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2004-2005
Booking a School Program
Natural Science Programs
Physical Science Programs
World Culture Programs
Outreach Programs
Kit Rental
Teacher Workshops
The Childrens Museum of Maine thanks the following foundations and corporations for their generous support of educational programs.The Aristotle Fund
Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust
Cole Haan
Davis Family Foundation
Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund
Fairchild Semiconductor
Roy A. Hunt Foundation
International Paper Company
Maine Charity Fund of Maine Community Foundation
Maine Arts Commission
Maine Humanities Council
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
National Endowment for the Arts
National Semiconductor
Peoples Heritage Bank
The Phineas W. Sprague Memorial Foundation
UnumProvident
Wright Express
Booking A School Program
Reservations
To book a guided or self-guided program, call 207-828-1234, x221 or e-mail
To book an outreach program or rent a kit, call 207-828-1234 x229 or e-mail
Group Size and Rates
With 24-hour advance reservation, groups of 10 or more are eligible for our group admission rates:
$4 per person for a two-hour self-guided visit
$5 per person for a guided visit
One adult per 10 students will be admitted free with any group visit. Memberships, discount coupons, and passes cannot be used in conjunction with a group visit. Group admission must be paid in one sum with a check, purchase order, cash, or credit card on the day of the visit.
Tour Schedule
The Museum is available for two-hour guided and self-guided visits on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, 9am - 5pm and Thursday, Noon - 5pm.
Teacher Preview Passes
When reserving your visit, inquire about a free teacher preview visit.
Explore Store
The Museum's Explore Store features educational toys, games and books. Your students are welcome to visit the store in small groups. To order gift bags for students, call 828-1234 x232 or e-mail
Receive $.50 off each admission when your group visits between September 1 - October 31, 2004 or January 1 - February 28, 2005.
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Guided Education Programs 2004-2005
Guided Programs
Natural science, physical science, and world culture guided programs are available for groups of up to 50 students. Programs are 30 minutes long unless otherwise noted; please select one or two 30-minute programs or one 60-minute program for your group. To book a guided program, call 207-828-1234 x221 or e-mail
NATURAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS
A Walk in the Woods
Layers of Forest
Learn firsthand about the forest and its structure with artifacts from the Maine woods. Discover the animals that live in the canopy, understory, and on the forest floor. MLR: Local Environments, Trees & Forest, Adaptation, Classification
Teeth & Skulls
Using real skulls and replicas, explore the woodland world of Maine's carnivores, omnivores, insectivores, and herbivores. MLR: Body Parts, Adaptation, Classification, Food Chain & Food Web
Animal Signs
Explore the track, scat, and fur of Maine's wildlife, and learn how to spot evidence of these creatures in the great outdoors. MLR: Adaptation, Classification
Adaptations and Communication
Using woodland artifacts, learn how a variety of mammals, birds, and amphibians communicate and adapt to their lives in the forest habitat. MLR: Adaptation, Classification, Body Parts, Senses
Be a Tree
Participate in an interactive group skit while exploring the different layers of a tree and a tree's needs for survival. MLR: Living & Non-Living Things, Trees & Forest, Plant Structure & Function
Owls of the Night
Explore the owl's hearing, eyesight, flight, and hunting strategies. Learn about its diet while participating in an owl pellet dissection. MLR: Adaptation, Food Chain & Food Web, Senses
The Salty Sea
Ocean Open House
(60 minute program)
Help Ms. Salty Waters find a new home in one of the ocean zones while learning about the sea creatures that live there. Then explore the intertidal creatures in the Museum's ocean touch tank, and compare vertebrates and invertebrates. MLR: Aquatic Environments, Oceanography, Adaptation, Classification, Maine Marine Organisms
The Insect World
Busy Lives of Bees
(Available seasonally)
Learn about the unique social behaviors of our hard-working honeybees. View the observation hive while moving and grooving with these amazing creatures. MLR: Local Environments, Impact of Ecological Change, Life Cycle, Symbiotic Relationships
The Human Body
Camera Obscura
A camera obscura is just like an enormous human eye! View our natural and periscopic camera obscuras, explore light, optics, and sight, and get an amazing panoramic view of Portland. MLR: Senses, Art and Technology, Human Body Systems
Mr. Bones
How many bones do you have? What makes them move? Explore the human skeleton to learn about bones and joints while comparing different animal bones and skeletons to our own. MLR: Human Body Systems, Similarity & Differences within & between Organisms
Prehistoric Earth
Dinosaur Dig
(30 or 60 minute program)
Investigate the identifying characteristics of these prehistoric giants. Play interactive games to learn about dinosaur adaptations, and connect the facts with tangible artifacts as you explore fossil replicas. MLR: Prehistoric Life, Fossils & Past Life, Classification, Adaptations
Rock Detective
Learn about sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rock. Investigate these building blocks of the earth and compare them to minerals and fossils as you solve their many mysteries. MLR: Change in State, Rocks/Minerals/Soils, Fossils & Past Life, Living & Non-Living Things
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PHYSICAL SCIENCE PROGRAMS
Blast Off!
Living in Space
Learn how rockets are launched into orbit and explore the effects of microgravity on the human body. Explore equilibrium, exercise astronaut-style, and taste space ice cream. MLR: Motion of Objects, Forces
Solar System Adventure
Go on a whirlwind trip through space with Agent Astronomy! Solve planetary mysteries with clues about the hottest, coolest, biggest, smallest and most superlative planets. MLR: Sun, Planets, Moons
StarLab
(Planetarium can accommodate only 15 students at a time. Please add additional time for larger groups.)
Discover the constellations in Maine's night sky in our mini-planetarium while learning about Native American, Greek, or Chinese mythology. MLR: Night Sky, Stars, Night/Day
Electric Avenue
Explore the science of electricity and connect concepts with everyday experiences. Learn about static electricity through interactive games and experiment with the Museum's Van de Graaff Generator. MLR: Electricity, Effects of Forces on Motion
Camera Obscura
When reflected light enters a darkened room called a camera obscura, it forms an image. View our natural and periscopic camera obscuras, learn about light, optics, and the human eye, and get an amazing panoramic view of Portland. MLR: Senses, Art & Technology, Human Body Systems
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WORLD CULTURE PROGRAMS
Japan and Mature: Spirits of the Seasons
(Available through mid-October)
This hands-on, interactive exhibit invites children to discover and explore how their counterparts in Japan celebrate and experience their natural environment. Organized around universal aspects of childhood - family, school, play, and holiday celebrations - the exhibit presents Japanese culture from a child's perspective. The exhibit was developed by the Brooklyn Children's Museum and funded by the Freeman Foundation Asian Exhibit Initiative.
This guided program features a tour of the exhibit and an interactive workshop featuring Japanese cultural arts and traditions, and is available in a 30 or 60 minute format. MLR: Cultural Customs & Beliefs, Human Interaction with the Environment
Talking Walls: Discover Your World
(Available beginning in mid-November)
This unique multicultural exhibit is based on the children's books Talking Walls and Talking Walls: The Stories Continue, written by Maine author Margy Burns Knight and illustrated by Maine artist Anne Sibley O'Brien. Organized around the themes of boundary walls, message walls, and celebration/ memory walls, the exhibit explores cultures around the world and through time, showing the impact of walls on the people who built them and are divided or unified by them. In addition to many hands-on, interactive components, the exhibit features the original artwork from the books.
These guided programs include a tour of the exhibit and one of the workshops listed below, and are available in 30 or 60 minute formats. The author and illustrator are available for a limited number of workshops; for information, please call 828-1234 x234 or e-mail
Building Walls
Walls can be made of all sorts of materials, and some walls aren't made of anything at all! Examine featured Talking Walls to determine how they were made, then choose from a variety of materials to make your own talking wall. MLR: 3-D Shapes, Natural Resources, Culture & Technology, Human Interaction with the Environment
Measuring Walls
The size and shape of a wall tell a great deal about its purpose. Explore the design and scale of featured Talking Walls and use manipulatives to model the longest, tallest, and widest walls. MLR: Standard & Non-Standard Measurement, Measuring Tools & Units, Technology & Human Settlement, Human Interaction with the Environment
Visiting Walls
Talking Walls are found in very different parts of the world. Locate featured walls on the Museum's globe and use artifacts and information in the exhibit to learn about each wall's natural and cultural environment. MLR: Maps & Globes, Geographical Patterns, Human Interaction with the Environment
Childrens Museum of Maine and Southworth Planetarium Partnership
Book your visit to the Childrens Museum and Southworth Planetarium on the same day and save $.50 off each admission. Reduced admission is $3.50 at CMM and $3.50 at Southworth Planetarium. This partnership is available to students in grades 2-5. Maximum group size is 50 including students and adult chaperones.
To book your joint visit, call the Childrens Museum at 207-828-1234, ext. 221 and Southworth Planetarium at (207)780-4249.
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OUTREACH PROGRAMS
The Museum offers two exciting outreach programs suitable for students, K-5. To book an outreach program, call 207-828-1234 x229 or e-mail
The Story of Istar
The Story of Istar brings students face to face with Istar, a humpback whale who visits the coast of Maine annually. The program utilizes a 45-foot long life-size replica of a humpback whale and a variety of artifacts to teach amazing facts about this ocean mammal and trace its growth from infancy to maturity. The Story of Istar is approximately 45 minutes in length and is suitable for classes of 65 students or fewer per show. To access the whale's interior, group size cannot be larger than 30 students per show. MLR: Classification, Adaptation, Maine Marine Organisms, Food Chain
UnumProvident Sponsorship Program
Through the generous support of Unum-Provident, The Story of Istar is available to visit two schools per month free of charge. This sponsorship is open to schools who did not participate in the sponsorship program in the 2002-03 or 2003-04 school year. Book early to take advantage of this special sponsorship.
STARLAB
STARLAB, a portable planetarium, brings the wonders of the night sky to your school. The 15-foot domed STARLAB is inflated at your site and allows your students to explore the constellations and learn the stories and facts behind the stars. The STARLAB program is approximately 25-35 minutes in length and is suitable for 30 or fewer students per show. MLR: Stars, Night Sky
Outreach Program Cost
(Cost covers up to 3 presentations at one school)
? Within 10 mile radius of Portland: $240
? 10 to 40 miles from Portland: $275, plus mileage
? 40 plus miles from Portland: $325, plus mileage
Lodging costs will be added to the price if the school is two or more hours in travel one way.
When the Museum brings an outreach program to your school between September 1 - October 31, 2004 or January 1 - February 28, 2005, receive 10% off the program fee.
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KIT RENTAL
Kits are rented for 2-week periods and range in cost from $35-$65. Each kit contains activities, artifacts, books, and audiovisuals. Kits can be picked up at the Museum or shipped for an additional charge. For information, a complete list of materials, and availability, call 207-828-1234 x229 or e-mail
Culture Kits
Japan and Nature: Spirits of the Seasons
Discover how children and families in Japan play, celebrate, and learn throughout the seasons. MLR: Cultural Customs & Beliefs, Human Interaction with the Environment
Magnificent Maya
Learn about the amazing architectural, agricultural, and scientific achievements of this ancient Meso-American civilization. MLR: Historical Inquiry & Analysis, Human Interaction with the Environment
Science Kits
Animal Signs
Explore the tracks, fur, and scat of Maine's wildlife and learn how to spot evidence of these creatures in the great outdoors. MLR: Local Environments, Adaptations, Classification, Forest
Beaver Adaptations
Explore beaver artifacts and play games while learning how beavers adapt to pond life. MLR: Adaptation, Aquatic Environments, Body Parts, Senses
Birds in Flight
Learn a variety of bird songs, explore bird beaks, and discover the challenges of migration and flight. MLR: Senses, Sound, Adaptations
Dinosaur Dig
Journey through the Mesozoic Era and learn about dinosaur characteristics, adaptations, and fossils. MLR: Prehistoric Life, Fossils & Past Life, Classification, Adaptations
Owls of the Night
Discover the owl's digestive system while dissecting owl pellets. Explore the owl's many adaptations to its nocturnal life. MLR: Adaptation, Food Chain & Food Web, Senses
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Learn about recycling and solid waste management through this free kit developed by the Maine State Planning Office. For more information, please visit www.recyclemaine.com MLR: Recycling, Reuse
Spectacular Senses
Explore the human body's five senses while also learning about the sensory abilities of other creatures. MLR: Senses, Body Parts, Adaptations
Be a Tree
Explore the many parts of a tree while also learning identification techniques with leaves, bark, and seeds. MLR: Trees/Forest, Plant Structure & Function, Plant Growth & Development, Seeds
Weather Center
Use scientific weather equipment to make weather predictions, track weather patterns over time, and learn about a variety of meteorological events. MLR: Daily Weather/Seasons, Earth's Features, Water Cycle, Sun/Shadows
Winter Adaptations
Learn about the habitats and adaptations that creatures use to survive the long winter season. MLR: Adaptations, Seasons, Local Environments
COMING SPRING 2005
Rock Riddles
Using the Museum's collection of rocks and minerals, explore chemical reactions, the Mohs Mineral Hardness Scale, historical uses of rocks and minerals, plate tectonics, the rock cycle, and more! This kit was developed in conjunction with Ruth Deike, creator of the "Rock Detective" curriculum. MLR: Change in State, Rocks/Minerals/Soils, Fossils & Past Life, Living & Non-Living, Plate Tectonics
Teeth & Skulls
Using skull replicas, explore the world of carnivores, omnivores, insectivores, and herbivores. Compare and contrast predators and prey and learn about food webs. MLR: Body Parts, Senses, Adaptation, Classification, Food Chain & Food Web
Herpetology
Explore reptiles and amphibians using artifacts and interactive games. Learn frog songs, inspect a turtle's shell, and discover a salamander's sense of hearing while learning the differences and similarities between these varied groups of animals. MLR: Senses, Adaptation, Classification, Aquatic Environments
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CALENDAR OF TEACHER WORKSHOPS
Workshop: Talking Walls: Discover Your World
Monday, February 7 (Snow date: February 14)
9 am - 3 pm
Teachers will spend the day with author Margy Burns Knight and illustrator Anne Sibley O'Brien exploring the Talking Walls books and the Children's Museum of Maine's newest exhibit, Talking Walls: Discover Your World. Topics covered will include: ideas for thematic units, connections to the Maine Learning Results, hands-on activities across the curriculum, other literature on related topics, developing critical thinking skills and a behind-the-scenes look at how the books were created. Also, get a sneak preview of the next Talking Walls book.
Participation is encouraged by teachers who have extensive experience in using Talking Walls and by those who are new to them. The workshop will provide a forum for sharing among teachers and the author and illustrator. Emphasis will be placed on using the books and the resources of the exhibit to create exciting ideas and activities to engage students in discovering their world.
Cost is $60 and includes lunch, curriculum materials and the Talking Walls books. Register by Jan. 29 by calling 828-1234, x. 234 or emailing
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