Homeschoolers

Cincinnati Museum Center has actively worked with home school families over the past several years to provide an active and inviting place that can offer effective learning experiences for children and their families. There are various ways in which home school families can take advantage of education at Museum Center.

Home School Programs 2010-2011

Home school Monday Programs are $3.75 per child with one adult accompaniment, plus a $2 phone service fee per program per child for non-members. Please note that the program cost does not include parking or museum admission. To make your reservation or for more information, please call Cincinnati Museum Center at (513) 287-7021. Reservations can be made online for a service fee of $1.50 per program per child. Reservations for Cincinnati 28 may be placed by phone only. Payment is due at time of reservation. Space is limited, so please register in advance. Meet your group leader in the Rotunda near the food court tables at the start of the program. For more program information, please contact Amanda Bishop, School Programs Coordinator, at abishop@cincymuseum.org.

Uncovering Egypt
September 13, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Archaeology is a science that allows us to unlock the secrets of past Egyptian civilizations. Participate in a hands-on demonstration of archaeological techniques as students explore a mock excavation site from Egypt and learn to identify a culture based on the replica artifacts discovered.

Digging for Dinosaurs
September 27, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 and up

Uncover fossils on a paleontology "dinosaur dig." Discuss Cincinnati’s world-famous Ordovician fossils. Learn how fossils are formed and make a cast of a fossil for the group to keep. Touchable fossils from dinosaurs such as Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Allosaurus, raptors and many more make this program a junior paleontologist’s dream.

Be a Space Ace!
October 4, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Help scientists discover clues about the stars, galaxies and planets in our universe. Analyze data to solve the mystery of unknown soil samples in our solar system. View NASA videos to gain a better understanding of the features of our universe. Through problem solving and hands-on experimentation, students will participate in activities that are out of this world!

Bats!
October 18, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 and up

Back by popular demand—Bats! Walk like a bat. Fly like a bat. Meet a native Big Brown Bat. Explore echolocation, how it works and what it sounds like. Learn about these truly amazing yet misunderstood animals through a slide presentation, games and more.

When Two Worlds Met
November 1, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 8 to 12

The North American fur trade brought together people from two different worlds. Exchange furs, coins and wampum for replicas of goods from a late 18th century trading post. Step into first person roles as the signers of the Treaty of Greenville to learn about the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

Native American Lifestyles
November 15, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 to 10

Take a look at some of southern Ohio’s earliest inhabitants. What tools, natural resources and skills allowed them to survive? Students will perform the duties of an archaeologist, investigate artifacts and learn about the legends that have helped to preserve these cultures. Includes a guided experience in the Cincinnati History Museum’s Early Settlement exhibit.

Mind Your Money
December 6, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 to 9

Students will review the value of money and are introduced to the concepts of earning spending and saving. They will play a board game and pretend to live in Edwardsville, a small town perhaps like their own community. In Edwardsville, the students will be asked to spend and save their allowance wisely. The choices they make will better prepare them for their own future monetary decisions.

Walking City
December 13, 2010 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 8 and up

Explore how geographic factors kept Cincinnatians confined to the downtown basin. Use period maps, advertisements and illustrations to perform a series of tasks that help you understand what life was like in 1863 Cincinnati, a walking city.

Toying with Physics
January 10, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 11 and up

Explore physics through hands-on, toy-based science activities. Students investigate Newton’s laws of motion with emphasis on potential and kinetic energy. Through scientific inquiry, students use the skills of prediction, observation, explanation and summary and learn that physics can be fun!

Geology Rocks!
January 24, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Be a geologist for the day…rocks, and gems, and minerals, oh my! Where did they all come from? What types are there? Answer these questions and more in this rocking, hands-on program where you will examine, test, and classify specimens to learn their true identities.

Your Heart, Your Blood, Your Health
February 7, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 7 to 12

What an amazing machine the heart is! Learn about how the heart is packaged, the way it works, the way it sounds, to which system it belongs and what it pumps. Get “up close and personal” with capillaries, “run” a little race, test your food pyramid knowledge and share some giant microbes.

Animal Ambassadors
February 21, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 and up

Here’s your chance to meet some of Cincinnati Museum Center’s animal ambassadors up close. We have many scaly and furry friends that will stop by to visit while you learn about different animals and what makes them unique.

Mind Your Money
March 7, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Discover some of the Cincinnati’s early businesses in the Cincinnati History Museum’s Public Landing and investigate how each business earned, spent, saved and invested their money. Students will gain a basic understanding of how money works and how economics and math apply to our everyday lives by playing a monopoly-style game.

Transportation Transformations
March 21, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 8 to 12

Learn how canals, streetcars and inclines impacted the growth of Cincinnati from the 1820s through the 1950s. Learn about a period folksong, role-play loading goods on a canal boat, complete a crossword puzzle and “ride” one of Cincinnati’s five inclines.

Westward Expansion & The Corps of Discovery
April 4, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 11 and up

Students prepare for an expedition into the Louisiana Territory by studying maps and planning rations. A journal provides students with the opportunity to make decisions that will affect the results of their adventure. Hands-on activities use history, geography and map reading skills to create a successful journey plan.

One World, Many Cultures
April 18, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 to 10

Children will use maps, clothing, crafts, games, celebrations, music and more to explore other cultures on many different continents. To expand your learning experience, visit the Duke Energy Children’s Museum’s exhibit Children Just Like Me after class during Members Only Monday!

Dinosaur Discovery
May 2, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 to 12

Become a paleontologist and explore the size and bone structure of dinosaurs while using the tools of the trade, including fossil replicas. This program includes a guided experience in the Museum of Natural History & Science's Dino Hall.

Egg-cellent Eggs: Birds of a Feather
May 16, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 6 to 12

What’s inside an egg? Where do they come from? Are all eggs the same? Explore a variety of birds’ eggs and learn about their different shapes, sizes, colors and nests where they are found. Also learn about the field of ornithology and how to identify some common birds of North America. This program includes hands-on activities that are full of egg-citement!

Cave Dwellers
June 6, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 8 and up

Deepen your appreciation of the delicate ecosystem of a cave and the animals that call it home. Includes a guided experience in the Museum of Natural History & Science’s replica limestone cave and live bat flight!

Forensics: The Science of Crime
June 13, 2011 10 to 11:30 am
Appropriate for ages 11 and up

Participants become the forensic scientist and learn proper techniques to make, observe, analyze and classify fictional scientific crime scene information. This program includes everything they need to become super sleuths and solve the mystery.

Membership

One very important way to take advantage of the resources at Cincinnati Museum Center is to obtain a membership for the family. Since home school families are recognized as educators as are the more traditional school facilities, families can request the Educator’s Membership rate when purchasing their yearly membership. Enjoy admission to each of the three museums free for that period of membership. There are discounts for OMNIMAX theater tickets and purchases in the gift shops. Families also receive the quarterly museum center publication, Mosaic. Membership also provides for the Educator’s rates when booking Learning Labs for students. To receive the Educator membership rate, home school families need to produce proof of involvement in home schooling. A letter from your home school association on letterhead, a letter from the state in which you live or the school district where you live from a school official that states you are an approved home school family is also sufficient. If you have further questions about this or any other aspect of membership or to learn more about the Educator membership, please call the membership office at (513) 287-7041.

Learning Labs

Booking Learning Labs is another way home school families can use Cincinnati Museum Center's resources. We offer over 25 different classes that cover topics in natural history, science, history, economics and early childhood interests. All you need to do is get 15 students together who are interested in one of the classes and make your reservations by calling (513) 287-7021. For specific information about Learning Labs, please contact Learning Labs Manager, Jennifer Bishop at jbishop@cincymuseum.org.