Museum of Science and Industry

Home School Group Reservations

Individuals:
Individual families from Illinois with fewer than 15 students receive free general admission on Monday through Friday except during holiday periods. Parents receive free general admission as well. No advance reservations are required; you will be asked to fill out a Free Admission slip at the ticket counter. No documentation is needed. Omnimax movies, Learning Labs, tours and special ticketed exhibits like Smart Home: Green + Wired have additional fees and are not offered at a discounted rate for individuals. Check out our free day schedule for Illinois residents.

Groups:
Illinois home school groups of 15 or more students receive free general admission and regular school group discounts for Omnimax movies and special exhibits. Click here for school group pricing. Advance reservations and payment are required. One chaperone is needed for every 10 students. Reserve your visit online or by calling (773) 684-1414. 

Learning Labs

Experience the thrill of scientific discovery in the Museum's Learning Labs. Led by a Museum educator, labs are focused, hands-on, multi-disciplinary programs aligned with Illinois Learning Standards in science.

Home school groups may register for one of our regularly scheduled Learning Labs offered from September to June. Labs have a minimum of 15 and a maximum of 30 students, and each lab is $100 (or $120 for special labs) for the entire group. Reserve a group lab by making a field trip reservation online or by calling (773) 684-1414.

Individual home school students can sign up for special Learning Labs. Advance payment of $15 per student is required. Labs are limited to 20 students on a first-come, first-served basis. Click here for our individual home school lab schedule for 2011-12.

Lab Etiquette:
Meet the Learning Lab Facilitator at the Information Desk on Main Level 2 15 minutes before the start of the lab. Parents and siblings are encouraged to walk around the Museum during the program.

Arrival and Parking

Plan to arrive at the Museum at least 30 minutes before any scheduled program such as Learning Labs, Omnimax movies or ticketed exhibits. An individual or group who is registered for a Learning Lab must meet at the Information Desk on Main Level 2 15 minutes before the start of the lab. Convienient indoor parking is available in the Museum's underground parking garage.

Home School Policies

Download a PDF of our Home School Policies.

Tips for Your Visit

Plan your visit: Use our online map or visit planning tool to decide what to see and do. Check out our field trip worksheets and exhibit guides to focus your visit.

Take part in our Live Science Experiences: From dissecting an eyeball to taking part in a discussion about climate change, our daily Live Science Experiences make students part of the action. These programs are offered at no additional cost.

Make lunch plans: Pre-registered home school groups (of 15 or more) may reserve a lunch time in the student cafeteria. Other groups are invited to eat in the Brain Food Court.