Now that school is back in session and in full swing, it is a great time to remind the community about the variety of STEM and education related offerings, activations, and opportunities available at Sacramento area museums. Experiencing and/or interacting with exhibits and activities outside the classroom is a wonderful way to inspire young minds and amplify learning.
A sampling of STEM and education related offerings at local museums includes the following:
- California State Railroad Museum – Rail Innovation in Action is a free online, interactive program for high school students interested in real-world problem solving. In partnership with Lemelson-MIT (LMIT), a national leader in advancing invention education, this year’s virtual program will center on the community impact of railroads. Students will have the opportunity to engage with guest experts, work on activities and group exercises, and participate in career talks. Prior railroading experience is not required to participate, simply a sense of curiosity and desire to gain knowledge. Open to high school students nationwide, applications are due by September 22. More info is available at www.californiarailroad.museum/RIA.
- Crocker Art Museum – The world-class museum offers a variety of upcoming Homeschool Days on September 18, October 16, and November 20 (from 12 to 2 p.m.) where students can explore the Crocker as part of an experience designed specifically for homeschool students and parents. This drop-in program allows groups to structure their own experience—at their own pace, in the order they choose—while in community with other homeschoolers. Each month features a new theme and connects art to a variety of subjects and levels of curricula. For more, visit www.crockerart.org
- MOSAC – The hands-on museum plans to celebrate campus pride and community at after hours on September 19. MOSAC’s Campus Clash Mixer invites students, alumni, and campus organizations to connect in a lively museum setting. Enjoy an evening filled with engaging activities, music, and full access to MOSAC’s interactive exhibits. Advance tickets are available here. Plus, Homeschool Days are back at the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity and the next is scheduled for November 5 focused on Space Exploration. Students will experience a curiosity-filled day (each with a different theme) complete with hands-on lab explorations presented by Curiosity Collaborators. They’ll meet different community experts at each event, and explore museum exhibits at their own pace. A full schedule and tickets are available at https://visitmosac.org/learn/homeschool-programs/
- Sacramento Children’s Museum – Make plans to join the welcoming museum for “Pop Into Art” on September 24 for young ones to explore and engage with art all day long. Activities include printmaking, “spray paint” art, Anime Art and a Fluid Art finale. All activities are included with daily admission. For more, visit www.sackids.org.
- Sacramento History Museum – Hidden beneath the city for nearly 150 years, Old Sacramento’s underground remains the Capital’s most tantalizing secret. The Sacramento History Museum’s Old Sacramento Underground Tours provide a chance for school groups to witness Sacramento’s astonishing effort to save the city from devastating floods in the 1850s and 1860s. Students uncover evidence of the city’s successful attempts to raise its streets and historic buildings, which created underground spaces and sidewalks. They explore excavated foundations and enclosed pathways, while their guide recounts true tales of monumental devastation, perseverance and determination about California’s only city that lifted itself out of danger. Plus, students get the opportunity to try out these engineering feats themselves as they lift their own model building. This program requires advance registration and can accommodate up to 25 people (students and adults) per time slot. It is recommended for students in third grade and above to best align with their history and science curriculums. For more, visit www.SacHistoryMuseum.org
For more information about upcoming activities offered by Sacramento area museums, “like” them on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SacMuseums, follow them on Instagram and X @SacMuseums or visit the user-friendly website at www.SacMuseums.org.
