School Programs, Grades K to 2

We offer in-person programs designed for Grades K to 2. All programs are free, but registration is required.

In-Person Programs

Please note that the minimum number of students needed in attendance to run an on-site K to 5 program is 15 and the maximum is 30. If your class size is over 30 students you will need to sign up for a second program slot. If you have less than 15 students, please register for a Q?rius Homeschool Day.

Animal Adaptations In-Person Program
Discover how animals adapt to their environment by looking closely and making observations of animal specimens from the museum’s collections. Students use observations and background knowledge to make inferences about how those adaptations help the animal to survive in its environment. 

Classifying Shells In-Person Program
Students will observe, describe, compare and contrast, and sort a variety of shells to sharpen their classification skills and strategies in this museum educator-led program. Pair this program with a visit to the Sant Ocean Hall. 

Discovering Dinosaurs In-Person Program
Explore dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals using fossil evidence. In this museum educator-led program, students observe, touch, compare, and contrast fossils of prehistoric animals to describe the animals’ characteristics, and predict what those characteristics could tell us about how they lived their lives.

Online Programs

Online Programs with Supplemental Resources 

Online school programs are on hold for fall 2023. Please check back periodically for updates regarding the return of the programs in 2024. While programs are on hold, please explore our supplemental teachings resources on the pages listed below for associated content. 

Animal Adaptations Online Program
During this staff-led program, students will compare and contrast animal specimens from our virtual collections to discover how different adaptations help animals survive in their habitat. Students will explore the different kinds of adaptations for animals who live on land, water, and in the air.

Budding Botanists Online Program
During this museum educator-led program, students will practice science skills by identifying patterns to help them classify and group plants like the museum’s botanists. Through the use of digital collections, including specimens from the National Herbarium, students explore why it is important to collect and study plants.

Discovering Dinosaurs Online Program
During this museum educator-led program, students make observations of dinosaur characteristics, discover how paleontologists learn about ancient animals by studying fossils, and practice some of the same scientific skills used by museum scientists!   

Teaching Resources

Featuring hundreds of options, our Teaching Resources collection includes activities, videos, and science literacy resources for Grades K to 2. 

Questions?

Contact the School Programs Team by emailing NMNHSchoolPrograms@si.edu or calling 202-633-4039.