A walk across the Brooklyn Bridge might be fun. This is still my favorite NYC activity even after living here for the past few years.

The public library is well worth an hour or so. See about arranging a tour, I don't know, but I would imagine they have different options for class tours.

I would also highly recommend the Frick Collection. It is much more intimate than the Met and easier to keep track of the little ones. Plus, since it is set inside a one time private residence, it has a certain comfort feel about it that makes it the anti-stuffy museam. If I were an 8th grader, this would be much more my speed.

be sure to get statue of liberty tickets through the National parks service. Most of the tour boats only take you to the Island.

If you'll already be downtown to see the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island, then you should also stop by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), which is across the park from that ferry on State Street and Broadway. The building is great, and best of all, it's free!

There is also the Skyscraper Museum nearby, as well as the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Of course, no class trip is complete without the American Museum of Natural History uptown. For something different, there's the New York Historical Society.

As for fun stuff, I second Lori's Chelsea Piers suggestion. The UN is also pretty interesting, so check out this site for teachers http://www.un.org/tours/school/teacher.htm

An NBC studio tour or a Radio City Music Hall backstage tour would be something that might interest the kids...

A jaunt into Chinatown for dimsum is also fun and cheap, provided the kids are open to different flavors. And while you're there, I would second a visit to the Brooklyn Bridge. These should be done on your downtown day w/the Statue of Liberty and the NMAI.

Good luck! Sounds like fun!

I agree with Frenchtoile that you should take them to see a Broadway play. I was in the 8th grade when I saw my first broadway musical. It was Chorus Line. It made a huge impact on me. I still love seeing musicals and try to see them whenever I can even if it is just local theater.

I had forgotten to mention, although it's understood, that at least in a hostel each person gets their own bed. Working p/t at a hotel fron desk, I can tell you that although the organizers of youth groups often figure they'll put 2 to a bed, the kids, especially males, aren't too happy with such arrangements. We get a lot of requests for extra blankets & sheets ... they are not willing to share bed linen as well as a bed .. but we cannot possibly supply THAT many requests.

If you end up with a "bed-sharing" arrangement, have the kids bring sleeping bags.