Homeschool Science Series at the Exploratorium*
8 Thursdays in Spring 2009, 1-5pm

Teaching hands-on science at home can be challenging—from dealing with those messy, noisy moments to answering mind-boggling questions, finding unfindable equipment, or mastering mysterious materials. The Exploratorium’s new Homeschool Science Series can help solve the problem by offering eight exciting hands-on workshops for kids ages 6 to 12. Each 4-hour session explores a topic in depth, giving kids a chance to get their hands dirty, play with exhibits on the museum floor, and learn new ways to look at the world.

Plus… For Parents Only! In each session, parents will have an opportunity to meet one another and work one-on-one with Exploratorium teachers: Share experiences, take new skills and ideas home with you, and find family-friendly ways to extend learning wherever you go.

Price is $50 per child, per session. An adult must attend, but there will be no fee for the adult. Childcare is not available, but children under age 6 are welcome with parental supervision. Children may attend all or selected sessions. Limit 20 children per session. Openings will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Thursday, 2/12/2009, 1-5pm
Session 1: Where Does It all Begin? Energy from the Sun
Join us on a journey that follows the path from the sun to all forms of energy we have known. Along the way, we’ll explore everything from solar ovens to the “photoelectric effect.” Plus… For Parents Only—Shadow art! Your kids can get a feel for how fast the Earth is rotating by tracing shadows, creating an artwork based on the sun’s apparent motion through the sky.

Thursday, 2/19/2009, 1-5pm
Session 2: Grow Your Own Energy—Plant Metabolism
How do plants get energy from the sun? How do they use energy to grow—and what do the colors in sunlight have to do with it? We’ll dissect different kinds of plants and see what’s happening inside them. Plus… For Parents Only— Learn some handy seed-germination tricks and practical pointers for starting a window-box garden.

Thursday, 2/26/2009, 1-5pm
Session 3: Suppertime Science—Finding the Energy in Food
Learn about the energy in food and the chemistry of cooking, and find out what happens when you burn a peanut. We promise you’ll be surprised. Plus… For Parents Only—Kitchen science: Continue chemistry lessons at home with lactobacillus—by making your own family’s version of San Francisco sourdough bread.

Thursday, 3/5/2009, 1-5pm
Session 4: Human Metabolism—How Your Cells Use Energy
It takes energy to run, jump, think, and play. How does your body do it? Explore the energy of the human system, from calories to cardiac zones. Plus… For Parents Only—Calorie accounting! Keep track of your family’s energy-in/energy-out account as you make your own respiration spreadsheet.

Thursday, 4/23/09, 1-5pm
Session 5: Storing Energy—The Secret Life of Batteries
Batteries are useful little devices, but where do they come from? How are they made? How do they work? We’ll build and dissect batteries and learn about the chemical reactions that give a battery its energy. Plus… For Parents Only—Home electric: Get out the energy bill and calculator for some interdisciplinary learning as you combine math, economics, accounting, and ecology.

Thursday, 4/30/09, 1-5pm
Session 6: Mechanical Energy—Look Inside a Car!
Blast the radio, turn up the AC, and get those wipers working! Headlights? Sure! All from the oxygen in the air and the gasoline you put in the tank. We’ll look under the hood to see how it all happens. Plus… For Parents Only—MPG? Figure out the cost of driving the family car—and all the factors that affect it.

Thursday, 5/7/09, 1-5pm
Session 7: Energy of the Earth—Earthquakes, Volcanoes, & Super Storms
Energy in nature can be very powerful. Join us as we investigate how rains fall, winds blow, and volcanoes erupt—and we’ll figure out what makes the seasons work the way they do. Plus… For Parents Only—Find out how to set up a weather station at home to help you observe and record changes in the microclimate of your neighborhood.

Thursday, 5/14/08, 1-5pm
Session 8: Alternative Energy Sources—Getting Power from Nature
Wind and water turn generators; solar cells use sunlight to make electricity. What else might work? We’ll explore some of the wild ways we might get energy from the forces of nature. Plus… For Parents Only—Ready to take the kids on a field trip? We’ll talk about different places in the Bay Area (wind farms, geysers, and more) where you can see natural power at work.

*This series is for members. For information on membership, please go to http://www.exploratorium.edu/membership/index.html. To register, call (415) 561-0376.