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Welcome to the 2024–2025 school year!
The Children’s Museum is a favorite field trip destination for both students and teachers. The museum provides exhibits, enriched learning experiences, and inquiry-based programs. Professional educators design museum experiences around Indiana’s Academic Standards in science, math, social studies, language arts, the arts, and health and wellness to expand the museum visit into a cross-curricular experience.
A field trip to remember
Give your students a field trip to remember at the world’s biggest and best children’s museum complex! Whether you’re exploring our five floors of interactive fun on your own or adding a program or special event, we have you covered with the details. You can even add an experience in our 7.5 acre Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® on select fall and spring dates.
Step 3: Add a program or event
Add a school program or special event expertly guided by our trained educators to enhance your students’ field trip experience! School programs and events are included in the cost of field trip admission. When you call to schedule your field trip, request a program and our team will work with you to arrange a field trip itinerary that fits your group’s size and schedule. Click each of the buttons below to see our 2024-2025 school year events and programs line-up!
Events
From Dino Day to Art Extravaganza!, our calendar is full of school-specific events that will keep your students engaged.
Schedule your field trip on one of the dates listed below and add the event to your registration when you call! Event days fill up quickly, so book now!
The Magic Snowman (All grade levels)
Lilly Theater student matinees | Dec. 4-13 | This interactive musical offers an abundance of warmth, spirit, and goodwill that will delight children of all ages. Details
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Celebrations: A Winter Festival (Grades K–2)
Dec. 6, Dec. 10, & Dec. 11, 2024 - Celebrate an array of winter holidays while taking part in this special event. Details
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100 Days / 100 Years! (Grades K–2)
Jan. 23 and Jan. 24, 2025 - Celebrate 100 days of school (and 100 years of the Museum) at The Children’s Museum! Details
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Engineering Day (Grades 3-5)
Feb. 13, 2025 - Put your engineering skills to the test! Explore sound, forces, light, and simple machines as you complete engineering challenges. Details
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Fairytale Festival (Grades K–2)
Feb. 25 and Feb. 26, 2025 - Come explore the elements of literature through fairytales at the museum. Details
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The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs (All grade levels)
Lilly Theater student matinees | Feb 26-28, March 5-7, 12-14 | A musical re-telling of The Three Little Pigs from the point of view of the Wolf, based on the well-loved Jon Scieszka book. Details
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Art Extravaganza! (Grades 3–8)
Mar. 7, 2025 - Meet the museum’s artists in residence and learn from professional artists! Details
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Bird Bonanza (Grades K–2)
Mar. 13, 2025 - New event for 2025! Explore avian adaptations and the challenges of migration. Your students will flock to these activities. Details
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Kindergarten Days (Grade K)
Apr. 15 & Apr. 30, 2025 - A fun opportunity for kindergarten groups to explore the museum and participate in special activities! Details
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Insect Mania (Grades K–2)
Apr. 24, 2025 - Students will explore bees, butterflies, beetles, and investigate how they live. Details
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Space Day (Grades 3–5)
May 8, 2025 - Blast off to The Children’s Museum for a one-day celebration of all things space! Details
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Arts & Humanities
Discover art, history, archaeology, and storytelling in an Arts & Humanities School Program.
Preregistration is required. Select an engaging Arts & Humanities School Program for your grade level and request the program when you schedule your field trip. Capacity is limited to 30 students per program session. Call today to pre-register your class!
POP Culture Characters: Superheroes! (Grades 3–5)
In this experience, students use art and literacy skills as they create a visual image of their own comic book character and construct their backstory. Details
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Secrets of the Artifact (Grades 3–5)
Students form teams of archaeologists and examine a mysterious artifact. Choose Egypt, China, or the Caribbean! Details
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Making Your Mark: Protest Art (Grades 6–8)
Learn about the tradition of protest art and how artists have used their art to share a message! Details
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The Magic Snowman (All grade levels)
Lilly Theater student matinees | Dec. 4-13 | This interactive musical offers an abundance of warmth, spirit, and goodwill that will delight children of all ages. Details
View dates and times
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs (All grade levels)
Lilly Theater student matinees | Feb 26-28, March 5-7, 12-14 | A musical re-telling of The Three Little Pigs from the point of view of the Wolf, based on the well-loved Jon Scieszka book. Details
View dates and times
STEM
Step into our state-of-the-art STEMLab, located inside the ScienceWorks exhibit and explore the world of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics with our STEM School Programs.
Preregistration is required. Select an engaging STEM School Program for your grade level and request the program when you schedule your field trip. Capacity is limited to 30 students per program session. Call today to pre-register your class!
Weather Tools (Grades K–1)
In this program, students experience a basic introduction to some of the tools meteorologists use to measure the weather. Details
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Plants Alive! Seed Germination (Grades K–2)
Examine a seed to learn what makes it so special, and then test your green thumb by getting seeds ready to germinate. Details
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Water Works (Grades K–2)
Explore the unique physical properties of water through experimentation in this splash-able laboratory experience. Details
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The Water Cycle (Grades 2–3)
Students will simulate the motion of water through the water cycle and discuss how climate change might impact the movement of water through the water cycle. Details
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Geology Tour (Grades 3–5)
Students will learn what types of observations they must make to classify a rock correctly and the physical properties that make up each rock category. Details
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Test Track (Grades 3–5)
Complete a scientific test to learn how different surfaces affect speed and motion. Details
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Pegboard Engineering (Grades 3–8)
Work on collaborative designs and create prototypes to test out ideas while designing a pegboard marble run. Details
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Robotics Challenge (Grades 3-8)
Students will work in small groups to explore how robots work and attempt programming challenges. Details
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The Carbon Cycle (Grades 4–6)
Using experiments and demonstrations, students will learn how human activity affects the carbon cycle and how these changes affect the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and atmosphere. Details
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Cells, DNA, and Life (Grades 6–8)
Students will extract DNA from plant cells and examine its structure. They will learn about scientists who have paved the way for our modern understanding of genetics, and they will learn about genetic engineering and get a chance to envision their own genetically engineered plant. Details
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Urban Heat Islands (Grades 7–8)
Learn about the Extreme Heat Vulnerability Index that affects Indianapolis due to its mid-latitude. Details
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CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story (Grades 1+)
Space Object Theater program | Tues & Thurs | 9:45am & 10:30 am | See an Apollo-era console & watch CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story Details
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Mission Control Team Takeover (Grades 2-6)
Space Object Theater program | Wed. & Fri. | 9:45 am | Join the team in Mission Control to help with a simulated NASA mission to the Moon! Details
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Preschool
Preschool groups wishing to visit Playscape® are required to pre-register at least two weeks in advance of their field trip date. One adult chaperone is required for every five students for all preschool field trips.
Playscape® self-guided visits are offered from 9:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. daily (Tuesday–Friday). Preschools can also choose to add a Playscape® program, available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9:45 a.m. and 10:15 a.m., subject to availability.
School groups will not be permitted entrance to Playscape® outside of a preschool’s pre-registered time slot. For questions regarding Playscape® reservations or group policies, please inquire when scheduling your group visit or contact schoolprograms@childrensmuseum.org.
Please note: Playscape® is only available to preschool and Pre-K groups that pre-register. Elementary Special Education teachers may also contact schoolprograms@childrensmuseum.org regarding potential Playscape® reservations, if appropriate for students’ ages and abilities.
Playscape®: Experiencing Art Together
Sept–Dec 2024 | Preschool/Pre-K only | Tuesdays & Wednesdays | Students will participate in a visual literacy lesson where they will make observations about a piece of real artwork. Next, students will use that work of art as inspiration to create their own masterpiece using a variety of artist’s tools and mediums. Details
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Playscape®: Making Music Together
Jan–May 2025 | Preschool/Pre-K only | Tuesdays & Wednesdays | A facilitator will lead students in musical activities using instruments, their voices, and bodies that incorporate tune, beat, and movement. Details
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Riley Sports Legends Experience®
The Riley Children’s Health Sports Legends Experience® encourages your students to be active. Choose to register for a self-guided visit or get students game-ready with a Double-Goal certified Coach and participate in a challenge inspired by the story of a Sports Legend in a 30-minute interactive program, followed by 60 minutes for chaperone-led exploration. Interactive programs include sports experiences in track and field, hockey, and tennis.
Programs last 30 minutes and are offered at 10, 10:45, and 11:30 a.m. Closed-toed shoes are required, and appropriate outerwear is recommended.
Students: $2 + standard student admission
Adult Chaperones: One adult is required for every five students. These required chaperones are free. Additional chaperones will cost $2 + additional chaperone admission.
The Barbara Wynne Legendary Tennis Challenge
Tues.-Fri. | Sept. 3–Nov. 1, Apr. 8–May 23 | Feel the energy on the court in this beginner level tennis challenge. Details
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The Wayne Gretzky Legendary Hockey Challenge
Experience the thrill of the game in this fast-paced hockey challenge. Details
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The Wilma Rudolph Legendary Track and Field Challenge
Tues.-Fri. | Sept. 3–Nov. 1, Apr. 8–May 23 | Get ready to race like an Olympian in this high-speed track challenge. Details
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Ready to book?
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