Glad you asked. First we go over how we expect students
- and chaperones - to behave (see below.) We immediately
get started on your exciting
educational experience. We introduce the topic that
you, the teacher, have chosen the students to discover
and then we take the students through the Baseball Hall
of Fame and let our artifacts and exhibits do the teaching,
reinforcing the modules at every stop. What results
is an experience that even a non-baseball lover (do
they exist?) can appreciate – using baseball as
a springboard to standards-based education.
1. Where does our bus drop us
off?
The bus will drop you off at the bus stop, just east
of Cooper Park on the same side of the road as the Hall
of Fame. A representative of the Hall of Fame’s
Education Department will meet and greet you at the
bus stop.
2. Where does our bus park?
Your bus cannot park in the bus stop. But you can go
around and park in the Chamber of Commerce’s parking
lot. Take your first left onto River Street, bear left
onto Lake Street, and turn left again on Chestnut Street.
Go through the light and the Chamber of Commerce is
on the left.
3. How do we ensure a smooth arrival?
There are a couple of suggestions that, if taken into account,
can make your arrival run more smoothly. Pass out your
nametags either before you leave the school, or while you're
on the bus. That way we can immediately get started and get
you on your way into the Museum. Also, think about whether
or not your visit to the Hall of Fame will overlap with when
your students regularly eat lunch. Some schools have had
snacks for their students before they leave the bus, and
it has resulted in a very successful trip.
4. Are there restroom facilities
available?
We build in time before your program actually begins
to allow for students and teacher to use the restroom.
There is also another opportunity during your educational
experience to use the facilities.
5. What do the teachers / chaperones
do on the tour?
We prefer that parents, chaperones and teachers stay
with each group. Your students will be broken up into
the modules that you have chosen, and we will have a
museum teacher for each group of students. By staying
with the group, you can help reinforce proper museum
behavior among the students. Of course please silence
all cell phones during the tour.
6. How long do the tours last?
About 2-1/2 hours, although you should allow three hours
from arrival to departure. Your educational module allows
for 20 minutes at the beginning for a welcome (and often-mentioned
restroom break). We then begin your tour with a 30-minute
module introduction and presentation. After the module
time, we take your students on an 80-minute interactive,
discovery-based tour through the museum and allow artifacts
from our national pastime to tell the story of the module
you selected. Your group reconvenes in the Grandstand
Theater for the 13-minute multi-media presentation called
“The Baseball Experience.” We do allow,
as requested, time for your group to visit our Museum
Store, and send you on your way! Please note, however, if you do not have
three hours to spend with us, please let us know and
we can tailor your experience to meet your scheduling
needs.
7. Is there a way to incorporate
what we’re doing in our classroom with our experience
at the Baseball Hall of Fame?
Absolutely! When you schedule your tour, if there is
a book you’re reading about a baseball player,
or anything specific regarding baseball, please let
us know and we will do our best to tailor your tour
to reinforce what you’ve been teaching in the
classroom. In a reversal, make sure that you check out
our online thematic units)
to see the pre-activities we have published so that
you can prepare your students for your visit in advance.
We find that students who complete at least one pre-activity
enjoy their experience significantly more than the students
who do not. While you’re there, also download
our post-activities to reinforce your experience at
the Baseball Hall of Fame when you get back to the classroom.
8. Where do we eat?
We do not make recommendations on where you can eat
lunch, though there are a number of establishments within
the Village of Cooperstown. A few miles south of Cooperstown
there is a Subway, Pizza Hut, and McDonald’s,
and they generally request notice before you arrive.
If you bring your lunch, feel free to eat at Doubleday
Field, a block west of the Baseball Hall of Fame, or
Lakefront Park, north of the Hall of Fame.
9. What do we bring with us in
the museum?
Food and drinks are not allowed, and backpacks are not
necessary. Some of the modules require some writing
and calculators, but we provide that for each student.
So really all you need is an eagerness to learn!
10. What are your expectations of us?
The National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum is exactly
that – an internationally recognized museum –
so we expect students to act accordingly. We ask that
students use their “library” or “museum”
voices inside, and also to walk on the right side of
the hallway or exhibit. Since we educate over 350,000
visitors per year, we can get crowded in a hurry. By
walking in a line on one side of the hallway, we can
all help the traffic flow more smoothly. We also expect
you to learn, and most of all to have fun while you’re
here.
11. Can I take pictures?
Yes! You are free to take as many pictures as you like,
we just ask that any group shots be taken after the
tour is over so as not to break up the learning experience.
12. Can we come back?
Included for every student is a complimentary ticket
to return to the Baseball Hall of Fame, good for one
year after your visit. You can’t use it to schedule
another school visit, but we do encourage kids to return
with their parents.
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