The River Dynamics Experience

This exciting new program includes a visit to the LSU Center for River Studies and same-day, hands-on classes and programs at the Museum. On their tour of the CRS, students will explore a 3-dimensional model of the lower 190 miles of the Mississippi River, one of the most technologically-advanced models in existence. At the Museum, students will collaboratively design solutions to real-world environmental challenges by engaging with a state-of-the-art stream table. Participants will also view a related large-screen educational movie at the Museum. Activities are aligned with the Louisiana Student Standards for Science.

Through this partnership with the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, this learning opportunity is available free-of-charge to 8th-grade students on a first-come, first-served basis. Please email reservations@lasm.org to register as soon as possible!

NEW for 2019-2020!

Ancient Egypt & Its Art

Students tour the Ancient Egypt Gallery, learn an intricate, age-old metalworking technique, and then create an ancient Egyptian-inspired relief, which they can take home. Includes tour of the Ancient Egypt Gallery.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs (Planetarium Show) and Forensic Crime Lab (Class).

Beetles, Bugs, & Butterflies

This artful approach to science motivates students to explore the amazing world of insects while learning about adaptations, physiology, and the role insects play in their daily lives. Colorful, take-home art projects creatively reinforce scientific concepts.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with The Traveling Trunk Show (Interactive Educational Theater) and Flight of the Butterflies (Planetarium Show).

Discovery Depot

This gallery stimulates the imagination, encourages exploration, and invites creative play. After a trip through the Children’s Playhouse, young chefs can enjoy nutrition-oriented role play in the kitchen center while little engineers operate the wooden train. Puzzles, books, and games provide plenty of additional opportunities for learning and fun.

Geometry & Quilts

Through hands-on activities, students will recognize the real-world connections between mathematics and the craft of quilting. Students are introduced to traditional patchwork quilts and participate in art-making that supports geometry standards while reinforcing mathematical understanding.

Updated for 2019-2020!

Investigating the Art Exhibition

Inspired by objects and works of art in the current exhibition, students will explore interdisciplinary connections based on the Louisiana Student Standards. After a participatory tour of the exhibition, they will enjoy hands-on, STEAM-focused activities in a classroom setting. Creative connections that link art with core curriculum content will make learning meaningful, relevant, and memorable. Includes tour of the art exhibition on view.

NEW for 2019-2020!

Journaling: Learning to Look & Looking to Write

As students explore the art in the current exhibition, they are encouraged to look closely and reflect on what they see. Creative writing activities take place in the gallery, using the art on view for inspiration. These activities will sharpen observation skills as students respond to art through writing while exploring opportunities for collaboration and personal reflection. Includes tour of the art exhibition on view.

Little Art Explorers

Students learn how artists use shapes and colors to create art with inspiration from Henri Matisse and Jacob Lawrence. Young artists use their imaginations and creative skills to make their own original collages. Following a discussion of the color wheel, students get hands-on with fun color mixing activities.

Updated for 2019-2020!

Marbles, Motion, & Magnets

In this STEAM-focused learning experience, students will investigate matter and its interactions with force and motion. While creating art, participants will explore Newton’s Laws of Motion and the concept of magnetism.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Dream Big: Engineering Our World and Secrets of Gravity: In the Footsteps of Albert Einstein (Planetarium Shows).

NEW for 2019-2020!

Robot Design Challenge

Students sharpen their critical thinking and problem- solving skills to build modular robots. Working in teams, they will use the Science and Engineering Practices to develop inventions that sense, compute, and act upon the world around them. As students design their robots, they actually build a program through hands-on coding. This class culminates in a race that challenges each group to create the smartest and fastest robot.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Dream Big: Engineering Our World (Planetarium Show) and Engineering Encounters (Class).