Information for Educators

A Group Visit includes 90 minutes of time for children to explore the museum at their own pace.

A Focused Group Visit lets educators combine a half-hour activity with a 90-minute museum visit to extend learning beyond the classroom. Choose from among the following:

Focused Group Visits

Dino Detective (Grades 2-4) Learn about dinosaurs using the scientific method. You'll observe, predict and draw conclusions as you assume the role of a paleontologist in our Dino Detective exhibit.

The Science of Sound (Preschool-Grade 3) Experiment with tuning forks and sound tubes, then construct an instrument using wood and tin cans of varying sizes that will demonstrate how different sounds are produced. Then visit Siss! Boom! Bang!, Music Matrix, and Sound Watch where you will have the opportunity to play more instruments and to learn more about sound waves.

Pattern Palace (Preschool-Grade 4) Make a jeweled crown in a simple or more complicated repeating pattern, then become engaged in six different pattern activities as you help construct our Pattern Palace. Learn about symmetry as you design your own coat of arms.

Kaleidoscopic (GradesK-3) How does a kaleidoscope work? Students will discover the answer to this question as they each construct one to take home! Follow this activity with a visit to our Kaleidoscopic exhibit where you can step inside a kaleidoscope, explore reflective symmetry, and design your own kaleidoscopic patterns.

Fish Printing (Preschool-Grade 1) Explore the museum's Yellow Submarine and Lobstering Out at Sea exhibits, view murals of sea life and paint & print a fish in this undersea adventure.

Magnets (Grades K-3)  Explore the attracting and repelling properties of magnets at our large Magnet Table. See what you can build with our dozens of different shaped magnets.

World Cultures (Grades 1-3) See yourself dressed for an ethnic festival. Listen to international music and discover more about the culture you choose with one of the following activities:

• Weave a South American Cat
• Make an African Akua-ba Doll
• Make an Eskimo Laughing Mask
• Create a Japanese Fish Kite (This activity may be integrated into the Lobstering Out at Sea or Yellow Submarine exhibit.)

General Information

Group Size
Focused Group Visits are designed for groups of 10-25 children. Larger groups may be accommodated.

Program Times
Focused Group Visits are offered from October to April on Tuesday, Thursday or Friday mornings. Available time slots are 9-11 a.m. or 9:30-11:30 a.m. If these days/times are not convenient, please give us a call at (603) 436-3853 and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Cost
The cost for a Focused Group Visit is $5 per child. One chaperone per five children is admitted free; additional chaperones pay the $5 rate. A 50% deposit is required at least two weeks in advance of a scheduled visit.

Preview Visit & Activity Packets
We invite educators who schedule a Focused Group Visit to preview our exhibits free of charge. Once a deposit is received, we also provide educators with pre- or post-activity suggestions for classroom use.

Eating Arrangements
Food and beverages are not permitted in the museum. Groups are welcome to bring brown bag lunches to eat at our picnic tables or in our outdoor amphitheater (seats 25) or trolley (seats 10). Picnicking is also allowed in nearby Prescott Park. Several area restaurants offer children's menus and/or group discounts. Menus and information are available at the front desk.

Accessibility
The museum is equipped with a wheelchair entrance ramp and lift. Please note that the lift may not accommodate certain specialized or oversized wheelchairs. The museum also has accessible bathrooms, parking and a designated bus drop-off zone for visitors with disabilities. If you have any questions about accessibility, please give us a call at (603) 436-3853.

Registration & Cancellation
To schedule a Focused Group Visit, call the museum at (603) 436-3853. If you need to cancel your visit, please do so at least two weeks in advance. We will make every effort to reschedule Focused Group Visits that are cancelled due to poor weather conditions. The museum does not provide refunds but will issue a credit toward a future visit.

Outreach Program
The museum currently offers a plaster mask making outreach program designed to inspire and educate students in grades 2-6.

For more information or to schedule an Outreach Program, contact Jane Bard, the musuem's Director of Education, at (603) 436-3853 or jbard@childrens-museum.org.