Lots of fun, inexpensive educational activities for families in 2010

DAYTON, Ohio -- The museum is bringing education to the fingertips of parents, students and educators in ways that are fun, innovative and, most importantly, budget-friendly this year.

Free monthly Family Days, held on the third Saturday of each month, allow adults and children of all ages to participate in activities that teach fun and simple aerospace principles.

Other activities include low-cost Home School Days for families with home-schooled children, or free assembly-style programs like Kite Day, Space Day or a Wright Brothers program. In the summer, inexpensive Aerospace Camps are offered for a variety of age groups.

Also, lesson plans and activities are being added to Web site for educators to download and use in their classrooms. The Web highlights interactive programs like the "ABCs of Aviation" and "Test Your Ranks." For younger children, there are aviation-themed word searches or coloring pages. Additionally, those who want to learn more about Air Force history can bring the museum to their home or classroom through a virtual tour.

For more information about these activities, visit http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/education/index.asp.

Note: This article originally appeared in the Winter 2009 issue of Friends Journal. To receive the Journal and other benefits, become a member of the Air Force Museum Foundation.