Need a field trip that will give you a little break from the ordinary?
For a limited time get this special price on tours at Gino’s East:
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Tag: Field Trips
Free admission to the Museum of Science and Industry!
I came across some amazing information at the blog of a Sonlight Rep turned bloggy friend of mine.
This information is taken straight from the Museum of Science and Industry’s website:
Home School Group Reservations
Individuals:
Individual families with fewer than 20 students receive free general admission on Monday through Friday except during holiday periods. Parents receive free general admission as well. No advance reservations are required; you will be asked to fill out a Free Admission slip at the ticket counter. No documentation is needed. Omnimax movies, Learning Labs and special exhibits like Smart Home: Green + Wired have additional fees and are not offered at a discounted rate for individuals. Check out our free day schedule.
Groups:
Illinois home school groups of 20 or more students receive free general admission and regular school group discounts for Omnimax movies and special exhibits. Click here for school group pricing. Advance reservations and payment are required. One chaperone is needed for every 10 students. Reserve your visit online or by calling (773) 684-1414.
Learning Labs
Individual:
Individual home school students can sign up for special Learning Labs. Advance payment of $10 per student is required. Call (773) 684-1414 to reserve a spot. Labs are limited to 20 students on a first-come, first-served basis. The next sessions are:
May 10, 2010 at 2 pm
Museum Crime Lab (ages 8 – 12)
ER/OR Lab (ages 12 – 16)
Group:
Home school groups may register for one of our regular Learning Labs offered during the school year from September to June. Labs have a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 students, and each lab is $100 for the entire group (or $120 for special labs). Reserve a group lab by making a field trip reservation online or by calling (773) 684-1414.
Lab Etiquette:
Meet at the Information Desk on Main Level 2 15 minutes before the start of the lab. Parents and siblings are encouraged to walk around the Museum during the program.
Arrival and Parking
Plan to arrive at the Museum at least 30 minutes before any scheduled program such as Learning Labs, Omnimax movies or ticketed exhibits. An individual or group who is registered for a Learning Lab must meet at the Information Desk on Main Level 2 15 minutes before the start of the lab. Convienient indoor parking is available in the Museum’s underground parking garage.
Home School Policies
Download a PDF of our Home School Policies.
Tips for Your Visit
Make a pre-visit: If possible, visit the Museum before bringing your group to familiarize yourself with the building and the exhibits.
Take part in our live science experiences: From dissecting an eyeball to taking part in a discussion about climate change, our daily live science experiences make students part of the action. These programs are offered at no additional cost.
Make lunch plans: Pre-registered home school groups (of 20 or more) may reserve a lunch time in the student cafeteria. Other groups are invited to eat in the Brain Food Court.
Set expectations: The Museum offers 14 acres of exhibit space to explore. Set realistic expectations for how much your group can accomplish and what you want your group to learn. Our exhibits are designed to spark interest and engage the visitor. Rushing to see the entire Museum in one trip can be a frustrating experience. Use our map or visit planning tool to decide what to see and do, and check out our field trip worksheets and exhibit guides to focus your visit.
Contact Us
For field trips, call (773) 684-1414. For other education inquiries, email edinfo(at)msichicago.org.
Field Trip Opportunities at the Old Town School of Folk Music
Thanks to Kate for sending information about this upcoming field trip opportunity:
Thursday April 22, 2010 | 10:30am
Gary and Laura Maurer Concert Hall :: 4544 N Lincoln Ave.
Ricky Recycle — a 45 minute show about all things recycling.
Tickets: Call 773-728-6000
Admission: $5 (Free chaperon ticket with every 10 kids, and additional discount for groups of 100)
Ages: Grades K-5 | For Reservations: 773.728.6000
Earth day is upon us. Expert recycler and 20 year veteran children’s performer Ricky Recycle encourages kids to laugh, scream and sing along with his simple yet infectious round, “I like to recycle… I like to recycle… I like to recycle.” This interactive, high energy program teaches how to reduce waste, the dos and don’ts or recycling, all about garbage dumps and landfills, preserving natural resources and how to be respectful and responsible towards our mother earth
Check Old Town’s website for more information and a number of other field trip opportunities. Check out their Field Trip series of shows that take place at 10:30 on different days each week. They offer various topics and appeal to various age ranges. Definitely something for everyone!
Homeschool skate in Aurora
Another reader, Kristen, sent this information along about a homeschool skate in Aurora:
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Homeschool Skate
When: Thursdays, 10am – 2pm
Description: Exercise, fun & games, and fellowship during our weekly roller skating session for homeschooled children and parents (parents skate free).
Admission: $5 (includes rental skates, if needed). Snackbar will be open.
Music: Christian based and Disney radio approved.
This takes place at Aurora Skate Center. Looks like a great way to get out of the house and get some exercise each week. Check their calendar or give a call to confirm this event, but it is posted as a weekly event from 10-2 each Thursday.
Free class for families
From the Elgin YMCA: Fit-n-Fun Class for Families
In an effort to strengthen the health and well being of
families in our community we have developed a program
that offers a three part class for families to incorporate
healthy habits (physical activity, choosing healthy foods,
family time) into their everyday lives.
We build Strong Kids, Strong Families &
Strong Communities
Special points of interest:
- Free Family Membership while participating in the class! (New Members ONLY)
- Healthy Cooking How To’s
- Snack and Meal Planning
- Family Play Time Ideas
- Group Sharing
- End of Class Tips & Tricks
- Cooking Guide
- Support of Other Families
*This Class will be held in English with Spanish translation via headset!!
*Children 4-12 will have the option to participate in Nutrition and Fitness Activities Class targeted for their activity and age level.
This is a 3 -Part Class, all Classes are held on Saturdays
from 3-4pm at the Taylor Family Branch YMCA.
- 1st Class February 20
- 2nd Class March 20
- Final Class April 24
Registration is required!!
To register:
- by phone call Jennifer Alberts at 847-888-7410 x33
- by email at jalberts@elginymca.org
- online at www.elginymca.com
- visit the Taylor Family Branch YMCA located at 50 N. McLean Blvd.
Skiing anyone?
Wilmot Mountain has a great skiing deal for homeschoolers on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Check out their homeschool flyer for all the details.
For more information or to make reservations for groups of 15 people or more contact Wilmot at:
Email: homeschool@skiwilmot.net
Phone: 262-862-2301
Pricing:
Under 6 years old (includes lift ticket): ski rental $10; snowboard rental $20
7 and over: lift ticket, lesson and ski rental $25 or snowboard rental $35
Helmets are also available for rent for $10
Sad to say that we likely have quite a bit of winter weather left, so you might as well take advantage of it.
Grab some homeschool friends and hit the slopes!
Fermi lab open house coming next month
This is open to all families, but registration is required. Feel free to see their website for more information:
Fermilab Family Open House
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Thank you to everyone who helped make the 2009 Open House such a great success, by helping, getting the word out, or attending! The 2010 Open House will be held on Sunday, February 21 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM.
Every year we have the Fermilab Family Open House.
Register for the Open House (no charge)
A tentative schedule of events includes:
- Watch Mr. Freeze’s fabulous cryogenics show
- Explore physics concepts with hands-on activities
- Ask a scientist your physics questions.
- Tour the linear accelerator or the Magnet Factory (tour availability very limited).
- And more!
The Open House will be most appropriate for children in grades 3 and up (tours restricted to adults and children age 10 and up). The event is free, but registration is required. Be sure to sign up for tours. You should pick up the tickets for the tours in the atrium on the day of the event.
Look at pictures from the 2007 (pdf) and 2008 Open Houses.
Discovery Center Museum Homeschool Classes
One of my family’s favorite children’s museums in the Chicago area is actually in Rockford. We have enjoyed a membership on and off at the Discovery Center Museum and appreciate that they appeal to a broader range of “kids” than many other children’s museums.
Coming up in the month ahead they have classes designed especially for the homeschooler:
Bring your child to Discovery Center Museum for memorable and exciting learning experiences. We can accommodate small groups as well as individual children, and we offer a wide range of schedules and themes.
Advanced registration and payments are required for participation in all Home School classes.
***Please note that admission to and exploration of Discovery Center Museum itself are separate from the Home School classes.***
Home School Winter/Spring 2010
Preregistration required. To register, call 815-963-6769 or drop by the Discovery Center office during normal business hours. Payment must accompany registration.
Class registration opens December 18 for members,
December 22 for Public.Class fees: $11 Members / $13 Public; ages 6 and up
High Voltage Science
If you like lightning, then this class is for you! Discover how to build up, store, transfer, and discharge electrical jolts both big and small. Have a hair-raising time with the Van de Graaff generator, discover which materials make the best charges, and get zapped by miniature bolts of lightning!
Wednesday, February 3
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.Under Pressure
Explore the amazing science of air and water pressure. Use atmospheric pressure to hold back a flood, discover a barometer in your bathroom, and put on the squeeze to make a diver sink and float. Experiment with Bernoulli’s principal and Pascal’s law and test your own strength against the power of pressure.
Wednesday, March 10
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.Simple Machines I
What are simple machines? Where would we be without wedges? How do screws help our lives? Get a feel for mechanical advantage as you lift an incredible mass with a GIANT lever. Build simple machines and measure their effectiveness as we explore forces and more in this class about levers, inclined planes, wedges, screws.
Wednesday, April 14
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.Simple Machines II
Build a free-wheeling car, design a pulley-driven message-carrier, calculate the turns on a series of LEGO gears, and much more! We’ll turn the force around in this follow-up class about wheels and axles, pulleys, and gears. Note: While the Simple Machines I is not a prerequisite, this class will build directly on themes from that class.
Wednesday, May 5
Session 1 ages 6-7; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 2 ages 8-9; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 3 ages 10+; 11:00-12:30 p.m.
Session 4 ages 6 & up: 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Lots of great classes in the works. Check out their website for more details and to register.
Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center
Last week we enjoyed a fun outing with my parents to Fullersburg Nature Center. We ended up there during a preschool story time, in which my kids made up most of the audience, but they learned some new information about beavers and other animals native to that preserve.
The nature center has a variety of animals for viewing, stuffed and living, a partial woolly mammoth skeleton from nearby Blackwell, puppets and books, loads of information on the creatures of the area, and lots that kids can get their hands on. A popular display had about a 2 1/2 foot square wooden box with silly putty type substance covering the bottom. Stored along the sides the kids could find prints of various animal tracks that they could then press into the putty to make their own animal tracks. Cards hanging next to the display helped them figure out which animal they had and a bit about the animal as well.
My kids also enjoyed the giant bird nest they could climb into and pretend to welcome mama bird home. Puppets and books help create a fun environment for kids in the cozy nest.
My mom brought a simple craft project that also involved animals and fine motor skills — weaving. She always has surprises tucked away, like this one from Oriental Trading Company, for times like that. Simple, and yet it tied in nicely with all they saw and learned that day.
After some time inside, we headed down the trail to the Graue Mill. Although closed for winter, we had a quick walk around outside and watched the ducks in Salt Creek nearby. It will not open again until mid-April. You can get those Museum Adventure passes for some free admission at that time.
After our fun day there, I found on their website that they offer other educational resources. The center offers field-trips which would be a great option for your homeschool group. Fullersburg Woods also offers educational loan boxes. Their website says, “Each box includes reference information, lessons and activity outlines, and natural objects for display and for use with activities.”
Even as the winter weather sets in, as long as you dress for it, a hike outdoors can do wonders for bringing a special refreshment to your day, and you never know what you might spy along the way.
Be sure to check out the detailed Field Trip listing on our site when you search for more ideas to add some sparkle to your school day.
Field Trips to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Two homeschool field trips have been set up to the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The organizer has arranged for 50 seats for each.
The first performance is on Friday, February26, 2010, at noon. Tickets are $8.50 each. This is a special school day performance of the Mozart Experience.
The second event is on Friday, April 30, 2010, at noon. The cost is $7 per seat. This is also a special school day performance of a family tailored event, the Firebird.
Money is due by December 14, 2009.
To confirm details or for more information contact Julie by phone at 708-484-5014
Note: This field trip is not connected with the Chicagoland Homeschool Network, and is posted here as a service to area homeschoolers looking to connect and benefit from organized group activities.