Museum of Science and Industry

Special Home School Labs 

Join us for two special home school lab opportunities!

Testing the Waters aboard the Lake Guardian water research vessel
Saturday, May 12, 2012, 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: Navy Pier, Chicago
Cost: $30 per person, limited to 16 students
Grades targeted: 4-8
Age requirement: 8-11

Participate in a guided tour of the Lake Guardian water research vessel and talk with Enviornmental Protection Agency scientists on board. Students will also do MSI's Testing the Waters learning lab aboard the boat, using the scientific method to investigate the quality of water samples and applying what they've learned onboard the research vessel.

Four parent volunteers are needed and will be selected on a first-come, first-served basis. Parents will not be charged a fee, but must sign up prior to the event. All participants must sign a liability waiver before boarding. Parking is not included; you may choose to park at Navy Pier. Directions, waiver, additional information and activities will be sent via email to participants.

Call (773) 684-1414 to sign up.

Live ... from the Heart
Wednesday, June 13, 2012, 8:45 to 11:30 a.m.
Location: MSI
Cost: $30 per person, limited to 20 students
Grades targeted: 7-12
Age requirement: 12-18

Join us as we take you live via videoconference into the operating room at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn as a surgical team performs heart bypass surgery. Live...from the Heart invites students ages 12 and older to talk to the medical team, ask questions about the procedure, get tips on keeping their hearts healthy and find out about careers in medicine.

Each participant must be escorted by a chaperone. One chaperone is included with each $30 student fee; additional chaperones must pay $30, and all chaperones must sign up prior to the lab. One adult chaperone may escort up to three students from the same family or home school group. All participants must be 12 or older due to the content and pacing of the program. Additional information and activities will be sent via email to participants.

Call (773) 684-1414 to sign up.

Home School Learning Labs

Individual home school students are invited to register for specially scheduled learning labs. Advance payment of $15 per student is required. Call (773) 684-1414 to reserve a spot. Labs are limited to 20 students on a first-come, first-served basis.

To maintain a cohesive nature to the learning lab programming, each lab has an age restriction based on content and pacing. Please check the grades targeted by Illinois Learning Standards to help determine the appropriate lab experience for your student.

Our current home school learning lab schedule is listed below. Click on the links for additional activities and resources. We've added monthly sessions throughout the summer as well!

Colorful Chemistry (this session is currently full)
May 14, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
See what happens when you mix chemicals and add some heat.
Grades targeted: 4 - 8
Age requirement: 8 - 13

Charge! Electromagnetism at Work
June 11, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Investigate the relationship between electric and magnetic fields.
Grades targeted: 4 - 8
Age requirement: 8 - 13

Crime Lab
July 9, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Use fingerprint analysis, chromatography, white powder analysis and more to solve a crime.
Grades targeted: 4 - 8
Age requirement: 8 - 13

Simple Machines
July 23, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Investigate how simple machines work using large-scale examples.
Grades targeted: 3 - 6
Age requirement: 7 - 11

Moving With Newton
Aug. 6, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
Explore Newton's three laws of motion through hands-on activities.
Grades targeted: 4 - 8
Age requirement: 8 - 13

Colorful Chemistry
Aug. 20, 2012, 1 to 2:15 p.m.
See what happens when you mix chemicals and add some heat!
Grades targeted: 4 - 8
Age requirement: 8 - 13