Chaperoning Fourth-Graders At the Nimitz Museum

My sons are grown now, but when my oldest was in fourth grade, history geek that I am, I jumped at the chance to be one of the chaperones as his class traveled to Fredericksburg, TX to tour the National Museum of the Pacific War (also known as the “Nimitz Museum”). The museum makes a special point to reach out to children and instead of taking them on a boring tour of hundreds of static exhibits, the students were bused to the Living History program of the museum. This is an outdoor area designed to look like a combat zone containing equipment, vehicles, and weapons used in World War II’s Pacific theater. 

About a hundred ten-year olds, the teachers, and chaperones were ushered into a grandstand where we were oriented to the various equipment and given a briefing on the history of the Pacific war. Our guide was dressed as a World War II marine and asked questions rather than lecturing. We first looked at several vehicles, then were led to a PT boat, like the one pictured here. 

Our guide described the mission of the motor torpedo boats, then, knowing enough to keep the kids engaged, started asking them questions about the various nautical terms for different areas of a navy boat or ship. “Can you tell me what the front of a boat is called?” Someone guessed correctly, “bow!” He then proceeds to ask about left (port) right (starboard) rear (stern)  floor (deck) and kitchen (galley) all of which the students guessed correctly although it sometimes took two or three tries.

But the students were stumped when he asked what the nautical term for a bathroom was. 

“Toilet?” No.

“Bathroom? No.

“Shower?” No.

Finally, they ran out of ideas and there was silence.

Then one boy  yelled out “POOPDECK!” 

All one hundred of us, students, teachers, and chaperones dissolved into laughter.