Education Programs

At Imagination Station, we believe that hands-on learning plays an important role in a child’s education. Our programs are designed to promote student investigation and critical thinking. Led by a museum educator, programs include age-appropriate activities and encourage student participation. All museum programs meet learning standards outlined in North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study. Downloadable Program Guide

Museum Visit

Groups of more than 10 that want to visit the museum and not participate in a program are required to make a reservation in advance. Groups will self-guide through the museum. Visitors to the museum should dress for climbing and running.

Adults, students, & seniors: $6 per person
Children 2 years and under: Free

Ask About Visit-Only Field Trips

Museum Visit and a Program

Explore ISSHM before or after your group participates in a scheduled program. Programs must be scheduled at least two weeks prior to the arrival date. Once a program is booked, groups must pay one week before the arrival date. Groups can choose different programs to customize their trip. General admission to the museum is included in the program price. Discounts apply for groups booking more than one program. Pricing and student capacity can be found under each program description in this guide.

Ask About a Field Trip with a Program

Program at Your Location (SHOW)

No school bus required! Field trips are not the only way to experience the Imagination Station. Let us bring science and history programs to your school, civic group, or family function. We will bring all materials needed to conduct exciting workshops, assembly programs, or discovery classes at your facility.

For locations greater than 75 miles from ISSHM, there must be a minimum purchase of $350 in programs.

Ask About Bringing a SHOW to You

Pre-K Programming

Our preschool programs are designed to introduce children to various topics and ideas through hands-on learning. Programs are 30 – 45 minutes long.
Field trip: $10/per participant
SHOW : $200/per program

Animal Encounters

Insect World

Digging In the Dirt

Pop, Fizz, Wow!

A Pirate Adventure

Science Programs K-12

Our staff takes great care to consider the North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study for science. Programs include age-appropriate activities and encourage student participation. All programs meet learning standards outlined in North Carolina’s Standard Course of Study. Programs range from 45-60 minutes long.

Biology & Life Science

Animal Encounters

Students see live animals up close as we talk about adaptation, classification, food, and habitats. Students have the opportunity to touch an animal pelt and one of the animals at the conclusion of the program. Serves up to 75. Recommended for grades: K-5th

NC Standards met: LS.K.1.1, LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1, LS.2.1, LS.2.2, LS.4.1, ESS.4.3, LS.5.1, LS.5.2, LS.5.3

Field trip: $10/per participant In-House Field Trip ONLY

Insect World

Students investigate the largest group of animals on the planet (75% of known species), insects. Students learn how insects see, fly, eat, and more. One lucky student will get to experience life as a bug. Serves up to 30. Recommended for grades: K-2nd

NC Standards met: LS.K.1.1; LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1, LS.2.1, LS.2.2, LS.4.1, LS.5.2, LS.6.2

Field trip: $10/per participant SHOW : $250/per program

Whooo’s Food

Investigate the food chain and food webs throughout ecosystems. Students will be able to dissect an owl pellet to see whooo’s been eaten! In the game of predator and prey, someone has to lose. Serves up to 30. Recommended for grades: 1st-8th

NC Standards met: LS.K.1.1; LS.K.1.2, LS.1.1, ESS.1.3, LS.2.1, LS.2.2, LS.3.2, LS.3.3, LS.4.1, ESS.4.3, LS.5.2; LS.5.3, LS.6.2, LS.8.2

Field trip: $15/per participant SHOW : $280/per program

Plant Life Cycles

Investigate plant life cycles with us as we talk about seed dispersal, dissect plants, and make paper samaras. Students will be able to dissect different types of plants to investigate just how they work! Serves up to 30. Recommended for grades: 1st-6th

NC Standards met: LS.1.1.1, ESS.1.3, LS.2.1, LS.2.2, LS.3.2, LS.3.3, LS.4.1, LS.5.2, LS.6.1, LS.6.2

Field trip: $12/per participant SHOW : $275/per program

Dissections

Dissection classes allow students to investigate the anatomy of various animals. Dissections begin with an introduction to the specimen species and phylum. An educator then leads students through a dissection. Please book dissections 2 weeks in advance to guarantee specimen availability. 10 – 30 students are required per dissection. Students are required to wear closed-toe shoes and to ensure that their hair is secured away from their faces. 60-90 minutes.

Recommended for grades: 3rd-12th

* Prices vary based on specimen costs. Please complete an inquiry form or contact the museum for pricing information.

Physical Science

Space is the Place

Participants will delve into humanity's pursuit of space exploration, beginning with the Apollo program and extending to the Artemis missions and beyond. We will embark on a brief journey through our solar system, focusing on the exploration of the Moon, Mars, and other celestial bodies. Additionally, we will examine how rockets enable us to break free from Earth's orbit, and will have the opportunity to create and test our own. Serves up to 30.

Recommended for grades: 1st-7th

NC Standards met: PS.1.1, ESS.1.1, PS.3.2, PS.3.3, PS.5.2, PS.6.1, PS.6.2, PS.7.1, PS.7.2

Field trip: $12/per participant SHOW : $275/per program

Pop, Fizz, BOOM!

In one of our most popular programs, we explore the properties of matter. Volunteers assist with experiments showing physical and chemical changes, including both endothermic and exothermic reactions. In each experiment we test gases produced by observing how they react with fire. Even teachers have a blast! Serves up to 75.

Recommended for grades: 2nd-8th

NC Standards met: PS.K.1, PS.2.1, PS.3.1, PS.3.3, PS.5.1, PS.6.1, PS.8.1

Field trip: $10/per participant SHOW : $250/per program

Phenomenal Physics

Catch the Wave

Earth Science

Digging in the Dirt

Archaeology & Paleontology – Students learn the difference between archaeology and paleontology and the importance of context as they examine artifacts and fossils. Students hunt for fossils in matrix from the Miocene epoch and get to keep their finds! Serves up to 40.

Recommended for grades: 1st-8th

NC Standards met: ESS.1.2, LS.4.2, ESS.4.2, LS.5.2, ESS.8.1, LS.8.3

Field trip: $12/per participant SHOW : $275/per program

Earth Rocks!

Join us for an exploration of our planet! We will delve into the various layers of the Earth, understand the rock cycle, examine tectonic plates, and take a close look at rock samples. This promises to be an engaging learning opportunity in geology. Serves up to 30.

Recommended for grades: 1st-6th

NC Standards met: ESS.1.2, ESS.1.2.2, ESS.3.2, ESS.4.2, LS.4.2, ESS.6.2

Field trip: $12/per participant SHOW : $275/per program

Weather-or-Not

This “hair-raising” experience exposes how weather works. We explore why weather happens and the various types of weather. Students participate in demonstrations that explore rainbows, wind, the water cycle, cloud formations, and lightning. Serves up to 75.

Recommended for grades: K-5th

NC Standards met: ESS.K.1, ESS.1.1, PS.2.1, ESS.2.1, ESS.5.1

Field trip: $12/per participant SHOW : $275/per program

Science on a Sphere Discovery

Science On a Sphere® (SOS) is a six-foot diameter globe that illustrates earth system science using data from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). SOS displays global storms, tsunami wave tracks, real-time weather. It can also display planets, moons, and the Sun. If you would like specific focus on topics from the programs listed below, customized programs are available with at least three days’ notice. Student worksheets are handed out with each program.

Each program is approximately 30 minutes.

Minimum 10; Maximum 40. Recommended for grades: 1st-8th

Field trip: $10/per participant *In-House Field Trips ONLY

Plate Tectonics

Space and the Solar System

Weather

STEM: Engineering Wind Turbines & Green Energy

Wind Turbines and Green Energy - Students learn the meaning and importance of clean and green energy. We discuss how wind energy is harnessed, its advantages and disadvantages. Working in small groups, students design and build wind turbines. They then measure wind energy outputs using volt meters to choose the best design. Serves up to 30.

Recommended for grades: 4th-11th

NC Standards met: PS.4.1, PS.4.2, ESS.4.3, ESS.5.1, PS.7.1, PS.7.2, ESS.8.4

Field trip: $17/per participant SHOW : $300/per program

Planning Your Visit

Schedule & Confirm

Browse and choose your program.
Submit the online inquiry form at the top of the page for a visit only field trip, a field trip with a program, or a SHOW at your school. (This lets our educators know what you want when. This does NOT confirm your date or program.)
An educator will contact you to confirm your date and customize your visit.
Wait for the details and invoice to arrive in your email. (This invoice confirms your reservation and includes specific details about your program.)

Admissions & Payment

We accept cash, checks, Visa, and MasterCard credit cards. Payment is due no later than a week before the program and is the responsibility of the group leader. Groups will be required to pay the amount on their invoice, as well as for any additional guests. We are not able to issue refunds. Membership cards, military discounts, and school system discounts may not be used with group rates.

*Please note that school purchase orders and billing requests will only be accepted with a signed contract, submitted no less than 10 business days prior to the program date.

Chaperones

ISSHM requires one chaperone for every ten students. Chaperones can be teachers, group leaders, assistants, administrators, or parents. Chaperones are responsible for the behavior and supervision of the group. Required chaperones and bus drivers receive free admission to ISSHM. Additional adults accompanying the group must be booked in advance, and their payment is due at the same time as the group’s payment.

Chaperones and adults are responsible for the behavior of their group and are required to always supervise and stay with their students during their visit or during Science and History on Wheels programs.

Gift Shop

Program Revision, Cancellations, or No Shows

Please review all confirmation materials carefully for accuracy and important information. If there are program revisions, changes to the number of attendees, or if the program must be cancelled, please notify ISSHM by phone three business days prior to your program; Monday - Friday, excluding holidays. A charge of $50.00 will be applied to organizations that make changes or cancel their program(s) after the deadline. Messages left on voicemail or email will not be accepted as invoice revisions or cancellations. Please note that we are unable to provide refunds on checks made out for more than the number of students attending the museum.

Videos & Photographs

Education Programs

Museum Visit

Museum Visit and a Program

Program at Your Location (SHOW)

Pre-K Programming

Science Programs K-12

Biology & Life Science

Physical Science

Earth Science

Science on a Sphere Discovery

STEM: Engineering Wind Turbines & Green Energy

Planning Your Visit

Hours

Location

Contact

Quick Links

About

Volunteer

Calendar

Birthday Parties

Education Programs

Museum Visit

Museum Visit and a Program

Program at Your Location (SHOW)

Pre-K Programming

Science Programs K-12

Biology & Life Science

Physical Science

Earth Science

Science on a Sphere Discovery

STEM: Engineering Wind Turbines & Green Energy

Planning Your Visit

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Hours

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Contact

Quick Links

About

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Birthday Parties

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