The Heikoff Giant Dome Theater will temporarily close from September 7 through the end of October 2023 as we upgrade to new seats and enhance our accommodations for an even more extraordinary experience at the Fleet Science Center.
Did you know that your school group can go on a fun field trip to the Fleet Science Center? As a community-centered institution, the Fleet Science Center is committed to providing accessible and engaging science education for all. Our interactive exhibit galleries spark curiosity and inspire a love of science in your students.
When you book a field trip to the Fleet Science Center, you're not just providing your students with an exciting and engaging educational experience—you're also supporting our community-centered mission. Here's what's included:
- Special discounted gallery admission for your school group
- Access to our interactive exhibit galleries (special events and limited engagement exhibitions excluded)
- The option to add an educational workshop or documentary film in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater to your experience
- The opportunity to learn from our team of expert educators and scientists, who are dedicated to making science education accessible and inclusive for all members of our community
- A fun and engaging experience that will inspire your students to explore the wonders of science
Ready to book your visit? Complete a Request Form and a member of our education team will reach out to you to confirm your booking. We can't wait to see you and your group at the Fleet!
Below, you'll find lesson plans, inquiry questions, a chaperone guide and documentary film guides to enhance your educational experience.
Lesson Plans
Below, you will find lesson plans and additional information related to the topics your students learned during their Fleet Science Center field trip experience.
- Solar System
- Geology Rocks
- Making Sense of It All
- Float or Sink
- Weather or Not
- Electric Avenue
- Chemistry Concepts
- The Heat Is On
- Discovering DNA
- Simple Machines: Lever
- Forces: Parachutes
Exhibit Guides
Below is a collection of content and inquiry-based questions and activities for students visiting the exhibit galleries. You can select and print questions and activities to suit your students’ needs. The questions and activities focus students’ attention on a particular set of exhibits and topics and encourage discovery through the process of scientific inquiry.
- Exhibit Inquiry Starter
- Catenary Arch
Documentary Film Guides
If your class watched a documentary film in the Heikoff Giant Dome Theater, you can extend the impact of the experience with classroom activities and discussions outlined in the guides below.
- A Beautiful Planet
- Antarctica
- Dream Big
- Flight of the Butterflies
- Great Bear Rainforest
- Hubble
- Into America's Wild
- National Parks Adventure
- Train Time
- Turtle Odyssey Grades 3-5
- Turtle Odyssey Grades 6-8
- Volcanoes
Access Science Scholarships
Access Science Scholarships are available to Title 1 public schools of San Diego County for field trips to the Fleet Science Center. These funds are awarded upon application through the generosity of our corporate and private donors, with a mission of increasing access to the power and wonder of science! Applicants must provide proof of their school’s Title 1 status, as well as justification for scholarship need. Scholarships may be partially awarded and have a cap of $800 per school per August-July school year.
For more information, contact our Education Team or call 619-238-1233 x 806.