FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – The Museum of Discovery and Science will offer eight brand new STEM Home School Classes for home school students in grades 3-5 during the 2015-2016 school year.  The home school programs will occur at the Museum of Discovery and Science, beginning on September 28, 2015. Students will become science sleuths, design rollercoasters and dissect fish and sea stars, all part of the STEM initiative. Class themes include “CSI Investigation”, “Star Wars and the Invisible Forces”, “Into the MODS Jungle” and more!

STEM Home School fee is $15 per class, or $120 for all eight classes. Participants that register for 4 classes before September 28, 2015 are eligible to receive $10 discount. Check-in occurs at 9:45 a.m. Interactive class time is at 10 a.m. Lunch is from 12 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Students may bring a bag lunch, or purchase lunch at Subway. There is an option of adding a 45-minute classic IMAX ® documentary film (showing at 12:45 p.m.) to the itinerary for an additional $5. The day is capped off with exploration of the Museum’s exhibits area from 1:30 .m. – 5 p.m. (cost included).

President/CEO Kim Cavendish stated, “We are excited to provide, once again, STEM Home School Classes during the 2015-2016 academic year. Science, Technology, Engineering and Math are vital components to  educational growth,  paving  pathways to success for the students. Students will receive hands-on experiences in topics that are crucial for scholastic development and progression.” 

The Museum’s STEM Center for Education and Career Development is a Museum initiative that seeks to prepare students for success by raising the level of STEM education, instruction and career interest and to create a science literate community by increasing awareness of and engagement in STEM.

Home School Topics
2015 – 2016  

September 28, 2015
CSI Investigation
Students become science sleuths as they learn how to create a hypothesis, collect data, and conduct scientific inquiries to solve problems. Students learn how the scientific method is used to solve real world problems.

October 26, 2015
Let’s Take a Ride
Students will put on their engineering caps and think like an amusement park engineer. They will design the tallest, fastest and loopiest rollercoasters possible all while making sure their passengers stay safe. Students will also learn about the forces that affect amusement park rides and if time permits, find a  safe way to get across the amusement park via a zip line. The morning will conclude with a ride on the Max Flight Roller-coaster.

November 30, 2015
Star Wars and the Invisible Forces
Are the forces really with you? Invisible forces are continually at work on Earth and in Outer Space. Which invisible forces launch satellites? Which keep them in orbit? Learn about centripetal force, gravity, friction, air pressure, comets, asteroids and meteors.  Then become a detective and discover how accurately these forces are in the Star Wars movie. Enjoy your day with a journey through the traveling exhibit: GREAT BALLS OF FIRE: Comets, Asteroids & Meteors.

January 25, 2016
Dive in for a Dissection
Many animals call the ocean home. This class will focus on two animals that call South Florida’s marine environment home; fish and seastars. Students will dive into hands-on dissections to learn about the locomotion, survival techniques and the internal and external anatomy of these animals. To add a little creativity to the class, students will learn about the ancient Japanese art of gyotaku.

February 29, 2016
Motion of the Ocean
Oceans are vital to our planet and cover more than 2/3rds of its surface. Students will investigate ocean topography, understand how ocean currents circulate and correlate to atmospheric occurrences.  Learn about the Nautilus Exploration Program and meet many of the Museum’s marine organisms.

March 28, 2016
Energy to Electricity
How does a battery work? How can a simple switch control thousands of volts of energy?  How does energy get to your house?  Snap circuits, energy sticks and magnets will help to answer these questions. Learn about alternative sources of energy and their effect on the environment.

April 25, 2016
Into the MODS Jungle
Did you know that jungle animals live at MODS? Pythons, boas, millipedes, tarantulas and their friends await your visit. These animals will help you understand the challenges of living and surviving in an ever changing jungle. Cap off  your day with a viewing of the feature film: The Jungle Book.

May 23, 2016
Everything Everglades
The Everglades is a unique and fragile ecosystem and we are lucky enough to have it right in our backyard. Students will meet animals that call the everglades home, how they survive and how they have been affected by invasive species. Students will investigate how salinity and pH affect the largest wetland in the world and participate in a game of EcoTwister. End your day with a journey through the traveling exhibit: Wildlife Rescue.