Student Attractions on Louisville’s Main Street
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory
Greeted by the world’s tallest bat at the entrance, groups soon realize that their visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory will be no ordinary experience. Students get history and physics lessons on the side, while having fun hearing about America’s favorite past-time.
Daily activities and programs feature live character performances, behind-the-scenes tours, hands-on activities and more. In Louisville Slugger Enlists, a costumed interpreter describes how Louisville Slugger pitched in during World War II; visit the Bat Vault that contains models used to create bats for some of baseball’s greats like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron; and tour the factory where the famous bats are made to learn the bat-making process. Each participant receives a complimentary mini bat. Pupils witness important scientific principles at work when they face a 90-mph fastball and discover a piece of the past with the world’s oldest baseball glove.
A Bats & Boats package includes a tour of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and an two-hour cruise along the Ohio River aboard the Belle of Louisville sternwheeler offering a buffet lunch.
Frazier International History Museum
While exploring the collection of the Frazier students learn the themes of American history from the Revolutionary War to days of the Wild West. Young visitors come in touch with people and events that changed the world through live performances by costumed interpreters. Every day, one of 90 historic performances and demonstrations are presented on the likes of Annie Oakley, Buffalo Bill, Abraham Lincoln, Joan of Arc, Olaudah Equiano and others that provide a journey through 1,000 years of history. The museum also offers ever-changing and interactive exhibits. “Civil War: My Brother, My Enemy” is an upcoming exhibit that opens fall 2011.
The Frazier International Museum brings history to life for K-12 students through educational opportunities that utilize object-based learning, engaging activities, gallery investigations and live performances – all tailored to meet Core Content Curriculum Standards. The museum’s school programs help students learn from the past in order to create a better future. This variety of programs, takes the historic content and makes it relevant to today.
Louisville Science Center
The Science Center, designated the “State Science Center of Kentucky,” is the largest hands-on science center in Kentucky. It features 150 interactive exhibits, an IMAX Theatre, teaching laboratories, and engaging educational programs.
Permanent exhibits include “The World Around Us” in which natural and earth sciences are brought to life in a wide range of interactive and multimedia activities in ecological galleries: Atmosphere, Terrasphere, and Aquasphere. In “The World We Create,” students enter the worlds of chemistry, architecture, physics, and engineering by exploring scientific advancements in those fields. Life sciences and health are the focus of “The World Within Us.” Groups learn about how the body works through hands-on exhibits and how healthy/unhealthy lifestyle choices affect their body. Highlights include:Out of Control – Behind the wheel of a Volkswagen, students can experience the difference between driving sober and driving under the influence of alcohol.
Discount pricing (for group tours, sports teams, youth and church groups) is valid for 10 or more with advance reservation To receive the group rate, reservations must be made 48 hours in advance.
Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft
The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft recently celebrated 30 years of supporting artists and providing exhibition and educational programs. The Education Center also provides special needs workshops, summer art camps, school partnership programs, Girl Scout workshops, child and teen workshops, and craft artist demonstrations.
Groups of 10 or more received a reduced rate , but students and children under 12 are admitted free.
Muhammad Ali Center
A visit to the Muhammad Ali Center’s 2.5 levels of exhibits and galleries invites students to learn about the champ’s life, as well as reflecting on values, inner strength, and character. The tour is self-guided, but has a structured 15-minute introduction with an education staff member that includes the historical significance of the Civil Rights and Vietnam war eras, core values of respect, confidence, conviction, dedication, spirituality and giving, and how young people can incorporate those values into their own lives.
Hands-on interaction is provided at the “Train with Ali” exhibit – a re-creation of his Deer Lake Training Camp. Students can shadow box with the champ, practice on the speed bag, feel the power of an Ali punch on the heavy bag, and learn the techniques of a champion boxer Then visitors can exercise the mind by identifying character strengths in the “Walk with Ali” exhibit.
All of the center’s educational programming is in line with state standards and addresses core content areas. The Muhammad Ali Center is recommended for students grade 4 and above. A visit should last between 1.5-2 hours, depending on the level of engagement and grade of the student.
21c Museum Hotel
As North America’s only museum devoted solely to art of the 21st century, 21c Museum is committed to featuring a rotating program of thought-provoking solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of today’s art today. Each month the museum hosts an exciting program of special events, including concerts, film screenings, and poetry readings. 21c Museum is free.
A permanent installation that is interesting to students is Text Rain, a video, interactive installation in which participants use their bodies, to do what seems magical — to lift and play with falling letters. Participants move in front of a large projection screen, where they see themselves in black and white, combined with the color of falling letters that appear to land on their heads and arms. The falling letters are not random, but form lines of a poem about bodies and language, so Text Rain becomes a physical as well as a mental challenge that is perfect for students.
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts
Since 1983, The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts has served as a major arts education resource for Kentucky’s students and teachers. It is home for Louisville’s many major arts organizations – The Louisville Orchestra, Kentucky Opera, Louisville Ballet, Stage One and Broadway Across America, and others. The three theaters of the center, along with the W. L. Lyons Brown Theatre, are Kentucky’s showcases for the performing arts. The Kentucky Center has been voted the state’s best venue for music, theater and dance, but it is more than stages and theaters, its educational programs bring the arts to children and students in all of Kentucky’s regions through its programming and education departments..Its mission is to provide artistic performances that strive to challenge, stimulate, and entertain through education and initiatives that expand and diversify audiences while enhancing their understanding, appreciation and support for the arts.
The Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts brings the finest in music, dance, theater and more to Kentucky. www.kentuckycenter.org
Kentucky Show!
Kentucky Show! is an entertaining film that offers factual information about Kentucky. Covering every aspect of the state, from its early beginnings to today, the 32-minute film plays at at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. The images and narrative depict Kentucky’s different cultures through paintings, photographs, drawings, and film clips. KentuckyShow! so accurately presents the diversity of Kentucky life that even students visiting from outside the state are left with what it means to live in Kentucky. The 30-minute show is easily paired with a variety of other educational venues nearby, for a cost-effective, full-day field trip.
The online curriculum supports Core Content for Assessment and includes history, geography, biological science, writing, arts, math, and technology activities. Inspired by the KentuckyShow! experience, students will return to the classroom ready to further explore the film’s themes using the multimedia Classroom Activities Guide.
Student groups receive special discounts and show times.
Glassworks
Louisville’s “hottest” landmark, Glassworks, is home to three working glass studios. Glassblowers shape beautiful works of art from molten glass; flameworkers use torches to bend glass rods into intricate sculptures; and architectural glass designers and craftsmen create glass environments.
On a Glassworks Studio Tour, students can watch artisans as they tame flames to create original works of art. Blown glass, flamework, architectural glass, and stained glass are featured on this tour.
Guided student field trip tours last one hour and include Transformed by Light, a 12-minute video covering the history and origins of glass art, the studio movement, and Glassworks; Architectural Glass Art, an innovative cold-working/warm-working studio founded in 1875, and the founding studio of Glassworks. Payton; Flameworks, during which students can watch artists sculpt with glass and an oxygen/propane torch; and Glassworks Hot Shop, where pupils learn about the process and watch artists blow glass in its molten state.
A reduced admission fee is available for a minimum of 20 students. Hands-on glass art activities are available for an additional fee. Admission for teachers and chaperones accompanying the group is complimentary. Field trips are available by reservation.
Dining is Fun for Students in Louisville, too!
Lynn’s Paradise Cafe
Student groups looking for fun will meet their match at what’s been called “One of the four most fun restaurants in America.”Greeted by a colorful horse, a giant coffee pot, and other artsy sculptures in the courtyard, guests enter The World of Swirl, a unique shop filled with nostalgic toys, a variety of “penny” candy, colorful playful artwork, and so much more.
At the cafe, diners can choose from the likes of black raspberry stuffed french toast, tasty omelets, or bourbon ball french toast for breakfast, a range of burgers and BLT fries for lunch or dinner, and tasty treats such as derby pie milkshakes for anytime.
Make Accommodating Students in Louisville a Walk Through History
The Galt House
Standing at 25 stories with 1,300-rooms, The Galt House has been considered to be the largest hotel in Kentucky. Originally built in 1837, it has hosted such famous persons as Jefferson Davis, Charles Dickens, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant
A recent renovation complete with conservatory featuring an aviary and greenhouse offers views of downtown Louisville and the Ohio River, while a pedestrian bridge crossing Main Street connects The Galt House with the Louisville skybridge system and downtown, making it a safe option for students.
During the holiday season, the hotel presents an event aptly named KaLightoscope Christmas. The attraction features interactive, lighted sculptures; a Christmas Village; and a walk-through Snow Fairy Castle with secret doors for visitors to write down their Christmas wishes; while a world-class dinner show will have groups humming holiday tunes. KaLightoscope Christmas takes place Nov. 17, 2011, to Jan. 2, 2012.
