Microscope Lab

How to Schedule a Program All programs are correlated with the Virginia State Standards of Learning for Science Objectives. Programs are conducted in the museum's classrooms.

To schedule a program:

	Select your desired program title(s)

	Choose your optimum program date(s) with possible back-up dates

	Determine the approximate number of students and adult chaperones. (Remember: 1 adult chaperone, per 10 students, is required)

	Call our Reservations Coordinator at 757-595-9135 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday to reserve your program selections

	Fill out the on-line request form and our Reservations Coordinator will contact you to complete the reservation.

	A confirmation packet containing a Teacher Idea Kit activity guide for your program will be mailed directly to you.

For Grade Levels K-5

Natural science programs offer an introduction to various topics in the life sciences—from animal adaptations to the importance of green plants to the study of snakes. Through the use of live animals, museum artifacts, and high-interest demonstrations, students become actively involved in these hands-on presentations. For more information, click here.

For Grade Levels K-12

In the museum planetarium, students visit the planets, travel to a black hole, observe spinning galaxies or study the earth from space. Using our state-of-the-art multi-image projection system, we can recreate, for your class, the many wonders of the universe, including the stars and constellations of the sky for any season of the year—all from the comfort of an armchair. For more information, click here.

For Grade Levels 6-12

Environmental science labs are in-depth sessions in which students actively participate in conducting experiments, collecting data and analyzing results. Emphasis is on a direct involvement with the natural world through activity-oriented use of specialized equipment and techniques. For more information, click here.

For Grade Levels 6-12

Developed under a Virginia Environmental Endowment grant as model programs for high school students, science safaris are combined laboratory and field classes that stress field study, experimentation, data collection and analysis. After an introduction to the day's topic, students leave the classroom behind to become immersed in a first-hand learning experience in the natural world. For more information, click here.

Schedule a self-guided visit of exhibits that feature more than 500 live animals and plants native to Virginia in their natural settings. Trained interpreter’s help students learn to do, as well as, see. Advance reservations are required for groups of ten or more students. For more information, click here.

Discovery Boxes are "museum-in-a-trunk" traveling curriculum modules that teachers use in their own classrooms. Choose from eight exciting topics. Automatic delivery and pickup are included in the rental fee. For more information, click here.