Whether it’s at the museum or in your classroom, we offer hands-on programs on a variety of topics that provide your students with a fun way to learn about Indiana’s people, places and things through art, history and STEM connections. All programs fulfill select Indiana Academic Standards. Learn about these programs below or view the Early Childhood-Grade 12 Education Program Guide.
view guideEarly Childhood Programs (18 months - age 6)
To schedule any of the following programs, contact Early Childhood Program Manager Dru Corliss at 317.264.9867 or [email protected].
Click here to view Early Learning Foundations for the programs listed below.
Early Childhood Programs
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Toddler Journey School Programs
The Indiana State Museum is now offering an experience for our littlest visitors! Toddler classrooms of eight or more children may schedule a Toddler Journey that includes one hour of fine and gross motor activities in Firefly Landing, the museum’s early childhood learning space, followed by an exhibit exploration with the museum’s early childhood educators. Activities include sensory exploration, art and science and can be modified to support what you are learning in your classrooms.
Cost: $6/student and chaperone, free for teachers and teachers’ assistants. One adult required for every five students.
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Preschool Journey School Programs
Combine exhibit exploration time with a STEAM-based program in Firefly Landing, the museum’s early childhood learning space. Preschool journeys at the museum are two hours long – one hour for the program, and one hour for self-exploration in the museum exhibits.
Cost: $6/student and chaperone, free for teachers and teachers’ assistants. One adult required for every five students.
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Early Childhood Field Trip
Explore the museum galleries at your own pace during a self-guided field trip. Toddler, Preschool and PreK classrooms of 10 or more (not including chaperones or teachers/teacher assistants) may schedule a self-guided field trip at the Indiana State Museum.
Cost: $6/student and chaperone, free for teachers. One adult required for every five students.
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Toddler & Preschool Outreach Programs
These outreach programs bring the museum experience to you! Young ones will be inspired by interactive story time and engage in hands-on STEAM exploration and creation. Outreach programs are 60 minutes and offer the same customizable themes as the in-museum Toddler and Preschool Journeys.
Cost: $150/program; additional programs $100 for same day
Travel fees: 30-60 miles=$20; 60-90 miles=$40; 90+ miles=$60
$50 non-refundable deposit per program is required at time of booking to secure reservation. Deposit will go towards total program fee.
Registration required: Please contact Dru Sherfick, early childhood manager, at 317.264.9867 or [email protected] with questions.
Thanks to our Early Childhood Programming Sponsor
Artfully Me
Students will explore artwork by Indiana artists and create their very own masterpieces. Through an interactive story time, hands-on STEAM and SEL-based projects, and the creation of a collaborative art piece, your students will learn more about abstract art and how they can use art to express their emotions.
Astronaut Adventure
Inspired by Hoosier astronauts, students will work together to learn about space travel and the lives of real-life astronauts while they are in space. This STEAM focused program will include several hands-on activities for the children to explore, including creating space inspired art and conducting out-of-this-world experiments.
ENGINEERING EXTRAVAGANZA
Students will be inspired by real inventions and interactive spaces as they use the engineering design process to create and build. Through a hands-on STEAM-based project, your students will become engineers as they learn to design, create, test and collaborate.
Ice Age Animals
Step back in time with the help of our Frozen Reign gallery to see what life was like in Indiana during the Ice Age. Students will be introduced to many Ice Age animals as they explore the exhibit. They will participate in an interactive story time along with hands-on STEAM-based projects as they uncover the Indiana of the past.
Nature Explorers
Explore the basics of paleontology, archaeology and biology with a visit to the R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab. Students will observe real artifacts and objects and work with a digital microscope called the Micro Eye. Next, they will have a chance to become the expert and participate in hands-on activities inspired by nature.
K-12 Programs at Museum
Click here to view Indiana Academic Standards
IN-MUSEUM DETAILS
Dates: Offered Wednesday-Friday, Aug. 2024 through May 2025
Length: 60 minutes
Min./Max. number of students: 15/25
Cost: $4/student ($60 fee for fewer than 15 students)
$50/per program non-refundable deposit required at time of booking to secure reservation. Deposit will go towards total program fee.
OUTREACH DETAILS
Dates: Offered Monday-Friday, year-round
Length: 60 minutes
Max. number of students: 25
Cost: $150/program; $100 each additional program same day
Travel fees: 30-60 miles=$20; 60-90 miles=$40; 90+ miles=$60
$50/per program non-refundable deposit required at time of booking to secure reservation. Deposit will go towards total program fee.
CONTACT
Registration required. please contact Brittney Basaran, school program manager, at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
Explore by grade level
KINDERGARTEN - GRADE 2 PROGRAMS
To schedule any of the following programs, contact School Programs Manager Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
Engineering Explorations
Students engineer solutions to help our museum paleontologists uncover and move fossils over a creek. Students will use the design process to brainstorm solutions, build prototypes and test their creations just like real Indiana engineers.
ICE AGE SURVIVIAL
What adaptations helped animals survive during the Ice Age? Do we see these adaptations in present-day animals? Students will investigate and discuss what adaptations future animals will have based on our changing environment.
Indiana Innovators
Explore how creations from Indiana innovators sparked ingenuity and even improvements of their inventions. Find inspiration from Wilbur Wright and his gliders as students create their own gliders. They will then challenge themselves to work as a team and create a prototype to solve a problem at school.
GRADES 3-5 PROGRAMS
To schedule any of the following programs, contact School Programs Manager Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
ENGINEERING DESIGN
Explore potential and kinetic energy as students engineer devices to launch objects. Students will use the design process to brainstorm solutions, build prototypes and test their creations just like real Indiana engineers.
FOSSIL DIG DISCOVERY
Discover first-hand how paleontologists search and uncover Paleozoic and Ice Age fossils. Students will investigate dig pits, get a closer look at a real fossil slab, and make their own trace fossil. Find out what we can learn about extinct animals when only fossils are left behind.
FOSSIL FORMATIONS
How does a living creature become a fossil? What is a fossil record? Does everything become a fossil? What clues do fossils leave behind? Students will investigate these questions as they explore the process from living creature to its discovery as a fossil.
PIONEERING INNOVATIONS
Pioneers used simple machines and engineering to create a new life in Indiana. Students will explore how simple machines and innovations made their life easier as they design and build their own compound machine.
ROCKS AND MINERALS
Indiana is home to a wide variety of rocks and minerals. How did they end up here? How do we use rocks and minerals every day in small and big ways? Students will explore the rock cycle and investigate rocks and minerals like a geologist through hands-on activities.
GRADES 6-8 PROGRAMS
To schedule any of the following programs, contact School Programs Manager Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS
Explore Newton’s Laws of Motion as students engineer a solution to protect fragile fossils as they are transported back to the museum. Students will use the design process to brainstorm solutions, build prototypes and test their creations, and reflect on the process just like real Indiana engineers.
VOICES FROM THE PAST
How can we learn from past civilizations? How do archaeologists piece together the puzzle of how they lived? How can the past shape our future? Students will explore stories uncovered through the archaeological process and consider what future archaeologists will discover about our lives.
GRADES 6-12 PROGRAMS
To schedule any of the following programs, contact School Programs Manager Brittney Basaran at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
Beyond Myth and Legend
As a child and young man, Abraham Lincoln called Indiana home. He would later become the 16th President of the United States. Major Taylor was a world class athlete and cycling’s first African American champion. Using primary sources and their own words, students will compare personal accounts with what was reported. We’ll dive into what it means to accurately portray not just history but the individuals that shape Indiana’s history.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
SCHOOLS OR EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS MAY QUALIFY FOR ONE OF INDIANA STATE MUSEUM’S MANY SCHOOL, EARLY CHILDHOOD OR OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR FREE.
This is made possible with funding provided by the Indiana Academy of Science. Those who qualify for a free science program may also receive transportation reimbursement.
Applications are now available and accepted on a rolling basis. Schools will be notified whether their application is approved or placed on a wait list.
Please contact Brittney Basaran, school program manager, at 317.409.7136 or [email protected] with questions.
Submit ApplicationState Historic Site Explore Programs
Whether it’s at the site or outreach, we offer hands-on, exploratory and interactive programs on a variety of topics that provide your students a fun way to learn about Indiana’s people, places and things. All programs fulfill select Indiana Academic Standards.
