Educational programs designed for homeschool families

Our next Homeschool Day will take place on Monday, September 23, 2024. Registration will open Friday, June 14.

Workshops are offered throughout the day for different age groups. Each workshop includes a list of additional resources to encourage further at-home exploration of the workshop themes.

A lunch break will take place from 11:45 am-12:30 pm. Bring a bagged lunch and enjoy meeting other homeschool families! Please note, parents or guardians are expected to remain on Connecticut Museum premises for the duration of Homeschool Day. The auditorium lobby will be available for adults to use throughout the day.

Families can also register their children under the age of 5 for Little Learners. Available throughout the day, this loosely structured program features story times, crafts, and guided activities related to the day’s themes. Children enrolled in Little Learners must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

If you have any questions, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs Manager, at 860-236-5621 x222 or email [email protected].

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Pricing

• Little Learners (ages 0-1): Free of charge
• Little Learners (ages 2-4): $3 per child
• Workshops (members): $20 per child for full day
• Workshops (non-members): $25 per child for full day
• Family maximum: $100

Pre-Registration Required

• Enrollment is limited and families must pre-register. Full, non-refundable payment via credit card must be made at the time of registration to reserve your child’s place.
• Registration will open on Friday, June 14.
• Registration will close on Monday, September 16.

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Little Learners: Ages 0-4

Navigation Exploration
10:30 – 11:45am
Let’s go on a treasure hunt! Students will learn all about maps during a special story time. Then, putting their newfound map skills to use, they will work together to navigate their way to some hidden treasure! Additional activities will be available for independent play.

Creating Communities
12:30 – 1:45pm
We all are a part of communities, and we can help out in ways both big and small! Students will learn what it means to be part of a community with a fun story time. Then, they will decorate their own community buildings and work together to create a make-believe town! Additional activities will be available for independent play.

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Activities and Workshops: Ages 5-7

Mapping Connecticut
10:30 – 11:45am
Calling all explorers! In this workshop, students will become expert navigators as they learn to read key features of maps including symbols, a compass rose, and coordinates. Then, they will use gum drops and macaroni to create a 3-D map of Connecticut, featuring its many unique landforms.

We all Help Out: The “U” and “I” in Community
12:30 – 1:45pm
How are decisions made in your town? What does it mean to be an active citizen? In this workshop, students will assemble a make-believe town, vote in a pretend election, and create a booklet all about how they can get involved in different communities.

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Activities and Workshops: Ages 8-10

Where in the World?
10:30 – 11:45am
How do we know where we are going? In this workshop, students will visit a behind-the-scenes storage space, look closely at historic maps in the Museum’s collection, and learn about the history of mapmaking in Connecticut. Then, using their navigational abilities, children will chart the course of Bernard Romans, a Connecticut mapmaker and explorer, on his journey through Florida.

Bills and Ballots
12:30 – 1:45pm
Who has the right to vote in the United States? How has that changed over time? Through close-looking at objects, images, and documents from the Museum’s collection, students will learn some of the ways Connecticans advocated for their right to vote – and won! Then, they will cast their votes, both as a citizen and a member of a legislative body.

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Activities and Workshops: Ages 11-13

Hidden Histories
10:30 – 11:45am
Are there more to maps than meets the eye? What hidden details lie within? Through clos-looking at maps and other primary sources from the Museum’s collection, students will explore the effects of human bias on how mapmakers represent the world. Then, children will take on the role of historian as they use census data and historic maps to uncover stories of our state and track how Connecticut’s communities have changed over time.

From the Roots Up: Connecticut Changemakers
12:30 – 1:45pm
How can you get involved in your community? From the Wide Awakes campaigning for Lincoln to students rallying for free bussing, Connecticut youth have a long history of enacting social and political change. Through primary sources, exhibit exploration, and close-looking at artifacts, students will explore the successes, controversies, and challenges of these grassroots movements.

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