Teacher news from the Discovery Center of Idaho

[Anne Church]

Discovery Center Updates

Welcome back!

The staff at the Discovery Center wishes you a smooth start to a rewarding new academic year!  Please remember we are here to help you round out your science curriculum with field trips, demonstrations, and exciting outreach events!

Field trips and demonstrations

Your students will really enjoy a field trip to the Discovery Center and a chance to explore 160 interactive, hands-on scientific exhibits. They can move through the museum at their own pace, assisted by knowledgeable volunteers when they do have a question. A field trip puts all sorts of science at their fingertips – and as one young fellow said, “It’s more fun than Chuck E. Cheese’s!”

Get your Discovery Center field trip off to a great start by adding a demonstration.  “Demos” focus your students’ attention on a single topic before they scatter to explore the museum.  Each 20-minute demo is geared to state standards and the grade level of your class, and can be presented to up to 120 people.

During the months of August-December, there is no charge for science demonstrations presented during field trips.  From January – March, the fee is $25, and from April-May, $35. 

Demonstrations are presented according to the following schedule:  August: Spinning Stuff, in conjunction with our current exhibit, Gyrations; September-October: Simple Machines; November-December: Matter & Molecules; January: Optical Illusions; February-March: Volts & Jolts; and April-May: All About Nothing (Vacuums).

To schedule a field trip, with or without a demo, call 343-9895, ext. 234, or just email a.ch...@scidaho.org with your preferred date and time, and we’ll get right back to you.

Discovery Center admission fees

Field trip rates are available for groups with 10 or more paid admissions.  Accredited schools pay just $2.50 for each student, and one teacher/chaperone is admitted free for every five paid admissions. (For Title One schools and Head Start groups, our “Good Neighbor” program may cover all the admission fees.) Non-school groups of 10 or more pay just $3.50 for each admission, with one adult/chaperone admitted free for every five paid admissions.

Outreach Events

To arrange for an intriguing science show or activity presented at your building, just call our Outreach Coordinator, Tori Powers, at 343-9895, ext. 227, or email t.po...@scidaho.org.

New science kit refill program

Refill orders for FOSS and SRC science kits will no longer be filled by the Discovery Center. Individual school districts are taking over that role. Please hold onto your refill orders until you receive details about the new program.

 

Have a wonderful year!