Home School Programs

The California Science Center strives to provide home school students with opportunities to explore science in unique and fun ways. Whether you are bringing one student or a group of 30, there is a program for you!

Home School Days
Join us on select Mondays throughout the school year as home school students come together to explore a variety of science concepts! Each day will feature age-appropriate activities held in our educational classrooms and the Big Lab. See below for dates and topics.

Pre-registration is required. Registrations are due the Monday prior to the program date.

Click here for a registration form.

Registration is now open for Winter/Spring 2013.

Dates | Registration | Frequently Asked Questions

Home School Groups
Home school organizations or groups with 15 or more students may also contact the Reservations department at 213-744-2019 to schedule a field trip program offered in the Big Lab.

Upcoming Home School Days!

Classes will be offered for students ages 5-7, 8-9, 10-12 and 13-16. Participants may choose to attend a morning session or an afternoon session.

Morning Session Time: 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Afternoon Session Time: 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The morning and afternoon sessions will be identical, unless noted below.

January 28, 2013: Extreme Endeavour
Life in space isn’t easy! Blast off into the extreme temperatures, extreme speeds, and extreme living conditions of astronauts aboard a space shuttle. All age groups will visit our newest exhibit, the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion!

NOTE: Due to time and capacity restrictions, only one parent per child will be permitted to accompany the students on their visit to the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion.

February 25, 2013: Bugs and Botany
Eeek! Bugs! Get crawled on by ladybugs, fly through a butterfly’s life cycle, deconstruct a plant, hang out with hissing cockroaches, and more! Students will get up close and personal with some of our smallest neighbors as we crawl into the miniature ecosystem of bugs and plants.

March 18, 2013: Science Fact or Science Fiction
Is that really true!? Can balloons carry you away? Will pop-rocks and soda make your stomach explode? Put popular science myths like these to the test in this fiction-busting day of investigation. Make hypotheses and explore the scientific method while searching for the facts behind the myths.

April 22, 2013: Human Body: Insides Out
Registration for this date is closed for the following ages/times:
Age 5-7 am/pm | Age 8-9 am/pm | Age 10-12 am/pm
What are you made of? Investigate body systems and human anatomy to discover what keeps us healthy. Students will see themselves in a whole new way after turning their bodies Insides Out!

NOTE: Each age group will participate in the dissection activities listed below. Students may choose to participate or observe.
Age 5-7: Owl pellet dissection
Age 8-9: Cow eye dissection
Age 10-12: Sheep heart dissection
Age 13-16: Fetal pig dissection

May 13, 2013: Get Galactic
Registration for this date is closed for the following ages/times:
Age 5-7 am/pm | Age 8-9 am/pm | Age 10-12 am/pm
Step outside our atmosphere and take a closer look at what makes up the universe! Travel through our solar system to explore planets and moons, hop aboard a comet to understand orbits, and journey into the depths of the Milky Way to discover the vast distances of space.

Registration

Download a Registration Form

Cost Per Class
$25 for Non-Members
$20 for Members*

*Membership must be current at the time the registration is processed. Please click here for more information on Membership.

Adults and children 4 and under will be admitted free of charge.

Registration and full payment is due one week prior to the desired program date. To ensure each student has adequate supplies, registrations submitted less than one week prior to the program date may not be accepted.

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be issued. In the event that a class is cancelled by the California Science Center, we will make arrangements for your child to enroll in another class or refund your money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What ages are the programs appropriate for?
The program is designed for students ages 5-16. Groups will be ages 5-7, 8-9, 10-12, and 13-16. If you feel your child would need to be in a higher age group, please sign them up for the class you would like them to attend. Jumping up more than one age range is not recommended. Class changes will not be accommodated the day of the program.

How many students can you accommodate?
Each class will hold approximately 22 students.

May I drop off my student?
After being checked in, students may be dropped off for either the morning or afternoon session. They will need to be picked up by 12:00 noon for the morning session and 3:30 p.m. for the afternoon session.

Is an IMAX film provided?
IMAX films are not be provided, but we will continue to offer the discount coupon when it is available if you choose to see an IMAX before or after your student's session.

What happened to the family activities and activities in the Science Center ?
Based off feedback from the 2010-2011 Home School Days, we have decided to focus on the quality of the student activities. By lengthening the time with the students, the instructors will be able to incorporate guided experiences to the Science Center in their lessons when applicable. Parents are invited to check with the instructors the day of their session regarding accompanying their student during excursions.

Is parking included?
Unfortunately, parking is not included in the cost of the program. Parking in Exposition Park is $10 per day. Members receive a limited number of parking vouchers. Please click here to see more information regarding becoming a member.

Is lunch provided?
No, you may either bring a lunch or purchase food at the on-site McDonald's or Rose Garden Cafe.

Where is the Big Lab?
The Big Lab is located on the campus of the California Science Center, in the Wallis Annenberg Building for Science Learning and Innovation. It is about 1-2 minute walk from the main building of the Science Center, next to the Air and Space Gallery.

Do we need to bring anything?
No, all supplies for the activities will be provided.

Questions? Call (213) 744-7444 for more information, or email EducationPrograms@cscmail.org.