Before Your Visit:
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Check out this video made by the Field Trip Explainers, and get a sense of what to expect during your Exploratorium field trip.
Student Planning Page
Fill out this page with your students to help them logistically prepare for the day. It will help them remember things such as what to bring, who is in their group, and why they are going on a field trip.
Chaperone Tips
This guide will help your chaperones logistically plan for the field trip. It includes tips on exploring exhibits with students, as well as space to record meeting times and places. Available in English and Spanish.
Pre-Visit Activities
These activities are designed to help your students warm up their observation skills before visiting the Exploratorium.
In Which One? students use observations to tell their pencil apart from others.
In What Happened? students watch a film clip and learn to distinguish observations from inferences.
During Your Visit:
If you would like to add structure to your visit, we have some resources to help you out.
Standards-Based Exhibit Links
Three related exhibit activities that correlate to specific California Science Content Standards for grades K–8.
Price: Free
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Connected to California Science Standards? Yes
Guided Pathways
Worksheets for teachers who bring their students to the Exploratorium.
Price: Free
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Connected to California Science Standards? Yes
Open Pathways
Project & scavenger hunt ideas for teachers who bring their students to the Exploratorium.
Price: Free
Time Commitment: 5 minutes to multiday
Connected to California Science Standards? No
After Your Visit:
Activities
Find activities that reinforce concepts your students encountered at the Exploratorium, and investigate activities that will support future curriculum goals as well.Snacks (classroom-sized exhibits)
Build a table-top version of one of your favorite Exploratorium exhibits.Exploratorium Publications
Visit the Exploratorium Store and check out our books, posters, and magazines.Educator Newsletter
Sign up for our Educator Newsletter to receive quarterly updates on future events and new resources.Digital Library
Enhance your lessons by incorporating images and other media from our Digital Library. The different collections in the library include activities, images, Webcasts, podcasts, and video clips related to scientific phenomena. There are also materials related to Exploratorium exhibits.Ten Cool Sites
Ten Cool Sites is a collection of interactive sites from the Web, handpicked by the Exploratorium and published bimonthly.Professional Development Opportunities
Teacher Institute
Each summer the Teacher Institute presents four institutes on different topics for secondary science and math teachers. Alumni are invited to attend a variety of workshops and advanced institutes. TI also offers the Teacher Induction Program that supports new science teachers by pairing them with experienced mentors and coaches.
Teacher Institute Teaching Tips
Subscribe to Teacher Institute Teaching Tips, the podcast series for science teachers, by science teachers.
The Institute for Inquiry offers a series of inquiry-related workshops. The workshops are designed for professional developers, but teachers are welcome to attend as well.
