School Programs | The Maritime Museum of British Columbia

Visit the Museum or bring the Museum to your classroom with one of our popular school programs!

Are you a school teacher looking for an interactive way to complEment your teaching?

Do you lead a community youth group and are looking to engage your participants in fun activities?

Our programs bring history to life by creating an interactive and fun environment for youth to engage, learn, and explore! Based on the Core Competencies outcomes of the new school curriculum, our programs are designed to connect and supplement teachers with core learning curriculum objectives. The requirements for various Girl Guides and Scouts badges can also be achieved with our programs. Each program offers interactive discussions, hands-on artifact exploration, and skill-building activities. We have highlighted which programs best suit various grade levels and ages, but this does not limit you to that program. Our educators are happy to work with you to tailor program content to meet your needs.

School Program Guide

BC Curriculum Connections

Pirates and Privateers: K-2 Social Studies OR Ages 4-9

From privateers to pirates, war-time raiders became outright thieves. Why did sailors become pirates and where did they come from? Did you know that there were female pirates too? This program illustrates tactics, lifestyles and the consequences for pirates who were caught, arrrh! Students will explore what “pirate” means in a larger context as they are swayed to the pirate life with hat making, and a treasure hunt.

*Please note: In an effort to reduce waste we no longer provide balloon swords with this program.

Ocean Conservation: 2 Science OR Ages 4-9

The Ocean Conservation program introduces students to water and ocean conservation through scientific inquiry. Students will interact with scientific equipment to discover the relationship between land and water and its significance to all living things. Answer the questions: “How are our oceans and other natural water sources connected to the land and how we live?”; “What is pollution?”; “How do we keep our water clean?”

EARLY WEST COAST EXPLORATION: CAPTAINS COOK AND VANCOUVER: 4 & 6 SOCIAL STUDIES - AGES 9-12

Presented as an explorer in the age of discovery, students will explore the questions: What was the motivation for exploration and discovery of the Northwest Coast? How did interactions between First Nations and the explorers impact and shape the development and history of BC and Canada? What were key innovations in navigation, technology and seafaring? Students will interact with knot tying and handling object exploration activities.

IMMIGRATION TO THE WEST COAST OF BC: 5 & 6 SOCIAL STUDIES - AGES 9-12

Immigration to BC involves many hardships as well as opportunities. From exploration and first contact, to settlement and global migration, the motivation for trade, prosperity and freedom sparked multiple waves of immigration. These journeys forever changed the lives of individuals, families and communications, and built BC as we know it today. Students will become museum detectives with a suitcase exploration activity, delving into the experiences of immigrants and how immigration has built Canadian society.

NAVIGATION: FINDING COASTAL BC: 7 & 8 CROSS CURRICULUM: SOCIAL STUDIES, & APPLIED DESIGN, SKILLS & TECHNOLOGY - AGES 12 +

Learn how to be your own navigator! From the earliest navigation systems to present day Global Positioning Systems (GPS), students will examine the ways of early celestial and coastal navigation in parallel with some of today’s current technologies. What would it have been like to rely on primitive ocean-faring technologies? What would happen today if you were out at sea and your GPS failed? Interactive elements include a hands-on examination of BC’s earliest cartographic materials produced by explorers.

THE HUDSON’S BAY COMPANY AND THE FUR TRADE: 4 & 9 SOCIAL STUDIES - AGES 12 +

The Hudson’s Bay Company is Canada’s oldest national company. What were its powerful effects on First Nations and how did it play a key role in the development of Fort Victoria and Canada? Students will become curators and examine real otter and beaver pelts, a Hudson’s Bay blanket and other items important to the trade economy. Relations between First Nations and the HBC will also be included.

SS Princess Sophia, The Unknown Story of the Largest Marine Disaster Along the Pacific Northwest Coast: 9 SOCIAL STUDIES - AGES 12 +

The SS Princess Sophia program explores the largest maritime disaster on the west coast of Canada and its impact on those living in the Pacific Northwest. Using primary and secondary sources, students will interpret what happened during this disaster that had such a profound effect on the people connected to it. Using these documents, students will draw conclusions on possible rescue missions and discuss the limitations of technology.

World War Two and Women on the Home Front: 10 SOCIAL STUDIES - AGES 14 + (COMING WINTER 2019)

The Second World War brought rapid change in technology, industry, and social roles. It also brought opportunities for BC women to contribute to the war effort. Through exploration and discovery, students will learn to read primary sources. With primary archival documents, they will discuss the roles that women played in the BC shipbuilding industry and the Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Service (Wrens), all while considering the context of the period.

Fees

Option 1: Museum Admission PLUS Guided Program
Visit the Museum with your class to explore our exhibit space, hunt for pirate treasure on a scavenger hunt, and participate in an educational program, of your choice. Our educators lead the program’s discussions, guiding students as they explore artifacts and participate in fun, skill-building activities.

Option 2: Museum Visit to Your Classroom
No need to book a bus! Our educators will come to your classroom, to deliver an educational program of your choice.

$125 for a single booking
$100 for back to back bookings at the same location*

*Note: We are not allowed to accommodate more than 8 people in the museum at one time.

Contact Us

Fill out this form to inquire about our availability! Someone will get back to you by e-mail as soon as possible.

Please note that due to COVID restrictions, we can only accept groups of 8 in the museum at one time, and space outreach programs and different sites by 10 days.