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 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.
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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
Rocks and Minerals (grades 4–6)
Become a mineral detective by using concepts of luster, color and hardness (Moh’s scale) to examine and identify different types of rocks and minerals in the rock cycle. Learn why rocks and minerals are important by learning about their features and uses.
Take a “Journey to Planet Earth” (grades 5–8)
View the Earth in a new perspective as some of the most important global issues are brought to light from the PBS television series, Journey to Planet Earth. Participate in activities relevant to today’s youth that allow them to make connections between soil, water, air and human health. Develop an understanding of how your actions affect the Earth and how we can improve environmental conditions.
Are We Standing on Solid Ground? (grades 7–8)
Just how far is it to the center of the Earth? Students will find out as they explore the interior structures of the Earth, plate tectonics and the forces behind the formation of landforms. Using models, activities and simulation, your students will get their hands dirty and their minds challenged.
What’s Up with the Weather? (grades 7–8)
Can you really determine tomorrow’s forecast? Learn how to make basic weather-predicting equipment, read weather maps and understand clouds. After learning about the behind-the-scenes, students will apply this knowledge and try to predict the weather in front of the camera.
Space Sciences
Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Caryl D. Philips Space Theater
Program Length: 55 minutes
For content information, contact our Director of Astronomy at 937–275–7431, ext. 122.
Great Planetary Adventure (grade 4)
Following a brief visit to the night sky, students journey through the solar system learning basic characteristics of each planet.
Daughter of the Stars (grades 4–6)
Listen to Native American myths of the Sun, night, Moon and stars that explained the natural events and objects of the sky.
Follow the Drinking Gourd (grades 4–6)
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 4–6)
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.
Starry Sky (grades 4–6)
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.
200 Planets and Counting (grades 4–8)
Under a clear night sky Grandpa and his granddaughter discuss the discovery of hundreds of other planets in orbits around other stars. Join them as they solve the mystery of how scientists are finding these extra-solar planets.
Stroll Through the Cosmos (grades 4–8)
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 (grades 4–8)
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.
Beyond the Solar System (grades 5–8)
See how the Sun compares with other stars and how they all change over time. Special effects include an imaginary journey through a black hole.
MarsQuest (grades 5–8)
Investigate our red planet neighbor as viewed through history, what’s been revealed through current times and our dreams of what the future may hold in explorations of Mars. Narrated by Patrick Stewart.
System of Sol (grades 5–8)
Students gain an appreciation of the Earth by learning about the beautiful, but hostile environments of other planets in our solar system. The Sun and each of the eight planets and Pluto are visited following a brief tour of the current night sky.
Explorers (grades 6–8)
In this participatory show, students learn of Polynesian exploration of the Pacific using celestial navigation and what may lie ahead with the exploration of Mars.
The StarGazer (grades 6–8)
As a young child Jim Kaler was fascinated with the night sky. Experience his lifelong passion for understanding our world through his poetic view of life in this fun and unique planetarium show.
Constellation Study (grades 7–8)
Understand why we can see different constellations during different seasons. Major constellations are featured and the bright stars are pointed out and named.
RingWorld (grades 7–8)
Planet Saturn has always been a beautiful sight to behold. Breathtaking images have arrived from space probes that have ventured beyond it. Now the ultimate destination for Cassini is the RingWorld itself.
To the Edge of the Universe (grades 7–8)
Students unravel the mysteries of the Big Bang Theory by understanding red shift/Doppler Effect and venture out to see if there is an edge to our universe.
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.
The Light Fantastic (grades 4–5)
What is light and where does it come from? How can we change it? Your students will be thrilled by demonstrations and hands-on experiment that answer these questions as they learn about bouncing, bending, and blocking light.
Motion and Simple Machines (grades 4–5)
Kids investigate how wheels, pulleys, levers, and more relate to force and motion and can be used to make work easier. Hands-on experimentation will bring the concepts of force, motion, work, and energy to life.
Bubbleology (grades 4–6)
Bubble fun goes beyond the bubble wand. Students apply math, chemistry, and physics to explore the fantastic science of bubbles.
Creative Science (grades 4–6)
Students sculpt light, matter, and mixtures in an exciting blend of art and science. Explore the properties of materials and how physical and chemical changes occur as materials interact with light energy and each other.
Matter (grades4–6)
Matter, matter everywhere! Fun experiments and demonstrations captivate students as they explore the different states of matter, chemical reactions, pressure, heat, and physical and chemical change.
Energy (grades 4–7)
Exciting chemical and physical demonstrations introduce students to the various properties and forms of energy. Students follow the scientific method through fascinating hands-on experiments with chemical light and electrical circuits that show how energy is used every day. Students will SCREAM for energy!
Going Green (grades 4–8)
Can science help protect the environment? We will examine the ways we use energy, and the ways we might use it in the future. Students will experiment with a variety of renewable energy sources and view an exciting show that demonstrates the power of these new technologies. The world of renewable energy is full of possibilities for today’s young scientists.
Lasers and Optics (grades 4–8)
Students build their knowledge of refraction, reflection and the manipulation of light energy through demonstrations of the properties of concave and convex mirrors, lenses, the electromagnetic spectrum and fiber optics. They will apply their knowledge in the DO Lab through experimentation.
The Polymer Question (grades 5–8)
The discovery and manufacture of polymers have had a dramatic influence on our quality of life. Students will have a terrific time exploring the bouncy, slippery, absorbent, rigid and extremely useful polymers that surround us. They will be encouraged to think critically about balancing the manufacture of these helpful products with the protection and conservation of non-renewable natural resources.
The Wright Way to Fly (grades 4–8)
Sail through the skies of the Space Theater as we examine the science the Wright Brothers used to unlock the mystery of powered flight. This program lasts 55 minutes.
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.
Treehouse Trek (grades 4–5)
Students will explore the Mead Treehouse and living woods to 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.
Herps A-Z (grades 4–6)
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.
Pond Study (grades 4–6)
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 4–6)
Learn how organisms interact with each other as your students become characters in “Woodland Woes,” a tale of the needs of organisms and the role in the environment of Werthner Woods. As the story unfolds, students will trace connections to form food chains and food webs in the context of ecosystems. They will take a closer look at the star of “Woodland Woes,” the barn owl, through the dissection of owl pellets.
Dinosaurs (grades 4–8)
Examine real fossils and excellent reproductions of dinosaur teeth and skin along with a variety of dinosaur artifacts from our geology and paleontology collection. Use the evidence to identify the adaptive characteristics of dinosaurs and explore how extinction of a species occurs when the environment changes. Consider how natural selection and other evolutionary mechanisms account for the unity and diversity of past and present life forms.
Meet the Animals (grades 4–8)
Meet live animals, compare and contrast anatomical characteristics and adaptations, and discuss the delicate and complex interactions between animals and the ecosystem and how changes in that balance can affect survival.
River Study (grades 4–8)
Students become field biologists and ecologists as they collect and examine macroinvertebrates and water samples from the Stillwater River. Learn how pollution affects the chemical composition of rivers which, in turn, affects the organisms living there. Field study takes place rain or shine; dress for the weather. In case of dangerous weather, the program will be rescheduled.
Animal and Plant Diversity (grades 5–8)
Discover why biodiversity is important to the world in which we live. Investigate the interactions of species in an ecosystem when a species population increases/decreases due to environmental changes or human activity.
Arctic Antics (grades 5–8)
Share in the adventures and study of the Arctic; meet Robyn Sweet, a 2007 PolarTREC teacher who will share her first-hand experiences of research, animals, and life upon a polar research vessel (the USCG Icebreaker, Healy). Engage in activities related to Arctic conditions and global climate change. Learn how to follow the expeditions of other teachers and scientists as they explore the Arctic.
Sorting out Sea Turtles (grades 5–8)
Dive into classification with sea turtles. Your students will learn about their physiology, life history, geographic distribution, and unique characteristics that make sea turtles different from their relatives living on land. Discover sea turtles through fascinating pieces from our collections and test your students on their knowledge as they use a dichotomous key to identify realistic replicas of all the species.
Genetics and Heredity (grades 6–8)
Relive the moment of Thomas Hunt Morgan as students reveal the laws of heredity behind the Drosophila melanogaster they observe. Watch as your students develop new crosses to show linkage, sex-linked traits, and even mutations as they learn to work as research geneticists. Please schedule at least one month in advance to ensure adequate specimens.
Population Connection (grades 6–8)
300 million in the U.S. and growing…. Investigate how overpopulation impacts an ecosystem—natural resources, climate, and even the equilibrium of Earth. Discover ways to protect rivers, land, and food sources to face the growing demand. Activities are provided from the “Population Connection” organization.
SocialStudies
Location: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery
Program Length: 1 hour
For content information, contact our Curator of Anthropology at 937–275–7431, ext. 115.
Historic Native Cultures of North America (grades 4–6)
Native peoples living in different parts of what is known as the United States developed different ways of living dependent upon where they were located. A Museum anthropologist will display materials goods of these native peoples to compare the everyday lives of the Eskimo, people of the Northwest Coast, people of the Southwest, people of the Plains, and people of the Eastern Woodlands around the year 1890.
Prehistoric Cultures of Ohio (grades 4–6)
Prehistoric people lived in Ohio for thousands of years before any Europeans arrived. Since they left no written records, we can only learn about the past by studying the traces of ancient cultures. A Museum archaeologist leads students through 11,000 years of prehistoric cultures in Ohio, using artifacts, images, timelines and maps to illustrate what is known about these people.
The Science of Archaeological Investigation (grades 6–8)
At a small prehistoric site near Dayton, Museum archaeologists are attempting to discover how native people lived 800 years ago. A Museum archaeologist demonstrates how science and geometry are applied in archaeological excavation and explain how stone and bone tools, pottery and other artifacts hold secrets about the past.
Location: SunWatch Indian Village/ Archaeological Park
Program Length: 1 hour unless otherwise noted
For content information or to schedule, call 937–268–8199.
What if I Lived at SunWatch? (grade 4)
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.
Grade School Prairie Class (grades 4–6)
Younger students are introduced to our prairie, its reconstruction and maintenance. They will learn about native prairie plants and their uses, with an emphasis on sensory perception. Includes a craft project; for groups of 10–30 students. Available August 15–October 15 only.
Lifestyles of the Rich and Prehistoric (grades 4–8)
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 Discovery (grades 4–8)
An overview of SunWatch Indian Village and its prehistoric inhabitants, the Fort Ancients, that includes viewing an introductory film, discussing various displays in the Museum and touring the partially reconstructed Village.
SunWatch Kid’s Day (grades 4–8)
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.
Junior High Prairie Survey Class (grades 6–8)
Students will learn a variety of skills used in prairie reconstruction and maintenance. They will receive practical experience using a variety of academic skills, including identification of grass and forbs, graphing, calculating percentages, using estimates and working with formulas. Ecological concepts will be introduced as well. For groups of 10–30 students. Available August 15–October 15 only.
Archaeological Field Work Class (grades 7–8)
Learn the terminology, excavation methods and tools that archaeologists use to uncover the past. Start in our classroom for an intensive session in archaeological techniques before heading out to our trench to excavate. For groups of 10–30 students. Not available in winter. Class lasts 9:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. |
