NJ State Museum Homeschool Day: All About Humanities

The Museum is excited for our second annual humanities-focused Homeschool Day! Workshop stations will be running from 10 AM – 2 PM in Riverview Court, focusing on the American Revolution and Colonial New Jersey in honor of the 250th Anniversary, along with various art-making opportunities. Guided 30-minute tours will occur throughout the day in our "American Perspectives: A Fine Art Gallery." Additionally, the Planetarium will show one of our new shows, "One Sky Project," which highlights stories from different cultures about the night sky. 

Registration is $10 per person (including adults and siblings) and includes the Planetarium show, access to all workshop stations, and Fine Art gallery tours. Children ages 3 and under are free. Please note that children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, including during the Planetarium show.

Workshop Station Details:

Revolutionary Choices, New Jersey Lives – This station will introduce historical primary sources and the field of public history. Through observation, students can interpret primary sources to learn about New Jersey’s history, from being a colony under the British Empire to its role in the founding of the United States of America. This station aligns directly with the new temporary exhibition highlighting the 250th anniversary of our country, "The Power to Change: Revolutionary Stories from the New Jersey State Archives."

Make Your Own Button – Throughout history, buttons have served as a communication tool for opinions and ideas during social and civil rights movements. This station features a button maker and supplies to make your own button. This activity aligns directly with our short term exhibition, "The Spirit of '76: The Bicentennial," which highlights how we celebrated the 200th anniversary of our nation.

Make Your Own Seal – This station allows students to learn about symbols and create their own seal, and it directly aligns with our Cultural History exhibition "Pretty Big Things: Stories of New Jersey."

Art Making – Art making stations encourage students to be creative and create art, drawing inspiration from our Fine Art gallery American Perspectives." Students can also find art works in our other exhibits throughout the museum.

Fine Art Gallery Tours:

Guided tours of our Fine Art gallery "American Perspectives," are 30 minutes long and will be available throughout the day. Tours start at the following times: 10:15 AM, 12 PM, 12:30 PM, 1 PM, 1:30 PM.

Note – Each tour can comfortably accommodate up to 30 people. If one tour is at capacity, we may ask that you wait for the next scheduled tour.

Planetarium Show Details:

There will be one Planetarium show at 11 AM, "One Sky Project." The show is suitable for all audiences and features six short films, each centered on the perspective of a different culture or indigenous society from around the globe. The films utilize stunning animation to bring to life incredible stories that showcase how various cultures have interpreted our one night sky. You can watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/QOYjGtWZNJ4

Note – Maximum capacity in the Planetarium is 140 seats. You will need to present your Humantix confirmation email at the Planetarium to be admitted, and we ask that your entire group be together before entering. If we reach the Planetarium's seating capacity, a second show time will be added.

Other Details:

Food is not available at the Museum, but you are welcome to bring your own to enjoy during breaks. All food must be stored in bins in the Museum lobby and eaten in Riverview Court or outside on the picnic tables and front lawn.

After the workshop stations and tours conclude, you are welcome to stay at the Museum for as long as your group wants to. Gallery guides for all permanent galleries are available to encourage additional exploration and learning. If you plan to use the guides, please bring a writing surface and a pencil.