Battleship New Jersey Class Descriptions

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Recommended for Grades 3-6

Battleship Weatherman

Science/Social Studies/Math

Description- Students will learn the important role that weathermen play on US Navy ships and their impact in US naval history. Listen to a real battleship weatherman describe working in the ship's weather "shack" and the instruments and terminology they used. World War II records tell about staggering losses of ships, men & aircraft to Admiral "Bull" Halsey's Third Fleet during a 1944 typhoon - why it happened, could it have been prevented and how it changed Navy history, training, and ship construction. Students will read and record various weather instruments and phenomena such as temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed & direction & clouds. They will also learn how weather inputs to the ship's computers are used in aiming of the 16 inch guns. Different units of measure used in weather observation and how to convert between them will be explained and practiced.

US Standards: NSS-USH.5-12.7, NSS-USH.5-12.8, NS.5-8.6

NJ Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 5.3, 6.4, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 2.3, 2.9, 3.4, 3.5

Buoyancy and Battleship- How Boats Float Science/Social Studies/Math/Technology

Description- Students will learn about the physical principals involved in keeping a 45,000 ton battleship afloat. Buoyancy, equilibrium, displacement, and density will all be explained through hands on activities that will have all age groups entertained and engaged. They will analyze why a steel ship doesn't sink and how submarines dive and return to the surface.

US Standards: NSS-USH.5-12.7, NSS-USH.5-12.8, NS.5-8.2, NS.5-8.5, NS.9-12.2

NJ Standards: 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.7, 6.4, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 2.8, 3.4, 3.8

Eyewitness to American History Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Relive history through the eyes of the men and women who served this great nation. In this 45-minute program, your students will have the opportunity to conduct an exercise in oral history with a veteran of America's military forces. Participating veterans are familiar with all branches of the military and this program can be customized to fit the time period you are focusing on in your classroom.

US Standards: NSS-WH.5-12.8, NL-ENG.K-12.5, NL-ENG.K-12.6

NJ Standards: 3.3, 6.1, 6.4

PA Standards: 1.6, 7.1, 7.3

New Jersey Heroes Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Students will learn about the sacrifices of New Jerseyans who served aboard the Battleship New Jersey and the dedication of those who contributed to her creation. Your class will examine primary source documents, as well as view oral histories from these hometown heroes - from first hand accounts of the battleship at war, to the stories of those who were proud to pound her rivets into place. This class also provides the opportunity for analysis of the roles that New jersey-born women and minorities played in a time when equality in the work-place was uncommon.

US Standards: NSS-WH.5-12.8, NL-ENG.K-12.5, NL-ENG.K-12.6

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.4, 6.5, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4

Ship Art/Life Aboard the Ship Art/Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Students will have the opportunity to explore examples of the ship Art on the Battleship New Jersey. They will discover the jobs available to the crew who furnished the artwork on the ship. Through interpretation of this art students will learn about life aboard the ship as well as create their own ship art with provided art supplies. Short video clips of oral histories from those who served will enhance the educational experience.

US Standards: NA-VA.K-4.4, NSS-WH.5-12.8, NL-ENG.K-12.6

NJ Standards: 1.2, 1.3, 3.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

PA Standards: 1.6, 8.3, 8.4, 9.2, 9.4

Where in the World was the Battleship New Jersey? Social Studies/Math/language Arts

Description- During her illustrious career, the Battleship New Jersey made many stops throughout the world. The purpose of this class is primarily to educate students in the importance of being able to read maps and using the map scale to estimate distances. In addition, they will be exposed to historical content of the ship and its role in United States' history. Active participation will be crucial, as students will be quizzed on their knowledge of world geography and their competence with using a map scale.

US Standards: NM-MEA.3-5.2, NM-DATA.3-5.4, NSS-C.9-12.4, NSS-USH.5-12.7

NJ Standards: 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6

PA Standards: 1.6, 2.2, 2.5, 7.1, 8.1, 8.3, 8.4

Recommended for Grades 6-8

African Americans Role in the US Navy Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- African Americans' naval service stretches back to the beginnings of the nation. Thousands of black men fought in the American War for Independence, many in the new Continental Navy. In the Civil War, black men made up a substantial portion of the Union Navy's enlisted personnel -- 30,000 sailors. But by the dawn of the new century, things had changed. In 1919, the Navy closed the door on opportunities for African Americans by halting Navy enlistment. Due to attrition, just 0.55% of the Navy's enlisted forces were black in 1932, while seventy years earlier, during the Civil War, it had been 25%. Why did this happen? Join us as we examine the role of African Americans in the US navy from 1904 to the present day.

US Standards: NL-ENG.K-12.6, NSS-WH.5-12.8

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

PA Standards: 1.6, 5.2, 6.5, 8.3, 8.4

Korean Conflict/Cold War Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Students will learn the causes of the Korean Conflict and the dynamics of the United States' involvement in the early Cold War period. The role of the newly formed United Nations and the actions of General McArthur will be examined. Recorded oral histories of the men who served during that time aboard the battleship will supplement the class' learning. A comparison to Korea today will also be discussed.

US Standards: NSS-C.9-12.4, NSS-G.K-12.5, NSS-USH.5.12.9

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6

PA Standards: 1.6, 5.4, 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4

Mechanical Advantage Science/Math/Technology

Description- When a projectile weighing 1,900 lbs. needs to be moved, without the use of machinery, how is it accomplished? Through the use of simple machines, work is carried out throughout the ship on a daily basis. Students will learn the basics of knot tying and pulley systems aboard ships and then delve into advanced examples on the Battleship New Jersey. They will also have the opportunity to listen to real life examples of how these machines were used as told by the men who worked on the New Jersey.

US Standards: NS.9-12.2, NM-MEA.9-12.2, NS.5-8.2, NS.5-8.5, NSS-USH.5-12.7

NJ Standards: 5.4, 5.7, 6.4, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 3.4, 3.8

Women's Role in the US Navy

Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Though no women served aboard the Battleship New Jersey in WWII as crewmembers, thousands of American women served in the US Navy. In 1942, Mildred McAfee was sworn in as the first female commissioned officer in US Navy History. At the end of the conflict, about 2.5 % of the total Navy was women. Today all Navy positions are open to women except Navy Seals and Submarines. Students will delve into the history of Women in the US Navy including the role of WAVES during WWII and the role of women today.

US Standards: NL-ENG.K-12.6, NSS-WH.5-12.8

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5

PA Standards: 1.6, 5.2, 6.5, 8.3, 8.4

WWII- War in the Pacific Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- Students will learn the causes of WWII, examining the attack at Pearl Harbor and the American public's reaction. While studying the role of the Battleship New Jersey in the Pacific, your class will analyze the effect that the Iowa class battleships had on the morale of the average sailor, those on the home front, and the enemy. Through interpretation of artifacts and primary source documents from the era, students will evaluate the effectiveness of the propaganda of the time, comparing and contrasting it with examples from today. Short video clips of oral histories from those who served will enhance the educational experience, as well as clips of the battleship's 16" guns in action.

US Standards: NSS-C.9-12.4, NSS-G.K-12.5, NSS-USH.5-12.8

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5, 6.6, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 3.8, 5.4, 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4

Recommended for Grades 9-12

Battleship Ecosystem/ Fish love Ships

Science/Technology

Description- How would a fish feel about 17,000 tons of steel? The first Battleship New Jersey (BB-16) currently resides at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean as home to thousands of marine life. Join us on an adventure as we discover how ships are sunk by the US Navy to become artificial reefs. Discover how this affects the underwater ecosystem with examples of aquatic species that thrive thanks to sunken ships.

US Standards: NS.5-8.3, NS.5-8.5, NSS-G.K-12.5, NT.K-12.1

NJ Standards: 6.4, 6.6, 5.4, 5.5, 5.10, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 3.3, 3.8, 4.3, 4.6, 4.8

Battleship NJ in the War on Terror Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- October 23, 1983. The United States Marine Barracks in Lebanon is bombed killing 299 servicemen. This class will cover, in depth, the surprising events leading up to this tragedy and the American response. Students will discuss the background of the Middle East after WWII, including the creation of Israel, the rise of terrorist groups, and the effect on today's war on terror.

US Standards: NL-ENG.K-12.3, NSS-C.9-12.4, NSS-G.K-12.5, NSS-USH.5-12.10, NSS-WH.5-12.8

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6

PA Standards: 1.6, 5.4, 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4

How Energy Changes Form Science/Math/Technology

Description- How does water taken on the ship convert to power to make it run? Students will discover the scientific principles behind these activities on the battleship. Sea water was used for all of the basic energy needs of the sailors- from heating and cooking, to propelling the ship through the ocean. Students will experience areas of the ship which are responsible for the processes necessary for the conversion of these resources.

US Standards: NS.9-12.2, NM-MEA.9-12.2, NS.5-8.2, NS.5-8.5, NSS-USH.5-12.7

NJ Standards: 5.4, 5.7, 6.4, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 3.4, 3.8

The Vietnam War- The Conflict and the Controversy Social Studies/Language Arts

Description- "Objective, non-controversial history that everyone can agree on doesn't exist with the Vietnam War"(Ronald Spector, chairman of the history department at George Washington University). Students in this class will have the opportunity to examine the basis for this controversy and the era in which it occurred. Primary source documents as well as oral histories from those who served aboard the Battleship New Jersey will be included in the lesson.

US Standards: NSS-C.9-12.4, NSS-G.K-12.5, NSS-USH.5-12.9

NJ Standards: 3.5, 6.3, 6.4, 6.6

PA Standards: 1.6, 5.4, 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4

What Good is a Parabola, Anyway? Science/Math/Technology

Description- Students will examine how the Battleship New Jersey aimed the 16 inch guns with the assistance of a quadratic equation. These guns are capable of firing a 2000 pound projectile up to 23 miles and landing that shell within 30 yards of the intended target. This is amazing when one realizes that the equipment used to aim the guns was designed in the 1930's before GPS, digital computers, or Radar, and is still accurate enough to be used without change today. This is all accomplished with the use of parabolas which is also applied in this class to hands-on activities such as a quarterback throwing a football or a batter hitting a baseball. A video segment which demonstrates the 16 inch guns in action, as well as a life-size replica of an actual shell (over 5ft. tall!) serve to enhance the educational experience.

US Standards: NS.9-12.2, NM-GEO.9-12.2, NM-MEA.9-12.2, NSS-USH.5-12.7

NJ Standards: 4.3, 5.3, 6.4, 8.2

PA Standards: 1.6, 2.8, 3.8

For more information about class content and academic standards please call 856-966-1652 ext. 222 or email education@battleshipnewjersey.org.