National Building Museum
 

Homeschool Day

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Homeschool Day Calendar

 

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Add-on Exhibition Tickets

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

City by Design (Ages 8-10 years) 10:00-12:00

Students become city planners for the day as they design and build their own model city. Students consider the problems a city can have and offer solutions by planning their own community. They use their imaginations to design and construct model buildings for the city using colorful supplies and recycled materials. Prepare your student for this program with pre-visit lessons. Students will take home their model buildings.

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Engineering Egg Drop (Ages 10-14) 10:00-12:00

Students learn about the process engineers use to bring new ideas to life. Students are then given an engineering problem to solve: how can they get a dropped raw egg safely from the Museum’s second floor balcony to the first floor carpet without breaking? Students then get two attempts to design a structure to keep their egg safe during its drop -- using only one sheet of paper and a rubber band!

 

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Frieze Stories (Ages 7-9 years) 10:00-12:00

Students learn about the elements of a story, including characters, setting, and plot.  Students then learn the story of the National Building Museum and of the Civil War by looking at the frieze around the Museum’s exterior. Students then tell the story of their families by creating friezes for their houses out of clay. Students will take home their friezes. 

 

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Patterns Here, There, and Everywhere (Ages 4-6) 10:30 am-12 noon

Students learn about the importance of patterns in the buildings and world around them. On a scavenger hunt of the Museum’s building, students identify shapes and patterns by examining the walls, floors, and ceiling of the Museum. After investigating the Museum building, students head to a museum classroom to create patterns in individual booklets with a variety of materials. Prepare your student for this program with pre-visit lessons.

 

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Be a Green Builder (Ages 10-14) 1:00-3:00

Students become carpenters and use power screwdrivers to raise the roof and wall frames as they assemble an 8’ x 11’ house. While building, they learn about the hidden features that support buildings: foundations, frames, and trusses. Students are also introduced to sustainable “green” building materials and choices. Prepare your student for this program with pre-visit lessons.

 

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Miniature Park Design (Ages 7-10) 1:00-3:00

Students explore two public park spaces near the National Building Museum: Judiciary Square across the street and the Museum’s West Lawn. Students then look at photographs of parks and playgrounds and brainstorm what makes a great public space. Students then plan their own parks and build a model park using craft materials. Students will take home their mini parks.

 

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

My House, My Home (Ages 4-6) 1:00-2:30

Students explore the Museum's House & Home exhibition to learn about different kinds of American homes, both past and present. Through the exhibition's photographs and models and a participatory book reading, students learn about the process of building a house and the features common to all homes. Students then create their own houses out of colorful craft materials to take home.