Early Childhood School & Outreach Programs
Whether it’s at the museum or in your classroom, we offer hands-on, exploratory and interactive programs on a variety of topics that provide your students a fun way to learn about Indiana’s art, history and STEM connections.
Preschool Journeys
This program combines exhibit exploration time with a STEAM-based program. Your students will take a journey through one of the museum’s exhibits to explore the space including real objects and artifacts from the museum’s collection. Our outreach program brings a piece of the exhibit to you! Young ones will be inspired by interactive story time and engage in hands-on STEAM exploration and creation. Preschool Journeys at the museum are 1 hour 15 min. in length. Outreach programs are 1 hour in length. In-museum cost: $6 per student/$6 per chaperone, free for teachers. This amount includes the exhibit tour/program only and does not include admission to the entire museum. Outreach cost: $150/1st session; $100/additional sessions.
Playing with Patterns
October 1 – December 21, 2018
After exploring Art of the Brick, the world’s largest exhibition of LEGO® art, students will be inspired to take part in hands on projects. They will not only become engineers with building blocks, but also artists and scientists as they create their own STEAM-based project.
More than a Box
October 1, 2018 – May 24, 2019
Imaginations will run wild in Cardboard Engineering — an experience dedicated to hands-on exploration and creation. Students will be inspired by engineering, art and objects throughout the gallery as well as a story time. Next its hands-on experiments and collaboration on STEAM based projects.
Colors and Textures
February 18 – June 21, 2019
Inspired by The Color of Style experience, students will observe colors and textures,
and be introduced to new artists and designers. Following the exhibit exploration, students will collaborate on a hands-on creation and experience various sensory explorations such as color mixing and textile engineering.
Ice Age Animals
Step back in time with the help of Frozen Reign to see what life was like in the Ice
Age in Indiana. Students will be introduced to many Ice Age animals and explore this interactive space. Next, students will be able to participate in hands-on experiments and STEAM-based projects.
Nature Explorers
Explore the basics of paleontology, archaeology and biology with a visit to the R.B. Annis Naturalist’s Lab. In this space, students will observe real artifacts and objects and work with a digital microscope called the Micro Eye. Next, they will have a chance to become the expert and participate in hands-on activities inspired by nature.
Artful Play (outreach program only)
Inspired by Hoosier artist Lois Main Templeton, students will be able to explore the world of abstract art and become an artist for the day. First, they’ll examine an artwork by Templeton and with the help of her book, “Who Makes the Sunrise?”, they’ll take part in interactive storytelling. Also, students will participate in several STEAM based activities and collaborate on a large art project.
