Digital Science & Social Studies Programs
Looking for environmental educator-led programs but need hands-on materials?
Grade level
Search by grade level
Plants for Sprouts [D+P]
Take a journey through the life of a plant from seed to adult through observation and touch. We'll explore what a plant needs to grow and the jobs of different plant parts through song and 'building' our own plant! Students will plant seeds for in-classroom study or to take home.
Nature at Night [D+P]
A whole new world comes alive when the sun sets! Meet nocturnal animals and see what tools help them to be part of the night crew. See how the moon changes and find some of the most common constellation 'pictures' in the sky.
Dinosaur Discovery [D+M]
Dig into the world of dinosaurs and their modern-day relatives. Discover what we think we know about the dinosaurs that walked here in Connecticut region through observing real fossils. Meet some live lizards to learn what they share in common with their prehistoric relatives and discover that our feathered friends share some history with the T-Rex and other dinosaurs.
Life of Woodland Indians [D+M]
Learn how early Native Americans met their needs for homes, food, clothes, and medicine by using the resources of their environment. Through authentic artifacts and reproductions, and in a hands-on lab-style structure, students will discover how connections to the land where vital to the survival of early tribes.
Plants for Sprouts [D+P]
Discover the great green world of plants in this hands-on program. Take a journey through the life of a plant from seed to adult through observing and touching real plant parts. We'll explore what a plant needs to grow and the jobs of different plant parts through song and 'building' our own plant! Students will also get to plant seeds for in-classroom study or to take home.
NGSS Standards: K-PS-3-1, K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2
CT Science Standards: K.2
Weather Wise [D+P]
Explore the science of weather through a hands-on, multi-station lab. Students will be introduced to simple weather instruments, such as rain gauges and anemometers and what they measure, travel through the water cycle, and explore weather across seasons.
NGSS Standards: K-PS-3-1, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS3-2
CT Science Standards: K.3
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO K.4
Nature at Night [D+P]
There is a whole world that comes alive when the sun sets! Meet some nocturnal animals and see what tools help them to be part of the night crew. We'll also discover some of the most common sights in the night sky-the moon and stars. We'll see how the moon changes and some of the most common constellation 'pictures' in the sky. This program is available in-school only.
NGSS Standards: K-PS-3-1, K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2
CT Science Standards: K.1
Dinosaur Discovery [D+M]
Dig into the world of dinosaurs and their modern-day relatives. Discover what we think we know about dinosaurs that walked here in Connecticut and in the region through observing real fossils. Meet some live lizards to learn what they share in common with their prehistoric relatives and discover that our feathered friends share some history with the T-Rex and other dinosaurs.
NGSS Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1
CT Science Standards: K.1, K.2
Life of Woodland Indians [D+M]
Learn how early Native Americans met their needs for homes, food, clothes, and medicine by using the resources of their environment. hrough authentic artifacts and reproductions, and in a hands-on lab-style structure, students will discover how connections to the land where vital to the survival of early tribes.
CT Social Studies Standards: HIST K.1, HIST K.3, ECO K.1, GEO K.4
Take a trip from sheep to sweater, as we see what happens to the wool after the sheep are sheared in the spring. Wool needs to be washed, combed, spun, and dyed before it can be worn. We'll start with the raw wool and try our hands at washing, drying, and carding (combing). We'll also get to visit our sheep to see what their wool currently looks like and share a story as well.
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
Plants for Sprouts [D+P]
Discover the great green world of plants in this hands-on program. Take a journey through the life of a plant from seed to adult through observing and touching real plant parts. We'll explore what a plant needs to grow and the jobs of different plant parts through song and 'building' our own plant! Students will also get to plant seeds for in-classroom study or to take home.
NGSS Science Standards: 1-LS3-1, 1-ESS1-2
CT Science Standards: 1.2, 1.3
Science of Soil [D+M]
Investigate the world beneath your feet! Students will explore the living and non-living components of the soil community and the vital importance of this resource. They will learn about the physical properties of soil, the animals and plants that call it home, and the need for healthy soil for sustainable food sources. Through a soil sample lab, hands-on decomposer study, games, and live animals, students will get all the "dirt" on soil.
CT Social Studies Standards: 1.4
Weather Wise [D+P]
Explore the science of weather through a hands-on, multi-station lab. Students will be introduced to simple weather instruments, such as rain gauges and anemometers and what they measure, travel through the water cycle, and explore weather across seasons.
NGSS Science Standards: 1-ESS1-2
CT Science Standards: 1.4
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 1.4
Dinosaur Discovery [D+M]
Dig into the world of dinosaurs and their modern-day relatives. Discover what we think we know about dinosaurs that walked here in Connecticut and in the region through observing real fossils. Meet some live lizards to learn what they share in common with their prehistoric relatives and discover that our feathered friends share some history with the T-Rex and other dinosaurs.
NGSS Science Standards: 1-LS3-1
CT Science Standards: 1.2, 1.3
Map it! [D+P]
Explore the world of maps. Spatial thinking is one the most important skills one can develop as they learn geography. Students will each create their own map and discover the features and symbols often used for maps. We'll map both man-made and natural features and make observations as to why settlers chose different locations for towns and cities. Typically, students make a map of Connecticut, but we can customize to create a map of other areas.
Life of Woodland Indians [D+M]
Learn how early Native Americans met their needs for homes, food, clothes, and medicine by using the resources of their environment. Through authentic artifacts and reproductions, and in a hands-on lab-style structure, students will discover how connections to the land where vital to the survival of early tribes.
CT Social Studies Standards: HIST 1.1, HIST 1.3, ECO 1.1, GEO 1.4
Take a trip from sheep to sweater, as we see what happens to the wool after the sheep are sheared in the spring. Wool needs to be washed, combed, spun, and dyed before it can be worn. We'll start with the raw wool and try our hands at washing, drying, and carding (combing). We'll also get to visit our sheep to see what their wool currently looks like and share a story as well.
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
What's up with Plants? [D+P]
Through hands-on activities, including take-home plantings, students will examine the life cycle and importance of plants, including basic needs and adaptations. Using real-life specimens, different mechanisms for seed dispersal will be examined and students will discover the different parts of plants, from roots to fruits, and the role that each plays in a plant's life.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-LS-2-1, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1
CT Science Standards: 2.2
Science of Soil [D+M]
Investigate the world beneath your feet! Students will explore the living and non-living components of the soil community and the vital importance of this resource. They will learn about the physical properties of soil, the animals and plants that call it home, and the need for healthy soil for sustainable food sources. Through a soil sample lab, hands-on decomposer study, games, and live animals, students will get all the "dirt" on soil.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-ESS-2-1
CT Science Standards: 2.3
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 1.4
Growing & Sowing [D+P]
Students will discover how to plan a garden plot through an interactive activity where they create their own garden plan, making choices on how to maximize what to grow based upon space requirements of each vegetable/fruit type. Students will use their decision and spatial reasoning skills to determine what can best grow in their mock garden spaces and calculate the potential yield of their gardens. For groups that have school yard gardens, we can then map those areas and sow some seeds for future planting outdoors.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-LS-2-1, 2-LS2-2, 2-LS4-1
CT Science Standards: 2.2
Weather Wise [D+P]
Explore the science of weather through a hands-on, multi-station lab. Students will be introduced to simple weather instruments, such as rain gauges and anemometers and what they measure, travel through the water cycle, and explore weather across seasons.
CT Science Standards: 2.1
Waterworks [D+M]
Students will explore what a watershed is and learn about the relationships between human activity and the health of the water, air, plants, and animals of a watershed. Students will first identify potential pollution sources and solutions through an interactive model. Then, in an inquiry-based lab, students will work in small groups to brainstorm pollution clean-up methods, record data, and report findings to their peers.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-ESS2-2, 2-ESS2-3
CT Science Standards: 2.3, 2.4
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 2.2
CT/NY Rocks & Minerals [D+M]
Using specimens from the SM&NC collection, students will explore the three rock types, the conditions in which they form, and the history of their formations in our local area. Through a multi-station lab, students will investigate and learn to identify local rock specimens, explore how fossils forms, and discover how earth materials are used by people in their daily lives.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-ESS1-1
CT Science Standards: 2.1
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 2.3, GEO 2.6
What's it Matter (Matter 101) [D+P]
Discover the world of solids, liquids, and gases in this hands-on workshop. We'll learn about the properties of each state of matter as we launch a film canister in the air, make solids 'disappear' and measure air. We'll even learn about materials that are 'in-between' states as we make our own slime and explore the properties of polymers.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-PS-1-1, 2-ESS2-3
CT Science Standards: 2.1
Dinosaur Discovery [D+M]
Dig into the world of dinosaurs and their modern-day relatives. Discover what we think we know about dinosaurs that walked here in Connecticut and in the region through observing real fossils. Meet some live lizards to learn what they share in common with their prehistoric relatives and discover that our feathered friends share some history with the T-Rex and other dinosaurs.
NGSS Science Standards: 2-LS4-1
Explore the world of maps. Spatial thinking is one the most important skills one can develop as they learn geography. Students will each create their own map and discover the features and symbols often used for maps. We'll map both man-made and natural features and make observations as to why settlers chose different locations for towns and cities. Typically, students make a map of Connecticut, but we can customize to create a map of other areas.
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 2.1, GEO 2.3, GEO 2.6
CT Science Standards: 2.4
CT Social Studies Standards: HIST 2.2, HIST 2.4, ECO 2.1, GEO 2.4, GEO 2.6
Take a trip from sheep to sweater, as we see what happens to the wool after the sheep are sheared in the spring. Wool needs to be washed, combed, spun, and dyed before it can be worn. We'll start with the raw wool and try our hands at washing, drying, and carding (combing). We'll also get to visit our sheep to see what their wool currently looks like and share a story as well.
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
NGSS Science Standards: 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2
CT Science Standards: 3.1
NGSS Science Standards: 3-LS4-4
CT Science Standards: 3.2, 3.4
NGSS Science Standards: 3-LS4-1
CT Science Standards: 3.1, 3.3
NGSS Science Standards: 3-LS1
CT Science Standards: 3.2
CT Science Standards: 3.1
NGSS Science Standards: 3-LS3-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 3-LS4-3
Explore the world of maps. Spatial thinking is one the most important skills one can develop as they learn geography. Students will each create their own map and discover the features and symbols often used for maps. We'll map both man-made and natural features and make observations as to why settlers chose different locations for towns and cities. Typically, students make a map of Connecticut, but we can customize to create a map of other areas.
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 3.1, GEO 3.3, GEO 3.8
CT Social Studies Standards: HIST 3.2, GEO 3.8
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
CT Science Standards: 4.3
NGSS Science Standards: 4-ESS2-1, 4-ESS3-1
CT Science Standards: 4.2, 4.3
CT Social Studies Standards: ECO 4.3
NGSS Science Standards: 4-ESS1-1
CT Science Standards: 4.3 GEO 4.2, GEO 4.7
NGSS Science Standards: 4-LS1-1
CT Science Standards: 4.2
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 4.1, GEO 4.7
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 4.7
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
NGSS Science Standards: 5-ESS2-2
CT Science Standards: 5.4
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 5.1, GEO 5.3
NGSS Science Standards: 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-3
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 5.3
CT Social Studies Standards: GEO 5.3
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.
6th Grade and Up
We usually find that custom programs work best for older age groups, depending on group sizing and structure.
Please contact Lisa Monachelli at lmonachelli@stamfordmuseum.org to discuss a custom program for your group.
Program Type
Search by program type
Dinosaur Discovery (PreK-3) [D+M]
Dig into the world of dinosaurs and their modern-day relatives. Discover what we think we know about dinosaurs that walked here in Connecticut and in the region through observing real fossils. Meet some live lizards to learn what they share in common with their prehistoric relatives and discover that our feathered friends share some history with the T-Rex and other dinosaurs.
Plants for Sprouts (PreK-1) [D+P]
Discover the great green world of plants in this hands-on program. Take a journey through the life of a plant from seed to adult through observing and touching real plant parts. We'll explore what a plant needs to grow and the jobs of different plant parts through song and 'building' our own plant! Students will also get to plant seeds for in-classroom study or to take home.
Science of Soil (Grades 1-5) [D+M]
Investigate the world beneath your feet! Students will explore the living and non-living components of the soil community and the vital importance of this resource. They will learn about the physical properties of soil, the animals and plants that call it home, and the need for healthy soil for sustainable food sources. Through a soil sample lab, hands-on decomposer study, games, and live animals, students will get all the "dirt" on soil.
What's up with Plants? (Grades 2-5) [D+P]
Through hands-on activities, including take-home plantings, students will examine the life cycle and importance of plants, including basic needs and adaptations. Using real-life specimens, different mechanisms for seed dispersal will be examined and students will discover the different parts of plants, from roots to fruits, and the role that each plays in a plant's life.
Growing & Sowing [D+P]
Students will discover how to plan a garden plot through an interactive activity where they create their own garden plan, making choices on how to maximize what to grow based upon space requirements of each vegetable/fruit type. Students will use their decision and spatial reasoning skills to determine what can best grow in their mock garden spaces and calculate the potential yield of their gardens.
Nature at Night (PreK-K) [D+P]
There is a whole world that comes alive when the sun sets! Meet some nocturnal animals and see what tools help them to be part of the night crew. We'll also discover some of the most common sights in the night sky-the moon and stars. We'll see how the moon changes and some of the most common constellation 'pictures' in the sky.
Weather Wise (Grades K-5) [D+P]
Explore the science of weather through a hands-on, multi-station lab. Students will be introduced to simple weather instruments, such as rain gauges and anemometers and what they measure, travel through the water cycle, and explore weather across seasons.
Waterworks (Grades 2-5) [D+M]
Students will explore what a watershed is and learn about the relationships between human activity and the health of the water, air, plants, and animals of a watershed. Students will first identify potential pollution sources and solutions through an interactive model. Then, in an inquiry-based lab, students will work in small groups to brainstorm pollution clean-up methods, record data, and report findings to their peers.
CT/NY Rocks & Minerals (Grades 2-5) [D+M]
Using specimens from the SM&NC collection, students will explore the three rock types, the conditions in which they form, and the history of their formations in our local area. Through a multi-station lab, students will investigate and learn to identify local rock specimens, explore how fossils forms, and discover how earth materials are used by people in their daily lives.
What's it Matter (Matter 101) (Grades 2-5) [D+P]
Discover the world of solids, liquids, and gases in this hands-on workshop. We'll learn about the properties of each state of matter as we launch a film canister in the air, make solids 'disappear' and measure air. We'll even learn about materials that are 'in-between' states as we make our own slime and explore the properties of polymers.
Mind over Matter (Matter 102) (Grades 3-5) [D+P]
Extend your studies of the properties of matter with an exploration of the physical and chemical properties of the different states of matter and how matter can change from one state to another. Through a game and more great hands-on activities, students will further their study of matter. This class is designed for students who have taken What's it Matter (see 2nd grade) but can also stand on its own.
Explore the world of maps. Spatial thinking is one the most important skills one can develop as they learn geography. Students will each create their own map and discover the features and symbols often used for maps. We'll map both man-made and natural features and make observations as to why settlers chose different locations for towns and cities. Typically, students make a map of Connecticut, but we can customize to create a map of other areas.
Geography of Connecticut (2-5) [D+P]
Through an interactive map-making experience, students will develop an awareness of the geography of Connecticut and explore the relationship between humans and the features of the natural environment. As we create our map, students will discover major natural and man-made features of Connecticut and how these natural resources shape the lives of inhabitants from early settlers to today.
Take a trip from sheep to sweater, as we see what happens to the wool after the sheep are sheared in the spring. Wool needs to be washed, combed, spun, and dyed before it can be worn. We'll start with the raw wool and try our hands at washing, drying, and carding (combing). We'll also get to visit our sheep to see what their wool currently looks like and share a story as well.
Discover the many products that come from local farms through this interactive tour of Heckscher Farm. Students will explore the products that come from Heckscher Farm, including eggs, vegetables, maple syrup, honey, and fibers, and the processes behind their respective harvests, as we travel through the farm from our Maple Sugar House to our Chicken Coop. While we'll meet some animals along the way, this program will focus mostly on the products that come from our farm and will be tailored to participant's grade level.