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:
Sandy Island and TotSpot
Workshop: Messy Workshop

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

Download pre and post visit materials for this field trip.

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:
Sept.–Dec. 2011 visits: Bubbles, Bricks & Sticks, Changes & Challenges and mUSic
Jan.–June 2012 visits: Bubbles, Bricks & Sticks, Changes & Challenges and Feasts for Beasts

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

Download pre and post visit materials for this field trip.

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 Comings & Goings
(traveling exhibit gallery-see schedule below)
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

Download pre and post visit materials for this field trip.

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 and Communication Station
Theater Presentation: Simple Machines, Please

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.

Download pre and post visit materials for this field trip.

*NEW!*

Let the LICM Theater Become Your Classroom
Pre-K–Grade 5

Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10 a.m and Noon
Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 10 a.m and ~~Noon~~
Friday, April 27, 2012 at 10 a.m and Noon

Canadian dance/theater company CORPUS has presented over a thousand performances across Canada and around the world. Now they will be making their first US tour…and the Long Island Children's Museum Theater is one of their first stops! Your class can be in the audience to watch as hilarious woolly creatures take over the Children’s Museum in the clever and interactive performance, Les moutons (The Sheep).

NYS Standards addressed:
The Arts: 1, 3
Career Development: 1, 2
English Language Arts: 1, 2, 4
Languages Other than English: 1, 2
Math, Science and Technology: 5, 7
Social Studies: 2, 3, 4

Download flier for full details.

Double Your Field Trip Fun

Monday, April 23, 2012 from 10 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Stretch your field trip budget and expand your classroom curriculum with an exclusive Museum visit that combines math, science and the arts during a special "animal-themed" day at the Long Island Children's Museum. Your visit will include the Les Moutons theater performance AND our popular Structure and Function visit.

Download flier for full details.

New in 2012: Feasts for Beasts
Discover the amazing ways that animals find and eat their food in this new permanent exhibit at LICM. Visit the Animal Diner to find out what’s on the menu for herbivores, carnivores and omnivores. Examine the mouth mechanics, tricky tongues and teeth techniques that let animals chow down.

Comings & Goings Gallery Schedule
Your LICM field trip may include a visit to our traveling exhibit gallery. Our 2011 schedule features:

The Mystery of the Mayan Medallion
(January 27–April 29, 2012)
Explore an abandoned archaeological site as you search for clues to a treasured medallion. Activities introduce children to the Maya culture including their mathematics, architecture and study of the stars and planets.

Framed: Step into Art
(June 1–September 2, 2012)
Experience art like never before as you step into the scenes of famous paintings; curate your own art gallery; create your own version of the Mona Lisa and take part in an art hunt.

*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, Tuesday–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 $9 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

Teachers are encouraged to visit the Children’s Museum prior to coming with their class. Educators with a valid school ID or other proof of teacher status are admitted free for these exploratory visits. Please call (516) 224-5801 to set an appointment to receive this professional courtesy.

Self Guided Tour

Self-guided tours are available Tuesday–Sunday for groups with a minimum of 10 children. Reservations must be made at least two weeks prior to the tour date and are based on availability. A confirmation will be sent following receipt of reservations. This confirmation must be presented at the box office on the day of the tour to receive the group rate.

The cost for a self-guided tour is $8 per person (children and adults). All participants in a self-guided tour must be present to qualify for the discounted rate. Cafeteria reservations are not available to self-guided tour groups. Blackout dates may apply. Membership, coupons, guest passes, special offers, etc. are not valid for groups, school visits or self-guided tours.

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 Education at (516) 224-5841 to arrange a visit for your class. Fees:

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

College class:
$5 per person (Professors free)

Graduate class
(pre-service teachers): Free

Schedules/Costs

Reservations must be made at least two weeks in advance.

The Children’s Museum offers reduced admission rates for all school visit participants. The cost per student is $9. (See chaperone policy below.)

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 can cel 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:
Minimum number of students per class is 10 children; maximum is 25. LICM can accommodate a maximum of four classes per visit option, per day (100 children), based on availability.

Required Chaperones:

One adult chaperone is recommended for every three Nursery school, Pre-K and kindergarten students.
One adult chaperone is recommended for every five children in grades 1–6.

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

Additional adults that exceed the ratios mentioned above will be charged at the group rate ($9 each). A limit of five additional adults per date is permitted for each organization.

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.

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.