[Classes] [Field Trips] [Discounts]
The Science Museum of Minnesota offers two types of homeschool classes for ages 7 through 13:
- in-depth, multi-week classes in a variety of science and engineering disciplines
- monthly classes in science, math, and technology with fun, hands-on, interdisciplinary activities
Information on the Science Museum's homeschool science classes can be found online at www.smm.org/homeschool. These classes are very popular, so early registration is recommended!
These classes challenge children to be scientists — to experiment, design, test, interpret results, stretch their minds, and explore new topics. Classes are offered in physics, biology, engineering and more and include access to specialized equipment and expert teachers.
Note: If you register for one of the Science Museum's homeschool science classes, your tuition may include museum admission to the Science Museum for you and all your children, enrolled and un-enrolled. This is not an official written policy, but if you ask for wristbands for yourself and your children, staff will always happily get them for you. This gives you and any un-enrolled siblings something fun to do while you wait for your enrolled child(ren).
Groups
Groups of 15 or more can get reduced admission to the museum's exhibits and Omnitheater shows.
Educator Guides
The Science Museum website offers Educator Guides in PDF format with suggestions for before, during, and after your museum visit to enhance your experience with experiments, drawing activities, reading suggestions and more.
Online Learning
Online educational experiences that can be enjoyed from home (or the coffee shop or wherever you find yourself with internet access and some time to explore)
Details on the Educator Club Membership can be found at www.smm.org/educatorclub. We recommend that you double-check the following against the Science Museum's website for the latest information.
Educator Club Membership currently costs $60/year (a regular household membership is $99/year, so the discount is $39/year, an almost 40% savings) and covers two adults and any children or grandchildren in your family who are under the age of 18.
The Educator Club Membership includes ...
- free museum admission (obviously)
- one free Omnitheater film per family member each time you visit
- discounts on parking, special exhibits, and classes
- reciprocal free admission to other museums that belong to the Association of Science-Technology Centers
- more good stuff
The current policy states that
- "homeschool parents must provide a copy of the Compulsory Instruction Report they filed with the state for the current year"
- "your continuing proof of eligibility is required every year if you'd like to renew the Educator Club membership"
The Compulsory Instruction Report to which they refer is not a membership card to any homeschool support organization.
The Compulsory Instruction Report is either your Initial Report to Superintendent or your Letter of Intent to Continue Homeschooling. This is the form which homeschool families file with their local school district (not with "the state") every year starting the first October 1st after their child turns 7 years old.
If your child is 7 years old, you've completed and filed this form (or will by this October 1). You should also have also kept a copy of it.
The policy of the Science Museum of Minnesota is that homeschool families do not qualify for the Educator's Club Membership if the eldest homeschooled child is under the age of 7.
Note: There are many other versions of this form out there, including one put out by the MDE which is titled Minnesota Compulsory Instruction Report and which asks for more information that they are entitled to receive. The MHA form is designed to (1) include only what the law requires you to report and (2) be relatively easy to complete.
