Getting the most
Wow, a field trip to the Connecticut Science Center. Who wouldn’t be excited about that? Even the most fervently science-phobic student would love to go if only to be getting a day out of the normal routine of school. However, there is much more to a field trip experience than just the trip itself.
The real issue is how you can plan the most effective educational experience for your students. Frankly, we have thought about that problem too, so we have developed an ideal situation to take maximum advantage of everything the Science Center has to offer both you and your students.
For content-related questions, please email us at Reservations@CTScienceCenter.org or call our Field Trip Inquiry Voicemail at (860) 520-2152 and the appropriate staff member will be in touch.
Opportunity 1 - Professional Development
We run a number of PD Programs throughout the year to enable you to bring the best Inquiry-based pedagogy into your classroom. We also have specific content programs which address the content standard for your grade level.
Opportunity 2 – Pre-Visit Activities
We have created simple to do activities based on the CT Science Standards for your grade level to help get your students engaged and ready to learn more while at the Science Center. Most of the activities use common materials and can be easily done in your classroom.
Opportunity 3 - Gallery Science Programs
A general admission ticket to the Science Center will allow your students not only to interact with the hands-on exhibits, but also be part of the Inquiry programs presented by the Gallery Scientists in each exhibit area throughout the day. These exciting programs will uncover deeper aspects of science in the exhibits that might be missed by just a casual visit.
Opportunity 4 - Trail Guides
Rather than have your students wander around the Science Center galleries interacting with the various exhibits in a random manner, we have created Trail Guides which list specific activities at specific exhibits which address the CT Science Standards for your students’ grade level.
Opportunity 5 - Discovery Science Programs
We have developed an entire series of CT Science Standards-based, hands-on inquiry programs to enable your students to participate in some exciting and unique learning experiences. Some of these programs involve simple materials that you could do in your classroom next year; other programs use more complicated equipment and techniques that might not be practical to do in your school; and some even use the latest equipment and state-of-the-art technologies to give your students a cutting-edge experience.
Opportunity 6 - Theater
A film in the 3D Theater will enable students to experience things that are simply not possible in a classroom or even an exhibit area. These amazing experiences will take students on a fantastic journey through time and space to realms and vistas not obtained in any other way. The 3D experience is as close to real life you can get.
Opportunity 7 - Post-Visit Activities
We have created simple-to-do activities based on the CT Science Standards for your grade level to encourage students to draw conclusions from their visit the Science Center and to solidify what they learned. The lesson plans will be available on our website this summer. All of the activities use common materials and can be easily done in your classroom.