Sept. '25 Homeschool Day - Fossils, Space & More!

The Museum is excited to welcome back homeschool families for our second annual science-focused Homeschool Day!

Workshop stations will be running all day long in Riverview Court, focusing on fossils, seasons, archaeology, and conservation. Gallery carts will be stationed in the Planetarium lobby, "Written in the Rocks" exhibition, and "Ecosystems at Risk" exhibition to encourage gallery exploration and learning for the whole family. Choose one of three Planetarium shows to suit your student's age/grade.

Registration is $10 per person (including adults and siblings) and includes one Planetarium show and access to all the workshop stations and gallery activities. Children ages 3 and under are free. Please note all sales are final, there are no refunds.

You can book more than one Planetarium show during registration if you have children across multiple grade ranges. However, please note that all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, including during the Planetarium show, so please plan accordingly.

Workshop Details:

• Fossil Identification – This station will introduce students to fossils and the science of paleontology through observation. Students can use a Fossil Identification Guide to apply their observations and determine what each fossil is, just like real paleontologists. When you are done with this station, grab a gallery guide for the Written in the Rocks exhibition to continue to learn about New Jersey fossils.

• Oil Spill Experiment – This station encourages students to understand the effect of oil spills in ocean environments by asking them to determine the best way to clean up an oil spill. To continue a discussion on conservation, you can head to the Ecosystems at Risk exhibition.

• Seasons & The Earth’s Orbit – This station allows students to explore how the Earth moves around the Sun to create our seasons. Students can work together to match temperatures to our four seasons, then discuss why the tilt of the Earth matters in creating seasons. When you are done with this station, pick up a gallery guide for the Planetarium or prompts to explore our Magic Planet.

• Lenape Pottery Puzzle – This station teaches students about the skills archaeologists need to conduct research on artifacts. Students can work together to complete a pottery puzzle, then explore the mock dig site in the New Jersey Original People gallery. Gallery guides for the Cultures in Competition gallery will also be available.

Planetarium Show Options:

10 AM – Earth, Moon, Sun (Kindergarten/1st grade and up)

11 AM – The Great Solar Adventure (2nd grade and up)

1 PM – We Are Guardians (4th grade and up)

Note – Each Planetarium show has a limit of 140 people. There is no guarantee you will be able to change your show on the day of the event. You will need to show your Humantix confirmation email at the Planetarium to be admitted to your show.