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Programs Offered for 2nd Grade
Read course information carefully for size limits and which programs are available at MNS or at your school. For pricing, please visit the Pricing and Reservations page.
2010-2011 Programs at a Glance 
ABC's of Chemistry | TEKS 2nd Grade: 1ab, 2acef, 3c, 4a, 5abc
Chemistry can be fun! This class introduces children to the basics of chemistry, states of matter, and mass of everyday objects. Through hands-on experiments and demonstrations students will determine whether a chemical or physical reaction is taking place using fun, non-threatening materials like Pop Rocks!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school. Adapt to Survive | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2ae, 9ac, 10a
Students will learn about physical and behavioral adaptations that enable animals to live in many diverse Texas ecosystems. Students will explore which animals live in their neighborhood and understand the adaptations that allow those animals to survive in their urban backyard! Various taxidermy specimens, skulls, shells, and other objects will be used to engage students in a lively discussion for this program.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-60 students at MNS, 15-30 students at your school
Available at MNS or your school. Air and Weather | TEKS 2nd Grade: 1a, 2ef, 3abc, 4ab, 5ac, 8abc
In this program, students will explore the water cycle and discover the many types of weather. A Van der Graff generator will provide kids with the “shocking” facts about lightning. Your students will also learn how clouds are formed and the explosive power of tornadoes. Hands-on experiments will demonstrate air pressure and student volunteers will be asked to join our educator ‘on stage’ as an assistant meteorologist.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-60 students
Available at MNS only.
Beautiful Butterflies | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2abcde, 9a, 10c
What is a butterfly? Where do butterflies come from? Explore the life cycle of a butterfly as you listen to a beautiful butterfly story and visit hands-on butterfly stations.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Creepy Crawlies | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2acde, 4a, 9a, 10ac
Humans are greatly outnumbered by six– and eight-legged creatures. See preserved and living examples of insects, arachnids, and myriapods. Learn about metamorphosis, dependence on ecosystems, and adaptations.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at your school only.
Dig those Dinos | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2ade, 4ab, 9a, 10a
Take on the role of a paleontologist on a journey back into prehistoric times through a variety of hands-on centers. Students will have the opportunity to hear dinosaur facts, learn about fossils, see and touch fossil replicas, discover how dinosaurs lived, what they ate, and who ate them!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS only.
Discovering Dinosaurs | TEKS
2nd Grade:2ade, 4ab, 9a, 10a
Take your class back in time millions of years without even leaving the Museum! This interactive audio-visual and hands-on program introduces students to the fascinating world of dinosaurs using replicas of fossils and specimens that the students can actually see and touch. Your kids will take an in-depth look at the latest discoveries from our own paleo staff and hear how dinosaurs lived, what they ate, what they might have looked like, and even speculate about what they sounded like. Then the students can explore the new Texas Dinosaurs: Fossil Dig exhibit which includes Tex, the MNS T. Rex.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-60 students
Available at MNS only.
Do Bugs Bug You? | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2acde, 4a, 9a, 10ac
There are lots of bugs in the world, but not all of them are insects. Students will gain an understanding of insect characteristics and how insects are a unique part of the animal kingdom. Take on the role of a Jr. Entomologist at hands on centers collecting data for individual lab reports to take back to school.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS only.
Electric Theater | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2abc, 3b, 4a, 6ab
Explore the world of electricity and magnetism through this exciting (and “shockingly” cool) demonstration led by one of our educators. Student volunteers will join our presenter on stage to demonstrate the workings of Van der Graff generators, electromagnets, step-down transformers, Tesla coils and more!
Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 15-175 students at MNS, 30–250 as outreach
Available at MNS or your school.
Engineer It: Basic Builders | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2ade, 5d, 6cd
Pushing, pulling and lifting are common forms of work, and a machine is a tool used to make the work of humans easier. In this interactive program students will explore the principles of simple machines and how they work. Each student will take on the role of an engineer working collaboratively as a team to build machines using LEGO® Simple Machines kits.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Fire and Ice | TEKS
2nd Grade: 1ab, 2abc, 3b, 4a, 5abc
This explosively entertaining program teaches about the states of matter in a unique way. Student volunteers help the presenter explore how temperature affects matter. Both physical and chemical changes are demonstrated using fire and liquid nitrogen.
Duration: 50 minutes
Class Size: 15-175 students at MNS, 30–250 at your school
Available at MNS or your school.
Insect Investigations | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2acde, 4a, 9a, 10ac
One lucky student will become a bug in our interactive audio-visual program with examples of living and preserved insect specimens. Learn about our dependence on insects for food production, the types of metamorphoses, and insect anatomy and function.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-60 students
Available at MNS only.
LEGOs®: Simple Machines | TEKS
2nd Grade: 1a, 2be, 3a, 5d
In this hands-on array of guided activities, students will learn all about simple machines and what makes them…not always so simple. By building with LEGO ® blocks to construct levers, fulcrums and other machines your kids will walk away with a stronger understanding of what ‘mechanical advantage’ really means!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Little Urban Farm Tour | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2abe, 9ab
Let a museum educator guide you through a hands-on farming experience. An interactive farm-like setting will provide students with the sequence of events from planting, harvesting and taking products to the market. Visit the dairy barn to try your milking skills on the life-size replica cow, gather plastic eggs in the hen house, pick fruit in the orchard and see how corn grows as you harvest at the corn field. The last stop is a ride on the miniature tractors to complete the experience.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS only.
Magnet Mania | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2ade, 4a, 5d, 6bcd
May the force be with you! Experience a hands-on approach to understanding the power of magnetism. Students will gain knowledge of different kinds of magnets, and what magnets can do while engaging in a variety of magnetic activity stations.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Organella’s Inside Story | TEKS 2nd Grade: 2a, 3a, 8ab, 9a
In many ways your body is just like a machine. Meet Organella, a child-sized stuffed doll that will provide you with a peek inside her body to explore some major body systems. Hear how these systems work together and visit hands-on stations to discover more about your amazing body and ways you can keep it fueled and healthy!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Plant Path: The Basics of Botany | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2abcde, 9a, 10b
Take on the role of a botanist as you dissect a lima bean to learn more about the structure and importance of plants on Earth. Students will also visit hands-on plant stations to understand the “magic” of seeds and prepare a take-home activity so they can predict and observe plant growth at their own pace.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
StarLab Junior | TEKS
2nd Grade: 1ab, 2aef, 3bc ,8d
Stars, Planets and the Milky Way indoors…oh my! We will bring the stars and planets to you with our state-of-the-art digital portable planetarium. Students will be guided through their discovery the movement of the planet Earth and how the sunrise and sunset relates to the length of the day. They will also explore star movement and learn how to locate stars and constellations. This program is well suited for introducing children to the wonders of the solar system.
Duration: 50 minutes
Attendance: 10-30 students (depending on students’ age)
Requirements: large air-conditioned indoor room with dimensions of at least 25 ft. X 25 ft and 13 ft. overhead clearance; 110 V electric outlet
Available at your school only.
Urban Nature Walk | TEKS
2nd Grade: 1a, 2ab, 4a, 9ab
Join one of the Museum Naturalist for a guided walk in our own backyard! With the aid of field guides and binoculars, students will identify and learn about urban wildlife, explore various habitats and learn about the diversity of life within the confines of the Metroplex. This program can be adapted for all grades and helps to reinforce food webs, pond ecology, adaptations and biodiversity. The nature walk is available any season, please dress accordingly.
Duration: Standard 50-minute outdoor program
Class Size: up to 25 students
Available at MNS only.
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