Museum Without Walls
Travelling programs bring the Museum to YOU!

Programs for School-Age Children Camp & Afterschool
Programs Designed to Meet the CT Science Framework (GLE)
Booking Programs : The Nitty Gritty

TODDLER and PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS

Museum educators arrive at your childcare center or school for young children ready to as some fun to your day. These tried and true programs provide experiences, enrichment and learning using items from our collections, special supplies or just plain ol' wacky ideas. Call our Education Coordinator to learn more about bringing our programs to your school. Education Coordinator: Diane Dusza 860-691-1111 ext. 303.

Ah-Hoy Matey!
This dramatic-play program is all fun. Children can use eye patches, jeweled necklaces, and bandannas to set the mood for a walk down the plank. Using old parchment, they create maps or other pirate-themed artwork.

Ah-Hoy Matey! - 2
Walked the plank and ready for more pirate fun? Then this sequel is just for you! Make a spyglass and use it to find all the items on a treasure hunt, ending with a good story and lots of arrghh!

Ancient Art
One of our favorite programs! Children make their own painting tools and pigments from all natural supplies. The program is whole group, very interactive, and a bit noisy at times.

Animal Habitats
Following a brief introduction, children rotate through centers to compare animal feet, view our collection of habitat dioramas, and re- construct animal habitats using a felt board.

Beautiful Bubbles
What is a bubble? Have you ever seen an ancient bubble? This group activity uses bubble solution on trays to make bubbles in a variety of ways.

Big Backyard
No need to travel to exotic locations when you can find amazing animals in your own backyard! We’ll stay close to home as we discover local wildlife through animal presentations, short walks and exciting hands-on activities in this interactive program.

Boogie Bugs
Think your hands are clean? Take a look at the germs and "bugs" left behind when you do a quick wash. Then we will show you how to help get rid of those boogie bugs. Access to water a must!

Chemistry for All Ages
Using simple household items, students explore true chemical reactions. Experiments start simple and end with the baking of Irish Soda Bread. Guaranteed to bring giggles and smiles.

Extraordinary Ordinary Objects
Get your creative juices flowing as you think of new uses for common everyday items.

Extremely Exciting Insects
This is an outdoor program with much of the time spent locating insects in their natural habitat, identifying, and viewing them in magnifying bug boxes. Our extensive collection and dioramas showcase insects and their body parts. Songs and posters reinforce these concepts.

Fred the Fish
Fred lives in a beautiful clear mountain stream, but is eager to travel. What Fred finds may surprise you! All hands-on, a bit messy, and a surprise ending!

Journey Beyond the Stars with StarLab
StarLab is a a portable traveling planetarium that seats 25 children. Enjoy a planetarium experience without leaving your facility! There are special requirements for demonstration space and pricing. Please call the Program Department for details: (860) 691-1111.

Magnetic Attraction
This center-based program explores the properties of magnets. After a brief discussion, children rotate through centers, testing different items for magnetic attraction, making iron-shaving designs, and experimenting with polarity.

Mucking About with Pond Life
We have permission to use several area ponds and are able to meet your group at these sites. If you have a pond, we can travel there. The best time is in the spring or fall, but it’s also exciting to repeat this program each season of the year and to record through dictation the changes the seasons bring to the pond. Children use nets to gather small pond critters, identify them, notice bird life, and plants that love the water. Dress for a mess!

Rainbows of Color
The world is a colorful place. Identify, mix and separate colors. Roll up your sleeves, get hands-on and make a rainbow.

Recycling Matters
This literacy-based program begins with children acting out a story set a beautiful secret glen in the woods. We need plenty of space and time to set up our props, but the outcome is a creative way to learn about recycling.

Science or Magic?
Without taking the wonder out of magic shows, children will first watch a brief magic show and then explore the scientific reasons for the outcomes. So don a top hat, toss back a cape and ask important questions!

Sink and Float
Preschool children can test their understanding of sink and float using a creative assortment of objects and liquids. We will end the program attempting to make sinking objects float and floating objects sink! Dress for a mess when we present this program!

Tickles and Beeps
A program on the 5 senses, it can be center-based or a whole-group experience. Did you know that your feet are less sensitive than your hands with the sense of touch? Children have the opportunity to test this fact. Depending on the allergies of the children in your class, we can also experiment with the tastes of salt, sweet, and sour on different parts of the tongue. We have many resources for this program and can adapt them to suit your needs.

Under the Sea
Books and the museum’s large collection of sea life start children on an exploration of ocean habitat. Our ocean life diorama provides a cross section of ocean environment. Using realistic stamps of ocean life, children create individual artwork or a piece of a larger mural. May be done as centers or whole group lesson.

Wholesome Choices
Mix up a healthy snack and learn all about healthy eating while having fun! A good chance to play with your food!

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