DISCOVERY CENTER
"All chatter stopped - they were hooked. The experience was equally engaging for my second language learners as it was for my GATE students. The students had been transformed - they would never be the same."
- 5th grade teacher
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The Air Force One Discovery Center is an experiential learning activity that focuses on American presidential decision making. While in the Discovery Center, students will role-play historic figures from the Reagan administration and engage in high level discussions and debate. Using modern technology to capture and engage our leaders of tomorrow, the Discovery Center experience will give rise to genuine dialogue among your students as they make the decisions in an international crisis!
The Discovery Center engages students in the complexity of executive decision making and opens the door to a greater understanding of government and foreign relations. In the Discovery Center, every student plays a crucial role and experiences the responsibilities and challenges faced by leaders in our government, military, and media as they are immersed in a real-life situation.
Each student plays a specific role, such as:
- President Reagan
- Secretary of State Shultz
- Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
- White House Press Corps reporter
Detailed, realistic sets bring their roles to life:
- The Oval Office
- Command Decision Center
- White House Press Room
- Air Force One Simulator
As the situation progresses, the choices get more complicated and the stakes get higher. The students in the Command Decision Center and Oval Office must analyze and apply information, work as a team and choose the best course of action. The reporters in the White House Press Room must weigh their right to free speech against the burden of protecting the security of American citizens.
Students leave the Discovery Center with a new perspective on the workings and complexity of their government and gain skills that improve their decision-making and analytical thinking abilities. In order to enhance the learning experience, teachers are provided free curriculum materials for students to complete before and after their visit. These materials are designed to reinforce learning and correspond to the California State Standards for language arts and social studies.
The Reagan Library and Air Force One Discovery Center are always offered free of charge for all student groups and we are open year round. If you would like to bring your own student group to take part in this exciting experience, please contact the Discovery Center to schedule a visit!
We look forward to sharing this exceptional educational experience with you!
Activities are supported by a grant from the Donald W Reynolds Foundation. The Discovery Center and all related curriculum materials are provided at no charge to student groups. Limited bus scholarships are also available.
Contact Information
Download a Discovery Center application to book your class tour!
Air Force One Discovery Center
Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
40 Presidential Drive, Suite 200
Simi Valley, California 93065
805-577-4159
805-577-4160
805-577-4158 (fax)
afodiscovery@reaganfoundation.org |
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