Cincinnati Museum Center has actively worked with home school families over the past several years to provide an active and inviting place that can offer effective learning experiences for children and their families. There are various ways in which home school families can take advantage of education at Museum Center.

Homeschool Programs 2009-2010

Homeschool Monday Programs are $3.50 per child with one adult accompaniment, plus a $2 phone service fee for non-members. Please note that the program cost does not include parking or museum admission. To make your reservation or for more information, please call Cincinnati Museum Center at (513) 287-7021. Reservations can be made online for a service fee of $1.50 per program per child. Reservations for Cincinnati 28 may be placed by phone only. Payment is due at time of reservation. Space is limited, so please register in advance. Meet your group leader in the Rotunda near the food court tables at the start of the program. For more program information, please contact Jenn Anderson, School Programs Coordinator, at janderson@cincymuseum.org.

Uncovering the Past

September 14, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 9 and up

Archaeology is a science that allows us to unlock the secrets of past Roman civilizations. Participate in a hands-on demonstration of archaeological techniques as students explore a mock excavation site and learn to identify a culture based on the items discovered.

Forensics: The Science of Crime

September 21, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 9 and up

Participants become the forensic scientist and learn proper techniques to make, observe, analyze and classify fictional scientific crime scene information. This program includes everything they need to become super sleuths and solve the mystery.

Cave Dwellers

October 5, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 6 to 9

The cave is home to many animals and plants. Deepen your students' appreciation of the delicate ecosystem of caves and the roles that people play in preserving the home of cave dwellers. This program includes a guided experience in the Museum of Natural History & Science's famous limestone cave.

Bats!

October 19, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 6 and up

Walk like a bat. Fly like a bat. Meet a native Big Brown Bat. Explore echolocation, how it works and what it sounds like. Learn about these truly amazing yet misunderstood animals through a slide presentation, games and more!

My Rainforest Adventure

November 2, 2009 10 to 11 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 4 to 6

What is a rainforest and why is it important to us in Cincinnati? Climb to the canopy to discover the colorful world of a tropical rainforest and learn about animals and plants that live there. Take home a journal to continue your adventure.

ABC: Arches, Bridges and Construction

November 23, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 9 and up

What keeps bridges up? Anchors, beams and compression, just to name a few. Work cooperatively in teams, build arches, a suspension bridge and a truss bridge you can actually crawl across.

Life on the Ohio River

December 7, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 and up

Take an imaginary ride down the Ohio River and learn what life was like for Native Americans and early settlers. Explore how the river has affected, and been affected by, changes in lifestyle and travel throughout history. This program includes a guided experience in the Cincinnati History Museum's Settlement to 1860s galleries.

Liberty on the Border

December 14, 2009 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 and up

Through photographs, prints, maps, music, replicas and other period materials participants study territorial expansion, compromises, historical figures, economics, causes, course and effects of the Civil War.

Forces of Nature: Meteorology

January 11, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Hurricanes and tornados affect millions of people every year, yet scientists still know little about how they form or how to prepare for their wrath. Explore some of the key principles of meteorology and examine some of the technology that is helping meteorologists to predict the weather every day.

Tour of the Solar System

January 25, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 to 12

Soar through the solar system with recent slide images from Mercury, Pluto and beyond. Touch real meteorites and rocks of the type found on our Moon. Create impact craters and observe the crushing effects of air pressure!

Cincinnati 28*

February 1, 2010 10 to 11 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 9 and up

Cincinnati 28 is an interdisciplinary drama experience with a professional cast portraying the true story of twenty-eight slaves that fled from Virginia plantations, crossed the Ohio River at Lawrenceburg, Indiana from Kentucky.  They continued their adventurous escape through Cincinnati on the road to freedom. Through the dialogue of the cast, the audience will learn the dangers awaiting a runaway slave, the life of a slave, the pain of separation from family and friends, and the courageous roles of the conductors and stationmasters of the Underground Railroad.

* Please note this Homeschool Monday is an hour-long drama in CMC’s Reakirt Auditorium at 10:00 to 11:00 am. Tickets are $6 per adult and $6 per child  Phone reservations only.

Underground Railroad: Its History, Its People, Its Glory

February 22, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 9 and up
Look at the history of slavery and the Underground Railroad. By using a time line, pictures, slave shackles, photographs, navigational tools and true stories of actual historical figures, children re-create elements of this incredible journey. Through this program children will better understand the resourcefulness, courage and determination of freedom-seeking slaves.

Be a Rock Star!

March 8, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 to 12

Take on the role of a geologist and follow the rock cycle by performing experiments to learn how rocks are formed. Discover the different properties of rocks and categorize them based on a set of criteria. Join us as we create a sedimentary “soup,” a messy metamorphic “sandwich” and an igneous explosion!

Chemistry in Your Hands

March 22, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 11 and up

See and feel the evidence of physical versus chemical change.  Perform experiments to deduce which chemicals produce what changes. Learn chemistry basics and practice lab safety. Beware—the results you take home may be slimy!

Lewis & Clark

April 12, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 and up

From grizzly bears to prickly pears, participants will use maps, historical artifacts and primary source material to study the wildlife, unknown lands and people the Corps of Discovery encountered on the expedition that changed the course of history. The primary source material includes a Meriwether Lewis manuscript owned by Cincinnati Museum Center.

Cincinnati in Motion

April 26, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 6 to 10.

Cincinnati has been a hub of transportation since before the first settlers arrived. From canoes to steamboats and from trolleys to trains, the movement of people and products has been at the heart of the city. This program includes a guided experience through the Cincinnati History Museum’s transportation-related exhibits.

Incredible Insects

May 10, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 6 to 12

Get up close and personal with the creatures that make up the Earth’s largest population. Build-a-bug; see the world through the eyes of a fly; and learn some amazing facts about insect defense, including camouflage and mimicry. This program comes complete with live insects and some truly unbelievable mounted insects from across the globe.

Welcome to My Home

May 24, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 6 to 10

Compare your homes and lives to those of children around the world. Explore cultural similarities related to school, clothing, family routines, names and leisure activities. This program includes a guided experience in the Duke Energy Children's Museum's Children Just Like Me exhibit.

Experimenting with Physical Science

June 7, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 8 to 12

What shapes do bubbles take? Does sound vibrate? Explore bubbles, sound, electricity, magnets, light, color, mirrors and optical illusions in this inquiry-based program. Perform experiments, draw conclusions and share your discoveries.

Forces of Nature: Seismology

June 21, 2010 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Appropriate for ages 10 and up

Earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis are more common than you might think. Explore the forces at work that create these catastrophic events. Students will work in teams to create their own hypotheses through hands-on experimentation.

Membership

One very important way to take advantage of the resources at Cincinnati Museum Center is to obtain a membership for the family. Since home school families are recognized as educators as are the more traditional school facilities, families can request the Educator’s Membership rate when purchasing their yearly membership. An Explorer membership provides many advantages for the family. Admission to each of the three museums is free for that period of membership. There are discounts for OMNIMAX theater tickets and purchases in the gift shops. Families also receive the quarterly museum center publication, Mosaic. Membership also provides for the Educator’s rates when booking Learning Labs for students. To receive the Educator membership rate, home school families need to produce proof of involvement in home schooling. A letter from your home school association on letterhead, a letter from the state in which you live or the school district where you live from a school official that states you are an approved home school family is also sufficient. If you have further questions about this or any other aspect of membership or to learn more about the Educator membership, please call the membership office at (513) 287-7041.

Learning Labs

Booking Learning Labs is another way home school families can use Cincinnati Museum Center's resources. We offer over 25 different classes that cover topics in natural history, science, history, economics and early childhood interests. All you need to do is get 15 students together who are interested in one of the classes and make your reservations by calling (513) 287-7021. For specific information about Learning Labs, please contact Learning Labs Manager, Jennifer Bishop at jbishop@cincymuseum.org.