Museum Info

Boonshoft Museum
of Discovery

2600 DeWeese Parkway
Dayton, OH 45414
(937) 275-7431
Fax (937) 275-5811
TTY (937) 278-6076

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Hours

Monday – Saturday
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Sunday
12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Closed: New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Chistmas Eve, Christmas Day, Easter

General Admission

Children (2-16) $7.50
Adults $8.50
Seniors $7.50
Children (under 2) Free
Members are FREE!

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Home : Plan Your Visit : Educators : Programs : Grades 1–3
Grades 1–3

Grades 1–3Early 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.

Click here for field trip scheduling and fees

Earth Sciences

Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Program Length: 1 hour
For content information, contact our Earth and Life Sciences Coordinator at 937–275–7431, ext.154

Soil Rocks! (grades 1–3)
Explore the relationships between rocks, weather, soil, and living things. Experiment with different types of soil, examine and identify different types of rocks, and learn why rocks and soil are important by learning about their features and uses.
 

Space Sciences

Program Length: 55 minutes
For content information, contact our Director of Astronomy at 937–275–7431, ext. 122.

Children of the Sun (grades 1–2)
This program focuses on the Earth, Sun and Moon, and provides an opportunity to "visit" the current night sky in the Planetarium.

Larry Cat in Space (grades 1–2)
Larry is an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the moon and gives us a “cat’s-eye-view” of the moon, backyard astronomy, space travel and what it takes to live on another body in space.

Follow the Drinking Gourd (grades 1–3)
Learn what the Underground Railroad was and how slaves used stars and simple folk songs to guide them north to their freedom.

Laser Program Legends of the Night Sky: Perseus and Andromeda (grades 1–3)
Aesop the owl and Socrates the mouse tell this ancient Greek myth of Perseus and Andromeda. The show is humorous and filled with exciting characters. Following the show, the stars of the constellation characters are pointed out in a current night sky. SHOWN ONLY SEPTEMBER through NOVEMBER. Minimum class size is 40 students.

Daughter of the Stars (grades 2–3)
Listen to Native American myths of the Sun, night, Moon and stars that explained the natural events and objects of the sky.

Great Planetary Adventure (grade 3)
Following a brief visit to the night sky, students journey through the solar system learning basic characteristics of each planet.

Starry Sky (grade 3)
Tales of constellation and star myths are told to familiarize students with the evening sky. The stars and planets visible in the current sky are featured along with topics such as the Milky Way and meteors.

Stroll Through the Cosmos (grade 3)
In this delightful show, set on a clear night, Grandpa and his grandson, Nate, discuss general astronomy topics, including life on other planets, stellar evolution and the constellations.

Whether There’s Weather (grade 3)
Uncover the mysteries of the Earth’s weather and travel to other planets and compare their weather to our own. Find yourself on the surface of Mars as well as being swept up in a tornado.
 

Physical Sciences

Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Program Length: 90 minutes (45 minutes hands-on in the Do Lab; 45 minutes live demonstration time in Science Theater)
For content information, contact our Physical Sciences Coordinator at 937–275–7431, ext. 156.

Creative Science (grades 1–3)
Students sculpt light, matter, and mixtures in an exciting blend of art and science. Explore the properties of materials and how those properties change as materials interact with light energy and each other.

Matter (grades 1–3)
Matter, matter everywhere! Fun experiments and demonstrations captivate students as they explore the different states of matter and what causes them to change.

The Light Fantastic (grades 2–3)
What is light and where does it come from? How can we change it? Your students will be thrilled by demonstrations and hands-on experiments that answer these questions as they learn about bouncing, bending, and blocking light.

Bubbleology (grade 3)
Bubble fun goes beyond the bubble wand. Students apply math, chemistry, and physics to explore the fantastic science of bubbles.

Motion and Simple Machines (grade 3)
Children will investigate how wheels, pulleys, levers, and more relate to force and motion and make work easier. Hands-on experimentation will bring the concepts of force, motion, work, and energy to life.
 

Life Sciences

Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery

Program Length: 1 hour
For content information, contact our Earth and Life Sciences Coordinator at 937–275–7431, ext. 154.

Animal Homes (grades 1–3)
Discover where different kinds of animals live in the wild. Explore the needs and daily lives of native Ohio wildlife. Discover various structures that help creatures survive as students see and touch homes made by animals. They may even get to meet a live animal from the Museum zoo.

Dinosaur Discoveries (grades 1–3)
How long were dinosaurs? Are they still alive today? What did they eat? Where did they live? Kids will make measurements, touch dinosaur “skin,” see real artifacts from our collection, explore fossils, and build an exploding volcano as they seek answers to these questions and more.

Meet the Animals (grades 1–3)
Children will meet live animals, compare and contrast animal habitats, discuss animals’ basic needs and discover the unique characteristics that make many of these creatures call Ohio home. We can not specify in advance which species will be used for the program.

Pond Study (grades 1–3)
Discuss life in a pond habitat before venturing off to Coovert’s Pond to explore. Discover live animals and plants in the pond and explore how they are adapted to live in a pond. Learn the life cycle and unique needs of several pond species.

Webs of Life (grades 1–3)
Explore the basic needs of organisms and their role in the environment, learn how organisms interact with one another, and trace the connections to form food webs. Take a closer look at owls through the dissection of owl pellets.

Herps A-Z (grades 2–3)
Learn about fascinating reptiles and elusive amphibians. Classify herps based on their characteristics, life cycles and the environments they inhabit. See and touch representatives of each herp group and discover that they share some things in common.

Treehouse Trek (grades 2–3)
Students will explore the Mead Treehouse and learn the importance of forestry, including how wildlife, forests and people are interconnected. Discover how wild animals work together to keep the forest and the environment healthy.
 

SocialStudies

Location: SunWatch Indian Village/ Archaeological Park

Program Length: 1 hour unless otherwise noted
For content information or to schedule, call 937–268–8199.

Fun at SunWatch (grades 1–3)
Students discover the culture of the SunWatch people through sensory activities, stories, games, and a brief Museum tour.

Lifestyles of the Rich and Prehistoric (grades 1–3)
This tour focuses on the material culture and life ways of the four different prehistoric cultural periods of Ohio. After a half-hour presentation in the classroom, the tour continues outside through the Village.

SunWatch Kid’s Day (grades 1–3)
The Kid’s Day program is designed for daycare/childcare providers and summer youth camps. Over ten special stations are set up in the Village that highlight a morning of numerous hands-on activities, demonstrations, games and crafts. Admission includes a drink and take-home crafts.

What if I Lived at SunWatch? (grades 1–3)
Designed to allow students to experience what life might have been like for the SunWatch child. Primarily geared for the early elementary grades, the tour includes a short film and scavenger hunt in the Museum, then progresses outside through the Village.

 

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