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Programs Offered for 4th 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.
Adapt to Survive | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.2abf, 3.3cd, 3.4a, 3.9abc, 3.10abc
4th Grade: 4.1b, 4.2abf, 4.3ad, 4.4a, 4.9abc, 4.10ab
5th Grade: 5.1b, 5.2df, 5.3ad, 5.4a, 5.9abc, 5.10ab
6th Grade: 6.1b, 6.2ae, 6.12ef
Students will learn about physical and behavioral adaptations that enable animals to live in many diverse Texas ecosystems. 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: 2.1a, 2.2ef, 2.3abc, 2.4ab, 2.5ac, 2.8abc
3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2a, 3.3acd, 3.4ab, 3.5bc, 3.7b, 3.8a, 3.9c
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2a, 4.3acd, 4.4ab, 4.5ab, 4.8b
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.3ad, 5.4ab, 5.5a, 5.8ab
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 or your school.
Animals in the Ancient Alphabet | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.3a, 3.7d, 3.9a
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.3a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.3a, 5.9a
Students will explore the culture and hieroglyphic alphabet of ancient Egypt with a special emphasis on the animal symbols. The importance of these animals to the Egyptians will be investigated through comparisons of the animals’ roles in the natural world. A selection of mounted specimens from the Museum’s collections will be displayed and discussed, and students will create a bookmark with their name in hieroglyphics to take home.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
CSI: Diamond Heist | TEKS 4th Grade: 4.2adef, 4.3a, 4.4a
5th Grade: 5.2abcdef, 5.3a, 5.4a
6th Grade: 6.2abe, 6.3a, 6.4a
A diamond necklace was stolen! Who had the motive and opportunity? Your students will become forensic scientists and use fingerprints, footprint identification, fragment analysis and other critical deductive reasoning skills to solve the crime.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
CSI: Dog-napping | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.2abcdef, 3.3a, 3.4a
4th Grade: 4.2adef, 4.3a, 4.4a
5th Grade: 5.2abcdef, 5.3a, 5.4a
Someone has taken the dog show champion, Manny, from his dog kennel and is holding him for ransom. The dog-napping happened the night after his 1st place win in the North Texas Dog Show, where he won a $50,000 prize and a trophy. The dog-napper is demanding the $50,000 prize and the trophy in exchange for the dog’s safe return! We need your students to help us solve this crime through deductive reasoning by analyzing hair and DNA samples to figure out which of four suspects is the guilty party!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS only.
CSI: Mystery Dot | TEKS 4th grade: 4.1a, 4.2abdef, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.5ac
5th grade: 5.1a, 5.2abcdef, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.5acd
6th grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3a, 6.4a, 6.5d
Mrs. Parker, the 6th grade English teacher, knows someone looked at her grade book while she was out of the room. There was a small black smudge that she knew wasn’t there before – and she needs to know who left it there! Students will learn about matter and mixtures while using paper chromatography to solve the mystery and determine exactly who looked in Mrs. Parker’s book. Was it Laura, Stacey, Derek or Paul? Only you will know!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
CSI: Toxic Pond | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1ab, 4.2abd, 4.4ab
5th Grade: 5.1ab, 5.2abcdef, 5.3a, 5.4a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abcde, 6.3a, 6.4a
Nick’s Dog, Baxter, was sick all night. The next day Nick took Baxter to the vet. After a series of tests the vet determined that Baxter was suffering from an over exposure to some type of acid. In this “whodunit”, students will use deductive reasoning and experimentation to determine pH and figure out which contaminated water supply made Baxter sick. Students will use different methods to test pH including hand held, Vernier digital pH probes in order to have a hands-on role in solving this chemistry mystery!
Duration: Premium 90-minute Classroom Program
Class size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Digitalis® StarLab | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2a, 3.3acd, 3.8bcd
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2af, 4.3acd, 4.8c
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2f, 5.3ad, 5.8cd
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.3abcd, 6.11abc
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.3abcd, 7.9ab
8th Grade: 8.1a, 8.3abcd, 8.7ac, 8.8abde, 8.10a
Astronomy: 1a, 3abcd, 4abcd, 5abc, 6abc, 7ad, 8ac, 9acd, 10abcd, 11ab, 12a, 14abcde
We will bring the stars to you with our state-of-the-art digital portable planetarium. Students will be guided through their discovery of constellations and the immense size of the universe. They will explore star movement, color and brightness, and learn how to locate stars and constellations. This program is well suited for both cultural and scientific studies.
Duration: 50 minutes
School fee: $350 (up to 3 programs)
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.
Electric Theater | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2.2abc, 2.3b, 2.4a, 2.6ab
3rd Grade: 3.2abc, 3.3a, 3.4a, 3.5ac, 3.6ac
4th Grade: 4.2ab, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.6ab
5th Grade: 5.2ab, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.6ab
6th Grade: 6.2abe, 6.3a, 6.4a, 6.9ac
7th Grade: 7.2ab, 7.3a, 7.4a
8th Grade: 8.2ab, 8.3a, 8.4a, 8.5a
Explore the world of electricity and magnetism through this exciting (and “shockingly” cool) demonstration led by one of our Museum 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 at your school
Available at MNS or your school.
Exploring the Past: The Archaeology of Texas | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.2f, 3.3ad, 3.7d, 3.9abc, 3.10a
4th Grade: 4.2f, 4.3ad, 4.10a
5th Grade: 5.2cdf, 5.3ad, 5.7d, 5.9a
6th Grade: 6.2a, 6.3ad
Imagine a world with no supermarkets, restaurants or electricity! Discover how the first naturalists survived in Texas thousands of years ago using their extensive knowledge of our natural resources. Realistic replicas of American Indian artifacts including clothing, tools, food sources and instruments will be shown and discussed in this hands-on interactive program.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Fire and Ice | TEKS
2nd Grade: 2.1ab, 2abc, 3b, 4a, 5abc
3rd Grade: 3.1a, 2abc, 3a, 4ab, 5abc, 6ab
4th Grade: 4.1a, 2ab, 3a, 4ab, 5ab, 6a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 2ab, 3a, 4ab, 5ab, 6a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 2ab, 3a, 4ab, 5d, 9a
7th Grade: 7.1a, 2ab, 3a, 4ab
8th Grade: 8.1a, 2ab, 3a, 4ab
Biology: 112.34.1a, 112.34.2e, 112.34.3a, 112.34.4ac
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.
Fossils: Clues to the Distant Past | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.2adf, 3.3ad, 3.7b, 3.10ab
4th Grade: 4.2adf, 4.3ad, 4.10a
5th Grade: 5.2cdf, 5.3ad, 5.7ad, 5.10a
6th Grade: 6.2ae, 6.3ad
Follow the eras of geologic time from trilobites to dinosaurs to mammals with authentic fossils and casts. Students will learn the steps in fossilization, what materials most often fossilize, and what fossils can reveal.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
LEGOs®: Simple Machines | TEKS 2nd Grade: 2.1a, 2.2be, 2.3a, 2.5d
3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2adf, 3.6b
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2af, 4.6ad
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2cf, 5.3c, 5.6ad
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: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Life in and Around the Pond | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2a, 3.3a, 3.4a, 3.9ab, 3.10ab
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2a, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.9ab, 4.10a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2a, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.9abc, 5.10a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2ab, 6.3a, 6.4a, 6.12ef
Explore the water of our very own urban pond, the Leonhardt Lagoon, and search for the plant and animal life that live here. Using handheld magnification tools, binoculars, and field guides, students will observe a world of microscopic aquatic creatures and study their place in pond ecology. This program is conducted primarily outside so dress accordingly. Program will be adapted in case of inclement or unseasonably cold weather.
Duration: Premium 90-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS only
Look Out: The Eye | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2a, 4.3a, 4.4ab
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2a, 5.3a, 5.4ab
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2a, 6.3a, 6.4ab
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.2a, 7.3a, 7.4ab, 7.12bc
8th Grade: 8.1a, 8.2ab, 8.3a, 8.4ab
Discover the inner workings of the eye and vision. By dissecting a cow eye, students will see how an eye works. Comparing cow and human eyes will provide ”insight” into differences and similarities among species. This program is customized for each grade level and is adapted to meet your class needs.
Duration: Premium 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Measure Up to the Mavs: The Human Catapult NEW! | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2bcdf, 4.3ac, 4.4ab, 4.6a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2cdf, 5.4ab, 5.6a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2de, 6.3b, 6.4ab, 6.8ab
Presented by ExxonMobil
How do the Mavs launch three-pointers? Is there physics on the basketball court? In this program, students will build wooden catapults and shoot miniature basketballs at a goal…all in the name of helping them understand mechanics and the three classes of levers. By analyzing their accuracy data and using what they learn from these simple machines, students will be able to compare catapults to the structure of a human arm to find out just what makes the Mavs so great!
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-25 students
Available at MNS or your school. If held at MNS, one adult free for each 10 kids; additional adults are charged the group rate if they sign up with the school group.
Mineral Mystery | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2abdef, 3.3a, 3.4a, 3.5a, 3.7d
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2adef, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.5a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2abcdef, 5.3a, 5.4a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3a, 6.4a
It’s the case of the imposter mineral – or is it? Students will become detectives and solve this Mineral Mystery by delving into a locked box, tricky riddles and clever codes, and precious metals and gems to uncover the truth about precious metals and gems. Once they have broken the code, they will identify minerals by the properties of hardness, streak, color and fluorescence to determine if the treasure is real or fake.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS only.
Moments in Time: An Archaeological Discussion | TEKS 3rd Grade: 3.2f, 3.3ad, 3.4a, 3.7d, 3.9abc, 3.10a
4th Grade: 4.2f, 4.3ad, 4.4a, 4.10a
5th Grade: 5.2cdf, 5.3ad, 5.4a, 5.7d, 5.9a
6th Grade: 6.2a, 6.3ad, 6.4a
Students will work as archaeological “lab techs” to interpret the history and meaning of artifacts covering 12,000 years of human life from a site near Texas A&M University. The hands-on analysis of the artifacts will allow them to explore human technological advances through time.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Pleistocene Puzzle NEW | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2abdf, 4.3c, 4.4a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2bcdf
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2bce, 6.3b, 6.4a, 6.11ab
Could some mammals have been victims of a cosmic impact? Almost thirteen thousand years ago, many large mammal species died out in a major extinction. Using hands-on, inquiry methods, students will recreate impact craters to investigate this event and attempt to offer a solution to the mystery.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Pump Up: The Heart | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2a, 4.3a, 4.4ab
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2a, 5.3a, 5.4ab
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2a, 6.3a, 6.4ab
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.2a, 7.3a, 7.4ab, 7.12bc
8th Grade: 8.1a, 8.2ab, 8.3a, 8.4ab
Explore the fascinating world of the heart through this hands-on guided dissection of a pig heart! Students will have an up-close encounter with real hearts as they learn about heart structure and function as well as the need to stay healthy. If you want students to learn about their heart, this program can’t be “beat”! This program is customized for each grade level and is adapted to meet your class needs.
Duration: Premium 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS or your school.
Rockin’ Through Texas | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2af, 4.3ac, 4.7bc
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2abcdf, 5.3a, 5.7acd
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3abcd, 6.10bcd
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.2ae, 7.3ab, 7.8abc
Discover the earth through its geologic past. Students will have the opportunity to examine the differences between rocks and minerals. This program also includes a close look at the geology of Texas with its many land formations and the effect on the flora and fauna of the state and fossil fuel resources.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS only.
Texas Ecosystems | TEKS 4th Grade: 4.1b, 4.2b, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.7c, 4.9ab
5th Grade: 5.1b, 5.2c, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.9abc
6th Grade: 6.1b, 6.2a, 6.3a, 6.12ef
7th Grade: 7.1b, 7.2a, 7.3a, 7.8b, 7.10abc
Take close-up look at the state’s diverse ecosystems ranging from shoreline to forests and mountains. Emphasis will be on the Blackland Prairie, considered the most endangered large ecosystem in North America. The Museum’s original dioramas will help students understand how this land once looked and serve as a comparison for today’s modern world.
Duration: Standard 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-60 students
Available at MNS only.
Urban Nature Walk NEW | TEKS Kindergarten: K.2a, K.3ab, K.4b, K.9ab
1st Grade: 1.2abde, 1.3bc, 1.4ab, 1.5a, 1.6c, 1.8abc
2nd Grade: 2.1a, 2.2ab, 2.4a, 2.9ab
3rd Grade: 3.1a, 3.2ab, 3.4a, 3.9ab
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.4a, 4.9ac
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.4a, 5.9a, 5.10a
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2a, 6.12ef
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.2a, 7.10a
8th Grade: 8.1a, 8.2a, 8.11ab
Aquatic Science: 1a, 4a, 5d, 7ac
Biology: 1a, 12b
Environmental Science: 4b
Join one of the Museum Naturalists 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
Attendance: 15-25 students
Available at MNS only.
Water Cycle: Basics of Life NEW | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1ab, 4.2ad, 4.3a, 4.4a, 4.7bc, 4.8b
5th Grade: 5.1ab, 5.2ac, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.8b, 5.9a
6th Grade: 6.1ab, 6.2ae, 6.3a, 6.4a
7th Grade: 7.1a, 7.2abce, 7.3a, 7.4a, 7.10a
Explore the water cycle like never before!! Your students will become citizen scientists and collect real data used in monitoring the water quality of the Trinity River watershed and learn how to become better stewards of our most precious resource by discussing how humans affect the urban water cycle in our own backyards. Hands on experiments will include measuring water transparency, dissolved oxygen, pH and water temperature.
Duration: Premium 50-minute Classroom Program
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at MNS only.
Residency Programs
Digging Deeper: An Archaeology Residency | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2adf, 4.3acd, 4.4a, 4.7b, 4.10a
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2acdf, 5.3a, 5.4a, 5.7d
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3abcd, 6.4a
This program will focus on the science that supports historical archaeology through a series of activities that simulate the work done by professional archaeologists. Students will discover the types of artifacts most commonly recovered, the techniques available for interpreting artifacts and some of the questions that are raised by archaeological studies. All of the activities will require students to employ higher level thinking skills such as evaluation, problem solving and application.
Duration: Three 50-minute classes
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at your school only.
Geology Residency | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2adf, 4.3acd, 4.4a, 4.7abc
5th grade: 5.1a, 5.2acdf, 5.3ad, 5.7abcd
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3abcd, 6.4a, 6.10abcd
Over the course of this program, students will unearth the facts about minerals, the Mohs scale of hardness, the rock cycle and the three types of rocks. Students will engage through hands-on activities involving rock samples, minerals and testing tools.
Duration: Three 50-minute classes
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at your school only.
Paleontology Residency | TEKS
4th Grade: 4.1a, 4.2adf, 4.3acd, 4.4a, 4.7b
5th Grade: 5.1a, 5.2acdf, 5.3ad, 5.7d
6th Grade: 6.1a, 6.2abe, 6.3abcd, 6.4a
During this program, students will gain a deeper understanding of the field of paleontology including field and lab methods used by scientists to uncover and preserve the remains of ancient samples. Geologic time, fossilization and dinosaurs will be explored in this interactive residency. Students will take home small invertebrate fossils.
Duration: Three 50-minute classes (can also be done as 3-day workshop)
Class Size: 15-30 students
Available at your school only.
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