This year, we have two options to select from for Homeschool students. You can sign up for our 8-week ocean science series, or register for single session classes covering a variety of topics.
Mondays, weekly
9:45–11:45 a.m.
$400 for 8-week session ($360 for Members)
Grades 3–5
In this weekly, 8-session class, students will learn about the diversity of habitats and organisms in Earth’s one big ocean. Through explorations with live organisms; hands-on investigations; and the use of models, videos, photographs, and readings, students investigate a range of ocean habitats, including coral reefs, arctic waters, and rocky shores. Themes we’ll explore in this unit include: habitats, food webs, adaptations, and interconnectedness between habitats.
Fall Session Dates: Oct. 21, Oct. 28, Nov. 4, Nov. 18, Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 16
*Please note: Lawrence Hall of Science is not open to the public on Mondays.
Third Wednesday, once-monthly
2pm–3:30pm
$50 ($45 for Members) includes Exhibit Experience
Grades 3–5
October 16 | Dry Ice Investigations
“Why does it do that? What is it made of? What would happen if…?” Dry ice inspires students to create their own questions and investigations in this frosty, foggy, and bubbly workshop.
November 13 | Engineering Challenge: Hydraulics
Students will define problems and will then design and evaluate solutions in our Hydraulic Engineering Challenge. Students are introduced to engineering concepts and properties of fluids as they envision and piece together their own hydraulic contraptions.
December 18 | Squid Inside Story
How do squid swim? Catch prey? Eat? Even release ink to escape predators? These are just a few of the questions students will ask when they observe a day in the life of a squid. Through external exploration, observation, and dissection of a fresh squid, students will collect evidence to answer their own questions and come up with explanations for the functions of various structures they find on and in their squid.
January 15 | Engineering Challenge: Linkages
Students are introduced to engineering concepts as they explore the roles of force and motion in designing moving mechanisms. Using two-dimensional mechanical linkages, they create mechanisms with various inputs and outputs that move in distinct ways.
February 19 | Moons of the Solar System
In our Planetarium, students observe the changing Moon and find out what causes its phases, by acting out the motions of Earth and its Moon in the light of a simulated Sun. They monitor and record the behavior of Jupiter’s four moons, and take a tour of some of the dozens of moons in our Solar System.
March 18 | Engineering Challenge: Urban Water
Students will dive into the field of water engineering as they design and build their own sustainable city landscape, and then test their city’s ability to retain stormwater, prevent flooding, and capture pollutants while considering ecological impacts.
April 15 | Circuit Solutions
There’s a heat wave, and the cooling fans of Lawrence Elementary School aren’t working very well. Is there a better way to make them run to keep the school comfortable? Through exploration and investigations with circuits, students design a solution to wire the building more effectively to transfer energy from its source to fans throughout the school.
May 20 | Engineering Challenge: Wind Turbines
Students will engage in the practices of an engineer as they work to design a wind turbine that will generate the most electrical current. This experience focuses on students’ defining problems, designing and evaluating solutions, and then taking the time to review their designs (and maybe even to redesign) as they innovate.
Register Now
Schedule a program for your group of 12–30 children. You can choose from workshop titles from our current At The Hall Field Trips offerings. Learn more about our Programs for Schools and Community Groups. To schedule, call 510-642-5134, Mon.–Fri., 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Review our registration policies for Homeschool Classes and other offerings for individuals.
We are interested to know what you think about our programs and how we can serve you better. Please tell us your thoughts and suggestions. Thank you!
