Moment of Zen
Posted 10/16/2018
Our Education Department understands the needs of teachers in our area. Whether for public, private or homeschool educators, programs are designed to provide a high-quality learning experience for students while maintaining the fun, hands-on atmosphere that makes the field trip experience so rewarding. All programs are aligned to Academic Content Standards, and most include preliminary and post-visit activities.
All visiting groups can book either a Self-Guide Tour/Field Trip, or program-based visit that includes private workshops or a planetarium show. All available programs are listed by age and topic below. Be sure to visit our Field Trip page for complete guidelines, pricing, and policies for visiting groups, or to learn more about the Self-Guide option.
Schedule a Workshop
Review descriptions for workshops below, listed by age/grade, then book your program online or by phone.
SUBMIT AN INQUIRY FORM to begin booking your field trip and workshop!
E-mail Education@BoonshoftMuseum.org or contact the Boonshoft Museum Education Department 937–275–7431, ext. 125 to speak directly to our friendly staff.
Visit our Field Trip page to review current pricing and group visit policies.
Want more options, like group rates or in-classroom experience? Explore other programs and classes.
Don't forget to SIGN UP for our special Educator email list to receive our weekly emails PLUS the occasional email with information specifically of interest to you and your students!
Preschool (3–5 years)
Children’s brains are like sponges—what they learn in their early years carries a lifetime impact. That’s why we offer high quality, engaging early childhood education designed to meet state standards and help your students grow.
Life Science
Meet the Animals
Get up-close and personal with live animals! Observe, explore, and compare the characteristics and behaviors of these animals and learn more about their natural environments. This educational experience finishes with a trip to the Discovery Zoo.
Honeybees a Buzzin'
What are insects and why are they so important? Learn about insects through active investigation and discuss their characteristics and life cycle. This program will explore the domain of the marvelous honeybee to illustrate their value in our world.
Hop, Wiggle & Roll
Get your students moving! This fun program introduces healthy foods and activities with the goal of developing habits for a healthy body.
Earth and Space Science
Sun, Moon, Earth & Stars (planetarium)
This program focuses on the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and provide an opportunity to "visit" the current night sky in the Caryl D. Phillips' Space Theater.
One World, One Sky (planetarium)
Join Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the Moon, where they discovery how different it is from Earth.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure can be presented with a brief tour of the current night sky for a total program length of 55 minutes or as a stand along program of 30 minutes.
Physical Science
All Hands on Science
Watch your students make dazzling new discoveries in the explosive world of chemistry! Kids will use the scientific method to explore and experiment with the properties of solids, liquids and gases.
Science Senses
Children's senses allow them to observe and investigate their world, but what are these specific senses? Students will explore how their five senses can make discoveries and test ideas while engaging in hands-on lab activities in this sense-sational workshop.
Technology & Math
Science Tools & Measurement
Is a hammer the right tool to use to eat spaghetti? Is it a mile to the kitchen from your bedroom? In this workshop, students will learn measurement units and the right tools help us do a job safely and well. Students will engage in hands-on activities using proper scientific tools to complete specific tasks.
Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a special time of transition—academically, socially, and emotionally. Each program is designed to meet Ohio’s Academic Content Standards and recognize the special developmental needs of Kindergarten children.
Life Science
Hop, Wiggle & Roll
Get your students moving! This fun program introduces healthy foods and activities with the goal of developing habits for a healthy body.
Honeybees a Buzzin'
What are insects and why are they so important? Learn about insects through active investigation and discuss their characteristics and life cycle. This program will explore the domain of the marvelous honeybee to illustrate their value in our world.
Meet the Animals
Get up-close and personal with live animals! Observe, explore, and compare the characteristics and behaviors of these animals and learn more about their natural environments. This educational experience finishes with a trip to the Discovery Zoo.
Earth and Space Science
Sun, Moon, Earth & Stars (planetarium)
This program focuses on the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and provide an opportunity to "visit" the current night sky in the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater.
One World, One Sky (planetarium)
Join Sesame Street's Big Bird and Elmo as they explore the night sky with Hu Hu Zhu, a Muppet from China. Together, they take an imaginary trip from Sesame Street to the Moon, where they discovery how different it is from Earth.
One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure can be presented with a brief tour of the current night sky for a total program length of 55 minutes or as a stand along program of 30 minutes.
Storm Center SOS!
Join the Boonshoft team to study weather patterns and to examine the sun and discover its relationship to energy and weather. This program will feature the exhibit, Science on a Sphere®.
Physical Science
Attraction Action
Investigate the mystery of magnetism! From refrigerator magnets to car-lifting electro magnets, these magnificent materials are all around us. Hands-on exploration helps students understand how magnets work and can be used in a variety of different scientific settings.
All Hands on Science
Watch your students make dazzling new discoveries in the explosive world of chemistry! Kids will use the scientific method to explore and experiment with the properties of solids, liquids and gases.
Science Senses
Children's senses allow them to observe and investigate their world, but what are these specific senses? Students will explore how their five senses can make discoveries and test ideas while engaging in hands-on lab activities in this sense-sational workshop.
Technology & Math
Robotics
Robots are taking over the Museum! Join educators at the Boonshoft to get started on your robotics education. Students will learn basic build techniques and try their hand at simple programming tasks.
Science Tools & Measurement
Is a hammer the right tool to use to eat spaghetti? Is it a mile to the kitchen from your bedroom? In this workshop, students will learn measurement units and the right tools help us do a job safely and well. Students will engage in hands-on activities using proper scientific tools to complete specific tasks.
Grades 1–3
Early experiences last a lifetime! All early elementary programs are designed to be engaging and build confidence in “doing” science, while meeting Ohio’s Academic Content Standards.
Life Science
Meet the Animals
Get up-close and personal with live animals! Observe, explore, and compare the characteristics and behaviors of these animals and learn more about their natural environments. This educational experience finishes with a trip to the Discovery Zoo.
Habitats & Homes
Discover how Ohio's wildlife survives in distinct environments and habitats. Explore the needs and daily lives of native animals. Students will get hands-on with real animal-built structures and meet live animals.
Pond/River Study
Observe live animals and plants to explore their adaptations to life in a pond in this workshop unique to The Boonshoft! Discuss life in this aquatic habitat before venturing off to Coovert's Pond. Learn the life cycle and specific needs of several species. Seasonal and weather permitting.
Webs of Life
Explore the basic needs of organisms and their role in the environment. Students learn how animals interact with one another and trace the connections to form food webs. Predator-prey relationships are demonstrated with an owl pellet dissection in this experience.
Earth & Space Science
Sun, Moon, Earth & Stars (planetarium)
This program focuses on the Earth, Sun, and Moon, and provide an opportunity to "visit" the current night sky in the Caryl D. Philips Space Theater.
Great Planetary Adventure | Grade 3 Only (planetarium)
Following a brief visit to the night sky, students journey through the Solar System learning basic characteristics of each planet.
Starry Sky | Grade 3 Only (planetarium)
Tales of constellation and star myths are told to familiarize students with the evening sky. The stars and planets visible in the current night sky are featured along with topics such as the Milky Way meteors.
Storm Center SOS
Join the Boonshoft team to study weather patterns and to examine the sun and discover its relationship to energy and weather. This program will feature the exhibit, Science on a Sphere®.
Mineral Detectives
Become a mineral specialist by identifying characteristics like shine and hardness. Students will discover the many uses and purposes of the Earth's geological wonders while getting touching real mineral specimens.
Physical Science
Attraction Action
Investigate the mystery of magnetism! From refrigerator magnets to car-lifting electro magnets, these magnificent materials are all around us. Hands-on exploration helps students understand how magnets work and can attract within all three states of matter.
Energy
What is energy? How does it change? What are the different forms of energy? Students discover the answers to these questions and more through hands-on experiments and exciting large scale demonstrations.
Matter
Matter is everywhere and makes up everything. Fun experiments and demonstrations captivate students as they explore the different states of matter and experience transformations right before their eyes.
Motion
Hands-on experiments will bring the concepts of force and motion to life. Students will use different forces to move objects in a variety of ways. Students will also investigate how forces such as friction and gravity change the motion of objects.
Technology & Math
Bubbleology
Bubble fun goes beyond the bubble wand. Students learn the scientific method as they apply math and chemistry to explore the fantastic science of bubbles.
Grades 4–6
Programs for middle school grades encourage students to make connections between academic learning, personal experiences and society. In addition to meeting Ohio Academic Content Standards, these programs encourage problem-solving, critical thinking, and taking action beyond the initial learning experience.
Life Science
Meet the Animals
Get up-close and personal with live animals! Observe, explore, and compare the characteristics and behaviors of these animals and learn more about their natural environments. This educational experience finishes with a trip to the Discovery Zoo.
Amazing Body
The human body is an incredible and complex machine. Using mathematic modeling and dissection tools, students will compare elements of human anatomy to other mammals and discover how similar we are.
Webs of Life
Explore the basic needs of organisms and their role in the environment. Students learn how animals interact with one another and trace the connections to form food webs. Predator-prey relationships are demonstrated with an owl pellet dissection in this experience.
Pond/River Study
Students become field biologists and ecologists as they examine macro invertebrates and water samples from the Stillwater River. Discover the chain reaction between pollution and the Stillwater's chemical composition to learn how it affects the river's living organisms. Field study takes place rain or shine; dress for the weather. In case of dangerous weather the program will be rescheduled. (Seasonal)
Paleontologist: Finding Fossil Evidence
How do scientists know about things that lived so long ago? This program introduces geologic time and the methods paleontologists use to determine the age of fossils.
Genetics and Heredity
Thomas Hunt Morgan won the Nobel Prize for his discoveries that help us better understand heredity. In this program students will develop new crosses to show linkage, discover sex-linked traits and mutations as they experience working as geneticists. Please schedule at least one month in advance to ensure adequate specimens.
Earth & Space Science
Cosmic Colors | Grades 5-6 Only (planetarium)
Following a brief visit to the night sky, students journey through the Solar System learning basic characteristics of each planet.
Earth's Changing Surface
How does the Earth's surface change? Take a closer look at how weathering, erosion and natural disasters continuously shape our planet. This program will feature the exhibit, Science On a Sphere®.
Great Planetary Adventure | Grade 4 only (planetarium)
Following a brief visit to the night sky, students journey through the Solar System learning basic characteristics of each planet.
Secret Lives of Stars | Grades 5-6 Only (planetarium)
Every star has a unique tale told over millions of years, and as scientists peer deeply into the night they learn of those stars' untold secrets. Examples are given of specific stars and how they have and will change over time in the life cycle of stars. This show is followed by a brief tour of the current night's sky.
Starry Sky (planetarium)
Tales of constellation and star myths are told to familiarize students with the evening sky. The stars and planets visible in the current night sky are featured along with topics such as the Milky Way meteors.
The Solar System: A Tour of the Planets (planetarium)
Students gain an appreciation of the Earth by learning about the beautiful, but hostile environments of other planets in our Solar System. The Sun, each of the eight planets, and Pluto are visited following a brief tour of the current night sky.
Follow the Drinking Gourd (planetarium)
Explore the history of the Underground Railroad and discover how a seemingly simple folk song held hidden directions that helped escaping slaves use certain stars to guide themselves north to freedom. This program may include how latitude determines which stars are visible.
Global Climate Change
Investigate the most recent research of global climate change on Science On a Sphere®. Create an acid lake to gain a clearer understanding of this hot button topic.
Soil Rocks
Students will discover the importance of soil and learn what can happen if neglected. We will tackle issues such as farming practices and erosion, and how they affect the soil. This program features observation and explanation about rocks' role in the Earth's development.
Mineral Detectives
Become a mineral specialist by identifying characteristics like shine and hardness. Students will discover the many uses and purposes of the Earth's geological wonders while getting touching real mineral specimens.
Physical Science
Energy
Get your students energized about physical science with this interactive ninety minute workshop. Content includes kinetic and potential energy, light and sound energy, and energy transformation. Cooperative learning strategies compared with exciting demonstrations makes this experience one you don't want to miss.
Use the Force
Students will perform activities that involve a variety of forces such as magnetism, friction, and gravity. Through hands-on experiments students will learn about the concepts of speed and kinetic energy.
Motion
Hands-on experiments will bring the concepts of force and motion to life. Students will use different forces to move objects in a variety of ways. Students will also investigate how forces such as friction and gravity change the motion of objects.
Matter
Matter is everywhere and makes up everything. Fun experiments and demonstrations captivate students as they explore the different states of matter and experience transformations right before their eyes.
Technology & Math
Liquid Geometry
Bubble fun goes beyond the bubble wand. Students learn the scientific method as they apply geometry and chemistry to explore the fantastic science of bubbles.
Life on the Nanoscale
Find out how things so small can be such a big deal. Students will discover through one-of-a-kind experiments and exciting demonstrations how matter behaves at the smallest of scales.
Grades 7-12
High school programs are designed to build knowledge, encourage critical thinking and problem solving, and to prepare students for their roles as decision makers in society. And of course, all programs are aligned to Ohio’s Academic Content Standards.
Life Science
Meet the Animals
Get up-close and personal with live animals! Observe, explore, and compare the characteristics and behaviors of these animals and learn more about their natural environments. This educational experience finishes with a trip to the Discovery Zoo.
Biomes and Biodiversity
Study the carbon cycle while comparing and contrasting live organisms from different biomes and how their survival depends on biotic and abiotic factors. This program will feature the exhibit, Science on a Sphere®.
Amazing Body
The human body is an incredible and complex machine. Using mathematic modeling and dissection tools, students will compare elements of the human anatomy to other mammals and discover how similar we are.
Genetics & Heredity
Thomas Hunt Morgan won the Nobel Prize for his discoveries that help us better understand heredity. In this program your students will develop new crosses to show linkage, discover sex-linked traits and mutations as they experience working as geneticists. Please schedule at least one month in advance to ensure adequate specimens.
Pond/River Study
Students become field biologists and ecologist as they examine macro invertebrates and water samples from the Stillwater River. Discover the chain reaction between pollution and the Stillwater's chemical composition to learn how it affects the river's living organisms. Field study takes place rain or shine; dress for the weather. In case of dangerous weather the program will be rescheduled. (Seasonal)
Paleontologist: Finding Fossil Evidence
How do scientists know about things that lived so long ago? This program introduces geologic time and the methods paleontologists use to determine the age of fossils.
Earth and Space Science
Advanced Astronomy (planetarium)
Advanced astronomy students will witness the motions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. Topics include retrograde motion, eclipses, the ecliptic, and the use of right ascension and declination.
Earth's Changing Surface
How does the Earth's surface change? Take a closer look at how weathering, erosion and natural disasters continuously shape the Earth's surface. This program will feature the exhibit,Science on a Sphere®.
Follow the Drinking Gourd (planetarium)
Explore the history of the Underground Railroad and discover how a seemingly simple folk song held hidden directions that helped escaping slaves use certain stars to guide themselves north to freedom. This program may include how latitude determines which stars are visible.
Secret Lives of Stars (planetarium)
Every star has a unique take told over millions of years, so as scientists peer deeply into the night they learn of those stars' untold secrets. Examples are given of specific stars and how they have and will change over time in the life cycle of stars. This show is followed by a brief tour of the current night sky.
Two Small Pieces of Glass (grades 7-8 only)
Two students interact with an astronomer at the local star property and along the way learn how telescopes work, the history of telescopes and some of the major discoveries made by using these instruments. This show is followed by a brief tour of the current night sky.
Global Climate Change
Investigate the most recent research of global climate change on Science on a Sphere®. Create an acid lake to gain a clearer understanding of this hot button topic from a scientific point of view.
Urban Ecology
View the Earth from a new perspective as we uncover important global issues. Students will participate in hands-on activities that allow them to make connections between the Earth and human health. Your students will develop an understanding of how their actions affect us all and how we can improve environmental conditions.
Technology & Math
Life on Nanoscale
Find out how things so small can be such a big deal. Students will discover through fun hands-on experiments and exciting demonstration how matter behaves at the smallest of scales.
