Small Group Programs

Academy outreach

Small group programs are ideal for groups of preschoolers, adults, and everyone in between. Topics are tailored to the audience and include touchable museum specimens. The paw print [live animals are part of this lesson] indicates that a live animal will be used in the lesson dependent on animal availability.

  • Appropriate for children Pre-K and up (exceptions noted in program description)
  • Maximum number of children per program: 50
  • Length of program: 45 minutes
  • $250 for first presentations plus travel fee
  • $125 for each additional presentation

Lessons

Amazing Adaptations live animals are part of this lesson

What is an adaptation and what kinds are there? Learn about the wide variety of animals on Earth, and discover some features and behaviors that help them to survive.


PA 3.1 A, B, C
PA 4.1 D
NGSS: LS1, LS4

Incredible Insects live animals are part of this lesson

(PreK through third grade only)

What’s the difference between an insect and a spider? Do butterflies have bones? What senses does a cockroach use to discover its world? Journey from egg to adult as you explore the features of various invertebrates using activities, museum specimens, and live arthropods.


PA 3.1 A1, A3, A5
PA 4.1 D
PA 4.4 C
NGSS: LS1

Discovering Dinosaurs

(Pre-K through sixth grade only)

How do we know what dinosaurs were like? Were other animals alive at the same time as the dinosaurs? How were they similar to animals that are still alive today? Fun props and activities help small children learn how dinosaurs lived, ate, and protected themselves.

Download the Teacher’s Guide for Grades Pre-K–2
Download the Teacher's Guide for Grades 3–6


PA 3.1 A1, A5, C2, C3,
PA 3.3 A1, A3
PA 4.1 D
NGSS: LS3, LS4

Everybody Needs a Home live animals are part of this lesson

Food, water, shelter, space—all creatures need a habitat that provides these things. Meet several animals from different habitats and discover how their needs are met. Also explore how animals depend upon and relate to one another within a habitat.

Download the Teacher’s Guide for Grade Pre-K
Download the Teacher's Guide for Grades 1–12


PA 3.1 A, C
PA 4.1 A, B, D
NGSS: LS1, LS2

Custom Programs
Don't see a topic you were hoping for? No problem! We are happy to work with you to create a program that suits your needs. Click here to design a custom program.

Travel Information

  • Depending on driving distance from the museum, programs may begin as early as 10 am and end as late as 9 pm (not including setup and breakdown).
  • Distance determines travel fee. Travel is limited to 50 miles one way.
  • Travel fees begin at $10 for locations 11+ miles away from the Academy
  • There is a holdover fee of $75 for presentations scheduled more than one hour apart (maximum of two hours between programs)
  • For multiple topics on the same day there is a $75 fee
  • We ask that multiple presentations be held in the same room. If this is not possible there will be a $75 fee applied. /li>