DISCOVERY LAB ON WHEELS
School-Based Programming
Bring the Museum to your classroom or organization with the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s Discovery Lab on Wheels! After looking through our TEKs-based program options, if you don’t see something that meets your needs, contact us and we can design a program for you! When you are ready to book your Discovery Lab for schools or institutions, or would like a programming quote, please fill out our interest form here. Programs are subject to availability and should be booked at least three weeks in advance. Program TEKs available upon request. Please contact us at outreach@fwmsh.org or 817-255-9522 with questions. For information on Discovery Lab for libraries and community groups, visit our page here.
School Programs
Single Class
$150
6 – 8 Classes
$900
9 – 12 Classes
$1350
Each Discovery Lab for Schools class is 45 minutes to 1 hour in duration. Our TEKs-based programs are suitable for classes of up to 30 students. Travel fees may apply to sites outside of programming area. Program TEKs available upon request.
PK – 2nd Grade
Critters to Go
Students will enjoy this classic story of a baby bird who leaves the nest in search of his mother and meets new friends along the way. Taxidermy birds from the museum’s teaching collection will be brought for observation and participants create a bird craft.
as Frederick’s family gathers food to prepare for winter, he prepares for the long cold days in a different way. Participants will create their own mouse artwork and observe and discuss mouse specimens to learn more about these tiny animals.
Prairie dogs take center stage in this silly tale of a mysterious "fuzzy thing" that rolls down their burrow. Students will create their own prairie dog puppet and a taxidermy prairie dog from the museum’s teaching collection will be used during the lesson.
After reading this timeless tale of how slow and steady wins the race, students will learn about rabbits and turtles with specimens from the museum’s teaching collection. Participants will create their own turtle artwork.
Explore the world of our night-time friend raccoon. This heartfelt story of Chester Raccoon tells of new beginnings and the comforting love a mother can share. Students will create their own raccoon tail to wear. A taxidermy raccoon from collection will be shown.
Soft and silent flies owl through the sky. This story tells of a young child going “owling” in hopes of a glimpse of this beautiful bird against the moonlight night. Students will view taxidermy owl from the museum’s collection and create their own owl artwork.
Animals have different ways to protect themselves from predators. In this sweet story about a young skunk named Sassafrass, students will learn about the unique way skunks protect themselves. Participants will observe skunk specimens and create a skunk art project.
Learn about bats following one through her nightly routine before returning home for a good day's rest. Students will create their very own bat artwork. Various bat specimens will be brought.
In this creative story, Patrick’s imagination takes center stage as his brother tells him about dinosaurs.
PK – 2nd Grade
Science
Water is everywhere! Students will have an opportunity to examine the properties of water and learn about the water cycle. Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and transpiration are all discussed.
Join us and learn all about the incredible insects around us! Your students will learn about the parts of insects, examine different insects from our collection, and create an insect craft.
In this program your students learn how and why things change from solid to liquid to gas and the properties of these states of matter. Students will develop a better sense of the physical would around them through this exploration of matter. *Note: Educators will need access to a sink and hot water for this program.
During your program, your students will engage in a variety of activity stations as they learn about the properties of magnets. Students will develop a better understanding of what a magnet is, what is magnetic, and attraction/repulsion.
In this fun and active program, students will learn all about the parts of a plant, learn about the plant life cycle through role-play, and then make a colorful flower.
2nd – 5th Grade
Science
In this program your students will learn how and why things change from solid to liquid to gas and the properties of these states of matter. Students will develop a better sense of the physical would around them through this exploration of matter.
Note: Educators will need access to a sink and hot water for this program.
During the program, your students will be challenged to develop an understanding of the Earth’s processes of weathering, erosion, and deposition. Our staff will help your students develop a working definition for these processes as they use earth materials to investigate each process.
Note: Educators will need access to water and a sink for this program.
Using chain reactions, your students are introduced to forces, gravity, kinetic energy, potential energy, and the transfer of energy. Students will complete a small group challenge by designing and constructing a ball run. Please make sure each class has wall space available to create their ball runs.
Recommended for 3rd - 5th Grade
In this program your students will learn about physical and chemical changes and get to observe a chemical reaction up close. They will get a chance to formulate a simple experiment with materials present and form and test their own hypothesis.
During your program, your students will be challenged to create circuits with some familiar—and hopefully some very unfamiliar—materials.
Recommended for 3rd-5th grade
Learn about animal adaptations in a hands-on way by looking at different birds, their food sources and their beaks. Your students will also get to examine some items from the Museum’s collections as they learn about different ways birds have adapted to their environment.
6th –8th Grade
Science
During the program, your students will be challenged to develop an understanding of the Earth processes of weathering, erosion, deposition and plate tectonics. Our staff will help your students develop a working definition for these processes as they use earth materials to investigate each process.
Note: Educators will need access to water and a sink for this program.
Using chain reactions, your students are introduced to forces, gravity, kinetic energy, potential energy, and the transfer of energy. Students will complete a small group challenge by designing and constructing a ball run. Please make sure each class has wall space available to create their ball runs.
In this program your students will learn about physical and chemical changes and get to observe a chemical reaction up close. They will get a chance to formulate a simple experiment with materials present and form and test their own hypothesis.
After-School & Summer Programs
Looking to add something special to your after school or summer camp program? Have a Discovery Lab on Wheels educator visit your site! Our hands-on Programs are perfect for a variety of audiences and age groups. Discovery Lab for Schools Afterschool programming is available from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM during the school year and summer programming is offered from June 6 – August 15.
One 50-min Class
$100
Programs are suitable for classes of up to 30 students. Travel fees will apply to programs outside our service radius.
Program Options:
- Shaving Cream Bookmarks *
- Chromatography*
- Cabbage Chemistry*
- Space*
- Water Cycle
- Chain Reactions*
- Magnets
- Electric Energy
- Dinosaurs and Fossils*
* Material fees may apply
Six-Week Science Club
Have a ton of fun with our six-week long science club. A Museum educator from Discovery Lab for Schools will come to your institution each week with a different topic relating to the theme of your choice (see below). Each lesson will have a fun hands-on activity for your student to enjoy.
Six-Week Session
$500
Programs are suitable for classes of up to 30 students. Travel fees will apply to programs outside our service radius. Material fees may apply.
Program Options:
You may select only ONE of the below options.
Learn about the grosser side of science with fun activities.
Learn how detectives use science to solve crimes and solve one yourself!
Have a blast doing a wide variety of awesome experiments
Use different types of chemistry to create amazing art !
Learn how to think like an engineer with fun weekly challenges.
Explore the natural world, including plants, animals, and land formations.
Special Audiences
Our Museum educators can visit your library, organization or event to facilitate a variety of STEM focused programs at your site. Select from the programs below, or contact us to design a custom program for you.
We would be happy to talk to you about our offerings for this program and working with you to meet the needs of your residents.
In-Person Class
$150
Travel fees will apply to programs outside our service radius.
- Desert Ecosystems - Participants will explore how animals have adapted to the harsh desert environment.
- Texas Symbols - Learn all about some of the animals, plants, and minerals that have been designated by the Legislature as symbols of the great state of Texas.
- Trinity River Ecosystem - Participants will learn about the animals that live in and around the Trinity River as it flows through Fort Worth.
- Dinosaurs - This lecture focuses on fossils, the different types of dinosaurs and some specific dinosaurs that have been found here in Texas.
- Texas Seashore - in the program, participants will learn about some of the fascinating animals that are native to the Gulf Coast of Texas.
- Fantastic Flyers - Participants will explore the fantastic world of animals' flight and how it looks different in birds, insects, and mammals.
- The Animals in your Neighborhood (Urban Wildlife) - Participants will learn about some of the most common types of urban wildlife and how they have adapted to living with us in our neighborhoods.
- Cave Dwellers – participants will learn about animals that live in cave systems and the adaptations they use to survive in low light environments.
- Forest Creatures – Learn about the amazing animals that make the forest habitat their home.
- Pollinators – Did you know that insects are not the only animals that pollinate. Learn all about the different animals that pollinate plants and the adaptations plants have to support them with the process.
- What’s for Dinner? (Predators and Prey) - Participants will discover what makes an animal either a predator or prey and how each is specialized for eating, hunting, or avoiding predators.
- Endangered and Threatened Animals in Texas – Participants will learn about animals that have the threatened or endangered label, some of these animals, their current threatened or endangered status and what is being done to help protect them.
- Magnificent Migrators – Learn about the fascinating world of animal migration and some of the animals that undertake this amazing adventure.
- Bird Beaks and Beyond – Participants will learn about how different types of birds have adapted to their environments by looking at specific types of birds and their beaks and the types of food they eat.
More information coming soon!