How to Use Museum of Alaska Content for Homeschool Days

Homeschooling offers families the freedom to explore, adapt, and learn in ways that spark real curiosity. One of the most powerful ways to bring lessons to life is by using museum resources as part of your homeschool routine. Museums—especially the Museum of Alaska —are more than field trip destinations. They’re living classrooms filled with stories, artifacts, hands-on opportunities, and experiences that support a wide range of subjects.

At the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry in Wasilla, we love welcoming homeschool families. Our exhibits, historic vehicles, engines, aircraft, industrial tools, and hands-on learning spaces offer endless opportunities to connect education with real Alaska history. Here’s how families can use Museum of Alaska content to create meaningful, engaging homeschool days.

Start With a Theme

Choosing a theme helps guide your learning and makes planning easier. You might focus on Alaska transportation, aviation history, craftsmanship, early machinery, or industrial innovation. A theme ties your subjects together into one cohesive day of learning.

For example, a transportation-themed homeschool day could include exploring how early Alaskans traveled, studying the science behind engines, and building a simple model vehicle at home. With one theme, you can weave together history, science, math, and art.

Turn a Museum of Alaska Visit Into a Full Lesson

If you’re planning a trip to the Museum of Alaska, you can easily turn it into a rich educational experience. Before visiting, introduce a few key vocabulary words or share background information about Alaska transportation, aviation, or traditional craftsmanship. Ask your child what they already know—and what they hope to discover.

While exploring our Wasilla museum, encourage observation and engagement. Have your child sketch an artifact, write down interesting facts, or list questions about how something works—from our vintage tractors to our bush planes and engines.

After your visit, extend the learning at home by writing a short report, designing a related project, or researching one object in more detail. Reflection helps solidify new knowledge.

Use Museum of Alaska Artifacts to Teach Multiple Subjects

Our collections naturally support cross-curricular learning, especially here in Alaska where innovation, resilience, and hands-on skills shaped daily life.

• History: Comes alive through real Alaska artifacts and stories.
• Science: Explored through engines, aviation systems, and mechanical tools.
• Math: Reinforced through measuring, designing, estimating, and understanding mechanical systems.
• Language Arts: Built through storytelling, journaling, and research inspired by Alaska’s past.
• Art: Sparked by traditional craftsmanship, design, and restoration techniques.

Incorporate Hands-On Projects

Hands-on learning is especially powerful for homeschoolers, and it’s something we value deeply at the Museum of Alaska. After learning about boat building, aviation, or engines, encourage your child to create something tangible.

Build a small wooden project, design a simple machine, draw a blueprint, or construct a model using materials from home. These experiences strengthen problem-solving skills, patience, and resilience—skills that have always been part of Alaska’s heritage.

Encourage Independent Exploration

Museums are filled with stories waiting to be uncovered. Let your child choose an exhibit that excites them and turn it into a mini research project.

They might explore how aviation shaped Alaska communities, learn about craftsmanship in remote regions, or investigate how early machinery operated in the Mat-Su Valley. Giving children ownership of their learning fuels curiosity and independence.

Create a Museum Journal

Keep a dedicated homeschool journal to track what your child learns at the Museum of Alaska. Encourage them to draw artifacts, write reflections, or highlight their favorite discoveries.

Over time, the journal becomes a personal record of Alaska history, creativity, and hands-on experiences.

Connect Learning to Real Life

One of the strengths of museum-based learning is its connection to real-world skills. When students see how engines operate, how tools were used, or how early innovations solved real challenges in Alaska, they gain a practical understanding of how knowledge applies beyond textbooks.

Make It a Routine

Consider making regular visits to the Museum of Alaska part of your homeschool year. Rotating themes, seasonal programs, and hands-on workshops help keep learning fresh and exciting. Our museum offers ongoing educational opportunities that support Alaska homeschool families year-round.

The Takeaway

Museums offer homeschool families a chance to blend history, science, creativity, and hands-on skill-building into one powerful learning experience. By preparing before your visit, engaging deeply during it, and continuing the conversation afterward, you can turn Museum of Alaska content into inspiring homeschool days that build curiosity, creativity, and confidence.

We’re proud to support homeschool families across Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley. At the Museum of Alaska Transportation and Industry, we’re here to help your learning adventures take flight—one hands-on discovery at a time.