‘What is a Car?’ focuses on helping students learn about the major parts of a car and how these innovations came to be. This module includes an interactive activity, which has students practice matching car accessories/parts to their appropriate location on a car diagram.

‘Movement of Mail’ focuses on teaching kids about the development of the U.S. Postal Service in the United States since its beginning in 1775. Students will learn about how the development of roads and advancements in transportation contributed to the way mail was delivered. The engaging activity will allow the students to take part in the early mail distribution process to understand how the Post Offices on Wheels functioned and evolved over time.

Introduces the important job of city planning, why it matters, who are the major stakeholders, what is necessary for people to live, etc. Students will also learn to identify residential vs commercial, what is a land use map, what are the categories of land use and how do we divide up our land. This group-based activity will challenge students to consider the infrastructure of their own cities and imagine building their own!

Introduces the history of the Petersen Automotive Museum. From our founders Robert & Margie Petersen, and the significance of Petersen publishing to the actual opening of our museum and impact on our local community, students will understand the role a museum plays and their vital importance to history. An optional make-your-own hotrod activity is also available.

Introduces students to the future of alternative fuels in the automotive industry and their impact on society and the environment. Students will learn about sources that contribute to the climate crisis and the automotive industry’s impact. Learn how new technologies like the electric and hydrogen car work and what sets it apart from the combustion engine. Our colorable Toyota Mirai is included in this lesson.

Learn about all the different careers in museums, especially at our unique automotive museum, as well as other industry opportunities. Understand the role each staff member plays in the function of a museum. A wonderful opportunity for students to connect with our team, learn about their own career journeys, and get behind-the-scenes insight on museum operations!