School Visits

Discover exciting, hands-on learning experiences that support and enhance your curriculum! Long Island Children’s Museum offers four school visit choices tailored to the New York State Learning Standards, your curriculum and the age group of your class.

Our exciting exhibits and professionally trained staff make Long Island Children’s Museum a “must-visit” education destination … year after year. Book now for preferred dates and times!

LICM has prepared pre-visit and post-visit activities to extend the Museum experience to your classroom. All guided school visits are lead by a trained Museum Educator.


Play & Wonder*
Nursery–Kindergarten
The educational value of play is immeasurable. Young children will naturally play in, and respond to, our developmentally appropriate galleries. Children, together with their chaperones, are invited to experience the benefits of tactile, socio-dramatic and scientific play.  

Exhibits:
mUSic, TotSpot, It's Alive!
Workshop: Messy Moments

NYS Standards addressed:
Math, Science, Technology: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Health and Family Sciences: 1, 2
English Language Arts: 1, 2, 3
Career Development: 1, 2, 3
The Arts: 2, 4
Social Studies: 3


Structure and Function*
Kindergarten–Grade 6

Does form follow function? Children will examine how the structures of the natural world inspire art, technology and culture; inform our built environment and how we live our lives.

Exhibits:
Bubbles, Changes & Challenges, Bricks & Sticks, Communication Station

NYS Standards addressed:
Math, Science, Technology: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Health and Family Sciences: 1, 2
English Language Arts: 1, 2, 4
The Arts: 1, 2, 4
Social Studies: 3


Get your pre and post visit materials!

Pre-visit Materials: Structure and Function Pre-visit Materials
Post-visit Materials: Structure and Function Post-visit Materials



Mapping Your World*
Grades 2–4

Children dig deep to take a closer look at the science of cartography (map-making). Students will explore geography in two hands-on exhibits and learn the tricks of the mapping trade, including cardinal direction points and graphing. Using this information, students will create a treasure map in our interactive workshop.

Exhibits: Pattern Studio and Sandy Island
Workshop: Treasure Maps!

NYS Standards addressed:
Math, Science, Technology: 1, 3, 6, 7
English Language Arts: 1, 2, 3, 4
Career Development: 1, 2
The Arts: 2, 4
Social Studies: 1, 3



How Things Work!*
Grades 1–5

Science and engineering combine in this visit as children experiment with the concepts behind “how things work.” Students explore simple machines and investigate the world around them as they discover the answers to questions using hands-on experiences.

Exhibits: Tool Box, Comings & Goings (traveling exhibit gallery—see schedule below)
Workshop: Theater

NYS Standards addressed:
Math, Science, Technology: 1, 3, 5, 6
English Language Arts: 1, 2, 3, 4
Career Development: 1, 2
The Arts: 1, 2

Galleries may be substituted during visit.



Comings & Goings Gallery Schedule
Your LICM field trip may include a visit to our traveling exhibit gallery. Our 2010–11 schedule features:

Toys: The Inside Story
(October 1, 20109– January 2, 2011)

This fun exhibition literally breaks open the world of toys so that children can discover the simple mechanisms—pulleys, cams, gears, linkages, and circuits—commonly found in toys.

Cyberchase: The Chase is On!
(January 28–May 1, 2011)

Based on the award-winning PBS cartoon, this exhibit presents math in an engaging, visually rich environment, prompting children to approach math with an investigative, positive attitude.

Grossology: The (Impolite) Science of the Human Body
(May 28–September 4, 2011)

This interactive, larger-than-life biology lesson harnesses children’s natural curiosity about themselves and explains how the human body functions.


*Please Note:
Please note that we can normally accommodate a maximum of two groups per visit session for these workshop programs.



Please call the reservation office at (516) 224-5869, Monday–Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Please advise the museum in advance if your group has any special needs so that we may assign staff accordingly.

School visits are offered Tuesday–Friday from 10–11:30 a.m. or noon–1:30 p.m. Tour times cannot be adjusted. Please note that the per child fee of $8 applies to the guided tour only. If you would like your students to spend additional time at the museum, please let the School Visits staff know when you book your trip. Additional fees will apply.

 

 

Advance Planning

LICM extends free admission to the Museum to teachers scheduling an upcoming field trip. This professional courtesy allows teachers to visit LICM to familiarize themselves with exhibits in preparation for pre- and post-visit activities. Please call (516) 224-5869 to schedule your appointment. (Teachers will be asked to show valid school ID or other proof of teacher status as identification at the time of their appointment.)

 

Cafeteria & Museum Store

Advance reservations are required if you wish to visit the museum store or use the cafeteria. The cafeteria (vended service only) is available on a limited basis and by reservation only for groups bringing lunches.

Cafeteria times (with a reservation) are from 11:30 a.m.–noon or from 1:30–2 p.m. The Children’s Museum can accommodate a maximum of 50 students in the cafeteria. Please note: a cafeteria usage fee will apply.

Ask about our school bags of fun! The Museum offers prepackaged, low-cost souvenir goodie bags through the Museum Store. Each bag contains fun items to remind students of their Museum visit. It’s easy and simple: pre-pay for each student and pick-up when your tour is done. Call (516) 224-5814 at least one week prior to your scheduled visit for full details or order at www.licm.org/shop.

 

Educator Visits

Frequently, High School, College or Graduate school instructors wish to arrange visits to the museum so that their students can observe children in an informal learning environment. These Educator visits must be arranged in advance. Please call Aimee Terzulli, Director of Programs at (516) 224-5841 to arrange a visit for your class. Fees:

High School class:
$8 per person (Teachers free)

College class:
$4 per person (Professors free)

Graduate class
(pre-service teachers): Free

 

The Children’s Museum offers reduced admission rates for all school visit participants. The cost per student is $8. (See required chaperone policy.)

A 50% non-refundable deposit and signed “School Visit Contract” (sent to you when you register) must be received at the museum 30 days before your visit to hold your reservation. The museum reserves the right to cancel a reservation if these required materials are not received on time. All outstanding balances must be paid upon arrival on the day of your visit.

If at least four weeks notice of cancellation is given, reasonable efforts will be made to reschedule your class on another date (based on availability and your type of reservation). No refunds are issued for school trips.

Group Size:
The minimum number of students per class is 10 children; the maximum is 25. The Children’s Museum can accommodate a maximum of four classes per school, per day (100 children), based on availability.

Required Chaperones:

  • One adult chaperone is required for every three Pre-K or Nursery school students.
  • One adult chaperone is required for every five children in grades K–6.

Required chaperones are admitted free and must stay with the group at all times. (Required chaperones include teachers, classroom aides, etc.)

Additional adults beyond those required per field trip will be charged at the group rate ($8 each). A limit of five additional adults per date is permitted.

 

BOCES: All of the Long Island Children’s Museum’s school visits may be paid with Nassau County BOCES Arts in Education and Suffolk County BOCES funds.

 

NFECU logo

LICM gratefully acknowledges Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union for generously supporting our continued efforts in serving students and their teachers.

The Long Island Children’s Museum is a not-for-profit organization chartered by the New York State Board of Regents. All of its funding comes from individuals, corporate and foundation sources, donations, admissions, educational programs and grants.

 

Copyright 2008 © Long Island Children's Museum, 11 Davis Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530, (516) 224-5800. All rights reserved.