Schools
Inspiring the Next Generation of Critical Thinkers
We believe children learn best through experiences that inspire them to ask questions, engage all of their senses, and discover what makes their world work. We offer a variety of high-quality, immersive, engaging science programs for elementary students. Our programs spark passion for science and allow children the opportunity to get up close with their natural world.
CuriOdyssey is an ideal field trip destination. Interactive exhibits, amazing live animals, and high-quality educational programs – all on a personal scale – provide your students with an unforgettable up close science experience.
Early Bird Registration (for teacher members) begins on August 28, 2012. All other registrations begin September 4, 2012. If you have questions, please contact our Program Scheduler at Scheduler(at)CuriOdyssey.org or (650) 340-7598.
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What We Offer
Self-Guided Field Trips
Explore the museum at your own pace! Groups of 10 or more may be eligible for a group discount. For more information about self-guided field trips, click here.
School Programs
CuriOdyssey offers a variety of interactive, inquiry-based science lessons that support the California Science Content Standards and your local science curriculum. All programs provide up close and personal interactions with science and nature. Our low student-to-museum educator ratio offers students more time to explore and discover, greater engagement with museum educators, and a learning experience that continues outside the classroom.
School Days
Schools bringing multiple classes of the same grade and wanting to add educational programs to their visit can set up a special day for the school group. Museum educators can work with school or group leaders to create an educational experience tailored to your group. We will also schedule opportunities to visit the wildlife habitats, exhibits, and gardens. Plan on at least a 4-hour visit to the museum. School Days must be scheduled at least two months in advance to ensure availability.
Science in School Partnerships
Build a sustained partnership with CuriOdyssey through a series of science workshops. This opportunity is ideal for deeper exploration of a scientific concept or as a kick-off to a particular unit. Contact our Director of Education to discuss this option as (650) 340-7590 or COosterman(at)CuriOdyssey.org.
We Can Come to You!
Many of our lessons are able to travel to your school site. Look for the label, “ This program can travel to your site!”
| Program Name | Science Strands* | Grade Level | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Animal Eggsploration
Animal EggsplorationWhich came first, the chicken or the egg? Which animals, other than birds, use egg laying as a reproductive strategy? This interactive class introduces students to egglaying animals like insects, amphibians, birds, and reptiles. Students will observe and compare live animals and different types of eggs, along with an egg dissection.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: cockroach, millipede, snake, toad, and/or newt.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: K.2a |
L | I | K | ||||||||||
Animal Habitats
Animal HabitatsWhat do you see, hear, smell, and feel? Students will learn about an animal’s niche in nature. Discover how individual organisms are connected to one another. Outdoor exploration is a must as we search for tracks, scat, and other signs that animals inhabit the park and find what they need for survival: food, water, and space.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: K.2a, 1.2a-c, 3.3b,c, 4.2b,c, 4.3b |
L | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
Audible Adventure
Audible AdventureWhat is sound? How does sound travel? Does the shape of our ears help or hinder hearing? These questions form the foundation of our inquiry into the world of sound. Students make “laughing cups,” experiment with sound and explore how we can enhance our sense of hearing. Let’s hear it for this audible adventure!
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 2.1g |
P | I | 2 | 3 | |||||||||
Birds of Prey
Birds of PreyExplore the captivating world of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls. Students will investigate the adaptations of these magnificent birds, discover what they eat by dissecting an owl pellet, and test their senses to see how they would handle being a bird of prey.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: American kestrel, great horned owl, red-shouldered hawk, Swainson’s hawk, screech owl, and/or turkey vulture.
Program Length: 50 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 3.3a, 4.2b, 4.3b, 5.2c, 6.5c-e |
L | I | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||
Build It and Break It!
Build It and Break It!Build a wooden bridge, then test its strength until it collapses. Students will explore gravity, stress, and other forces that engineers have to overcome (or utilize) every time they construct a bridge or building. Let’s learn together as we build and break our very own structures.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 2.1c,e |
P | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||||||
Dynamic Decomposers
Dynamic DecomposersMillipedes, worms, and snails - are they pests or pals? Roll up your sleeves and get ready to dig in as we look at the beneficial roles these critters play in our daily lives. Students learn about how detritivores aid in decomposition and create soil by observing earthworms, using magnifiers to get a closer look at small animals, and meeting animal guests.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: earthworms, cockroaches, millipedes, and/ or snails.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: K.2a,c, 1.2a |
L | I | K | 1 | |||||||||
Forces of Flight
Forces of FlightHow can an airplane fly? This workshop takes students through the exploration of lift, drag, thrust, and gravity - all forces that impact flight. By designing and making their own airplane/glider and testing items that flutter and float, we will learn and observe directly the forces of flight.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: 2.1b-e |
P | I | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||
Fur, Feathers, Scales, or Exoskeletons
Fur, Feathers, Scales, or ExoskeletonsExplore the basic coverings of mammals, birds, reptiles, and arthropods. Students can touch and talk about similarities, differences, and functions of each type of covering, plus see some wonderful live examples of animals that are covered in fur, feathers, scales, or exoskeletons.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: mammal, bird, reptile, and/or arthropods.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: K.2a,c, 1.2a |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
Green Energy
Green EnergyHow do wind generators work? How to biologists and engineers work together to create a sustainable future? In this workshop we investigate how electricity is generated and the pros and cons of these methods. We will explore the nuts and bolts of wind power while building and testing wind turbine propellers.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: 3.1a-d, 4.1a,g |
P | I | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||
Ice Investigators
Ice InvestigatorsLearn about solids, liquids, and the properties of water in this “cool” program. Students will investigate frozen water balloons, make salt craters, examine bubbles and tunnels in ice, trace water flow, and view light through ice. Join us for an illuminating transformation of ice into water.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: K.1a,b, 1.1a,b, 3.1e,f |
P | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
Interesting Invertebrates
Interesting InvertebratesWhat’s the difference between an insect, “bug,” and spider? Study their unique characteristics and get a magnified view of living invertebrates and their biofacts. Join us to get a closer look at some crawling critters - they may be spineless, but they have character!
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: cockroach, millipede, and/or tarantula.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: K.2a,c, 1.2a |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | ||||||||
Plant Power
Plant PowerPlants gather food, battle predators, and find a mate – all while rooted in place. Study different adaptations seeds have for dispersal, make a compostable pot, and plant a seed to take with you. Explore the fascinating world of plants, soil, sunlight, and seeds in the museum’s beautiful gardens.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student California Science Standards: K.2a,c, 1.2a-c,e, 2.2a,e,f, 3.3a, 4.3c |
L | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
Predator & Prey
Predator & PreyFood is the fuel that drives life on earth. Students explore the adaptations of animals that aid in finding their food or prevent them from becoming food. Study animal skulls to determine who are herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores. Meet a live animal and assess the special adaptations that help animals compete for food resources in an ecosystem.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: reptile, raptor, and/or mammal.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 3.3a, 4.2b, 4.3b |
L | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
Ramblin’ Reptiles
Ramblin’ ReptilesReptiles have inhabited this planet for 340 million years! This program takes a focused look at some of the Museum’s amazing ectotherms. Observe the locomotion of a tortoise, patterns of a snake, or the blue tongue of a skink as we study the ancestors of dinosaurs.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: desert tortoise, blue-tongued skink, and/ or snake.
Program Length: 60 minutes Fee: $7.50/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 3.3a,e |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | |||||||
Shaping Behavior: The Science of Training - New!
Shaping Behavior: The Science of TrainingDesigned for high school to college level students, this one-of-a-kind program takes a comprehensive look at behavior through an interactive presentation and live animal demonstration. Learn the concepts within Operant Conditioning by seeing actual trained behaviors, and discover how these principles can be used to change the way animals-- and humans-- interact with the world around them.
Call our Program Scheduler at 650-340-7598 for details about this new program.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 90 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $12/student |
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Wildlife on Wheels: Catch Me if You Can
Wildlife on Wheels: Catch Me if You CanSurvival is every animal’s first priority—and anything goes in the natural world! Meet some of CuriOdyssey’s most fascinating creatures and prepare to discover the weird, disgusting, and sometimes hilarious ways they defend themselves against predators.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Striped skunk, Turkey vulture, and/or African hedgehog.
For the well-being of our animals, Wildlife on Wheels travels exclusively within the peninsula.
AAvailable: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: K.2a, 1.2a-d, 2.2c, 3.3a |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||
Wildlife on Wheels: High to Low Habitats
Wildlife on Wheels: High to Low HabitatsAnimals can be found nearly everywhere, but did you know that most animals are only adapted to live in one or two different types of habitats? Make a connection between various environments and the animals that live there by getting up close with creatures equipped to endure the heat of the desert, disappear in the shadows of the forest, and thrive in unexpected places.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Great horned owl, Mexican Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor, Red-tailed hawk, and/or European ferret.
For the well-being of our animals, Wildlife on Wheels travels exclusively within the peninsula.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: K.2a, 1.2a-d, 2.2c, 3.3a,b, 4.2b |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||
Wildlife on Wheels: To Conserve and Protect
Wildlife on Wheels: To Conserve and ProtectCultivate enthusiasm for the environment in your classroom by introducing your students to some of CuriOdyssey’s threatened species. This highly interactive program educates students on what it means to be threatened, endangered, or extinct while highlighting the natural history of the animals they meet with activities and demonstrations. Includes a discussion on ways we can help to conserve and protect local species.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: California tiger salamander, Peregrine falcon, and/ or California desert tortoise.
For the well-being of our animals, Wildlife on Wheels travels exclusively within the peninsula.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 3.3c-e, 4.2b |
L | I | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||
Wildlife on Wheels: What's on the Menu?
Wildlife on Wheels: What's on the Menu?In nature, eating is just as important as not being eaten! Explore the adaptations that allow animals to serve in their individual niches by seeing them in action. Students will learn about tooth structure in mammalian herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, be introduced to a tiny but essential detritivore, and experience a live animal feeding*.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Swainson’s hawk, Virginia opossum, and/or Madagascar hissing cockroach.
*Please note that animals change their feeding schedules throughout the year due to environmental and biological factors, and may choose not to eat.
For the well-being of our animals, Wildlife on Wheels travels exclusively within the peninsula.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student (plus travel fee, if applicable) California Science Standards: 1.2a-d, 3.3a, 4.2a-c, 6.5c |
L | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
Wildlife Presentation: Catch Me if You Can
Wildlife Presentation: Catch Me if You CanSurvival is every animal’s first priority—and anything goes in the natural world! Meet some of CuriOdyssey’s most fascinating creatures and prepare to discover the weird, disgusting, and sometimes hilarious ways they defend themselves against predators.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Striped skunk, Turkey vulture, and/or African hedgehog.
Our theater can hold a maximum of 50 people, including students, teachers, and chaperones.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student California Science Standards: K.2a, 1.2a-d, 2.2c, 3.3a |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||
Wildlife Presentation: High to Low Habitats
Wildlife Presentation: High to Low HabitatsAnimals can be found nearly everywhere, but did you know that most animals are only adapted to live in one or two different types of habitats? Make a connection between various environments and the animals that live there by getting up close with creatures equipped to endure the heat of the desert, disappear in the shadows of the forest, and thrive in unexpected places.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Great horned owl, Mexican Red-Tailed Boa Constrictor, and/or European ferret.
Our theater can hold a maximum of 50 people, including students, teachers, and chaperones.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student California Science Standards: K.2a, 1.2a-d, 2.2c, 3.3a,b, 4.2b |
L | I | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||
Wildlife Presentation: To Conserve and Protect
Wildlife Presentation: To Conserve and ProtectCultivate enthusiasm for the environment in your classroom by introducing your students to some of CuriOdyssey’s threatened species. This highly interactive program educates students on what it means to be threatened, endangered, or extinct while highlighting the natural history of the animals they meet with activities and demonstrations. Includes a discussion on ways we can help to conserve and protect local species.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: California tiger salamander, Peregrine falcon, and/ or California desert tortoise.
Our theater can hold a maximum of 50 people, including students, teachers, and chaperones.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student California Science Standards: 3.3c-e, 4.2b |
L | I | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||||
Wildlife Presentation: What’s on the Menu?
Wildlife Presentation: What’s on the Menu?In nature, eating is just as important as not being eaten! Explore the adaptations that allow animals to serve in their individual niches by seeing them in action. Students will learn about tooth structure in mammalian herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores, be introduced to a tiny but essential detritivore, and experience a live animal feeding*.
Animal Ambassadors vary and may include: Swainson’s hawk, Virginia opossum, and/or Madagascar hissing cockroach.
*Please note that animals change their feeding schedules throughout the year due to environmental and biological factors, and may choose not to eat.
Our theater can hold a maximum of 50 people, including students, teachers, and chaperones.
Available: Thursdays only. Program Length: 55 minutes Minimum Students: 20 Maximum Students: 30 Fee: $9/student California Science Standards: 1.2a-d, 3.3a, 4.2a-c, 6.5c |
L | I | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||||||
Still have questions? Please contact our Program Scheduler at Scheduler(at)CuriOdyssey.org or (650) 340-7598.