opens up a variety of opportunities for your students to experience life in a historic 1890s town along the railroad first-hand!
How many parent chaperones should my school bring?
We request no more than 1 adult per 5 students attends HATS Classes in order to comply with capacity requirements and for the safety of all involved. We do not require a specific number of parent chaperones be present for HATS Classes, however if your class will be visiting other areas of the museum (the Stuhr Building, STEAM Learning Center, Fonner Rotunda, Railroad Town, etc.), we require 1 adult per 5 students. For additional information, refer to the specific class description, or contact us with any questions. NOTE: Parent chaperones may not bring younger children including infants and toddlers to HATS Classes. HATS fees are not included with Stuhr Museum memberships.
Does my Stuhr Museum membership include HATS class fees?
No, Stuhr Museum memberships do not include fees for HATS classes because it is a special program.
I homeschool my kids. Can we participate in HATS Classes, too?
Absolutely! Whether you register as an individual or with a homeschool co-op, we are happy to have you join us. Homeschools are often combined into a group with other homeschool students or a small public or private school to meet the class minimum number. We will ask for the name of each student at registration in order to accurately track registrations and payments. We do ask one adult attends class with their students (no charge), however additional adults will need to pay the HATS Class fee associated with the class in order to attend. For co-op groups, we allow one adult per 5 students to attend at no charge. NOTE: Parents may not bring younger children including infants and toddlers to HATS Classes.
Do we pay on the day of our visit or will you bill us?
Schools: Either way works! If you need an invoice prior to your visit in order to bring a check, please contact the office in advance with an updated headcount and we will be happy to provide you with one. Schools that prefer to pay later will need to provide us with a headcount upon arrival for their visit and we will send an invoice to your school.
Homeschools: You are welcome to pay for your classes at the time of registration or the day of your visit. Students who do not attend their registered class will be sent an invoice for the missed class if a cancellation has not been made at least 48-hours in advance, with the exception of illness. If your student is ill the day of your class, please contact the office and we will do our best to find a date to reschedule if possible.
How do I know where to go for our HATS Class?
When your class arrives to Stuhr Museum, please stop at the Gate House along the driveway. A staff member will check in your class and ask for any pertinent information, such as headcount or collect your payment. You will also be given directions to the drop-off location for your class. Many of our classes visit more than one location at the museum, so the pick-up location may be the same or different depending on the class you are participating in.
What happens if there's bad weather on the day of our class?
If the weather is too bad (i.e. heavy rain, snow, extreme cold, etc.), Stuhr Museum reserves the right to cancel classes for the health and safety of both our staff and your students. In this case, all efforts will be made to reschedule your class for a different day.
If the weather isn’t great, but we can still hold classes, your class may be altered to avoid the conditions while still getting in all the information and activities that are possible. If you prefer to reschedule in this case, please contact our office to discuss your options or reschedule your visit.
Can my class eat lunch at Stuhr Museum?
Yes! We have outdoor picnic areas available during the warmer months, or limited indoor space available during colder months. Indoor space is reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis and we recommend reserving it at the time of registration to ensure it is available for your class to use.
Are there scholarships available for HATS Classes?
The Ella Epp Fund Matching Scholarship is available for public schools that register for classes by June 1st each year. For more information, click here.
Virtual
HATS Classes
Available Year-Round
For those students in schools, homeschools or other groups that are unable to travel to Stuhr Museum in person, we are excited to provide a selection of our unique HATS classes in a virtual format!
Virtual HATS classes include:
•An interactive pre-recorded lesson
•A teacher’s packet containing worksheets and suggested activities for the selected lesson
•An optional 15-30 minute live virtual visit with one of Stuhr Museum’s knowledgeable educators
Virtual classes are powered by ThingLink, an interactive, web-based platform that allows the teacher to lead their classroom through the lesson as a whole, or can even turn over the reins and let the students explore on their own. Virtual classes can be completed on any web-enabled device such as a computer, tablet or even a phone!
Each virtual HATS class comes with a teacher’s guide and a packet of worksheets for students. Classes are available for kindergarten through 8th grade and each class is aligned to Nebraska State Standards at the specified grade level. Our virtual classes come backed with Google’s immersive reader, which means any text portions of the lesson can be read out loud by a narrator in English or a number of other languages, and can also be slowed down or sped up to suit the comprehension level of each student. The text can also be translated to another language for reading, too!
For more information about the virtual HATS classes currently offered, click on your grade level below. For questions about virtual classes or to request a class, contact Corey at education@stuhrmuseum.org or call (308) 385-5316.
If a structured HATS Class doesn’t fit into your schedule, you can still visit us on a self-guided field trip! Many schools choose to visit in May when Railroad Town opens for the summer and is bustling with costumed historical interpreters, however you can visit the Leo B. Stuhr Building, Fonner Rotunda and new STEAM Learning Center year-round.
Field trips offer the flexibility to set your own schedule and interact with exhibits and activities across the museum, but do not include any structured instruction. Picnic areas are available on a first-come, first serve basis during May. Feel free to spend as much or as little time as you have with us!
Please note: We require 1 adult per 5 students as chaperones for field trips to ensure students act in a respectful and safe manner toward the museum grounds, artifacts and employees.
$6.00 PER PERSON
Reservations are required at least 2 weeks in advance to receive the special $6.00/person field trip pricing and payment will be due on the day of your visit via cash, check or credit card.
To register for a self-guided field trip, please call (308) 385-5316 or e-mail education@stuhrmuseum.org.
Teacher
Resources
Other Links of Interest
- Pawnee Nation
- Tracking the Buffalo and other Plains activities
- Fort Kearney State Historical Park
- Ash Hollow State Historical Park
- Courthouse and Jail Rocks
- Chimney Rock National Historic Site
- Scott’s Bluff National Monument
- William Henry Jackson Collection at Scottsbluff National Monument
- Nebraska Western Trails
- Prairie Settlement: Nebraska Photographs and Family Letters
- Union Pacific Railroad
- Solomon D. Butcher Photograph Collection
- Nebraska Studies
- History Nebraska
- Nebraska State Capital
- International Quilt Study Center
- Joslyn Art Museum Teacher Resources
- Kruger Collection: Miniature Furnishings & Decorative Arts
