News from the Discovery Center
Anne Church
Teacher News from the Discovery Center of Idaho
December 2013
Taking Center Stage: DCI CLASSICS will so delight your students, they’ll hardly realize how many scientific principles they’re learning as they visit our newest exhibition. (Though “newest” isn’t quite accurate, since many of these exhibits were on the floor 25 years ago, returning now in honor of our 25th birthday!) Whether your class explores the aerial photo of 1998 Boise or the finger maze, investigates electricity or hydraulics, mirrors or mapping, they will really soak in the science. School field trip admission is just $3 per student, and students from all Title 1 schools are admitted free. For every 5 students in your group, one chaperone will also be admitted free. To set up your field trip, or for more details, just call Anne Church at 208-287-4236 –or email a.ch...@dcidaho.org.
Free Science Demonstrations: Add a free science “demo” to your visit at no cost! We offer a different 20-minute presentation each month, reflecting DCI’s monthly theme:
December: Inventing & Toys; January: Cold; February: Paper &Printing; March: Electricity & Magnetism; April: Air & Vacuums; May: Biology; June: Light; July: Space; August: Math
If you need to include the popular Simple Machines or States of Matter demo in your field trips, we’ve set aside one Friday of each month for those two demos. To include a free demo in your field trip, be sure to mention it when you make your reservation.
Outreach: Our Outreach Educator, Shelley Best, is eager to bring entertaining, educational science to your school event. Whether you want a full-day science fair for hundreds of folks or an exciting science show for just your class, call DCI Outreach at 208-287-4235. Fees range from $200 for a single, hands-on science activity to $700 for a full-day science festival, and there’s no charge for travel.
Science After School: Our Science After School program now offers “Physics Phun” as well as “Crazy Chem.” This dynamic program brings Discovery Center staff to your school once a week with hands-on experiments and interactive fun. The program can be tailored to different grade levels, with classes meeting for one hour immediately after school for 6 weeks. Parents pick up the tab for students who choose to participate ($60), DCI handles the paperwork and supplies, and your school provides only a classroom. To arrange for Science After School at your building, call 287-4236.
Preschool Discoverers for Child Care Centers: Child care centers are now welcome to enjoy the same science lesson, story, and related activity available to families through DCI’s Young Discoverers. Just schedule a field trip on a Monday or Tuesday morning over the 10:30 timeframe, for the usual $5 per child, and your group can attend Preschool Discoverers at no extra cost. Call 287-4236 to set it all up!
DCI Teacher Updates: To be added to the list to receive DCI Teacher Updates by email each month of the school year, just call 287-4236, or email a.ch...@dcidaho.org.
Warmest Wishes for a Happy Holiday from everyone at DCI!