African Americans of the 20th Century
The materials in this Kit provide hours of fun learning about Black Americans primarily of the 20th century. Twenty-seven African-Americans who have made contributions in a variety of disciplines have been recreated on rubber stamps to make postcards, gifts or the Bingo and Lotto games, which are included in the Kit. Their lives and accomplishments can be studied using the study prints, books, historical time-line and biographical sketches.
Grades K-5. 6-8 hours of activities.
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Animal Defenses
Why do animals have to defend themselves? What do they use to defend themselves? This Kit includes the parts of animals, which they use to defend themselves, such as a buffalo horn, an armadillo shell and African porcupine quills. Explore facts about each specimen using identification cards. Storybooks provide more information about the animals. The objects can be inspirational for language, art and science projects.
Grades Pre-K-3. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Chinese Celebrations
This kit is organized around three major traditional Chinese celebrations: Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. A variety of art and language activities help students connect the modern Chinese family to centuries old traditions. Students learn about the science and mythology of the Chinese lunar calendar, the animal zodiac signs, as well as engage in activities and exercises to compare other ethnic celebrations.
Grades K-5. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Chinese Games
This Kit introduces five popular games that were invented in China. The games range in difficulty from the simple game of "To Catch the Thief" to the more sophisticated games of "Go" and "Chinese Chess." The rules to these games, as well as the games of "Go-Bang" and "Tangram" are included in the Student's Guide. The Teacher's Guide includes some further instructions, sample games, and solutions. We have included all of the games and books for further reference.
Grades 4-8. 6-8 hours of activities.
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Creations and Constructions
Explore architecture and the fundamentals of structural engineering with the activities in this kit. Using four-foot dowels and rubber bands or straws and pipe cleaners, students build progressively more difficult projects following a series of design challenges. Maps and books help kids explore the built world. Stunning picture cards of structures locally and from around the world illustrate the wide range of architecture so kids can find inspiration for their own constructions.
Grades 3-8. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Price List
Estimating
This Kit presents ten different activities designed to engage students in the skill and fun of estimating quantity, distance, volume, speed, and time. "Lots of Flamingoes," "Your Body as a Ruler" and "Beat the Clock" are a few of the activities that will encourage participation and discussion. Teachers' Laboratory, Inc. says, "Upon opening this treasure chest, students and teachers will be treated to many varied and attractive manipulatives and excellent graphics carefully arranged for easy use and clean up."
Grades K-5. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Food Power
The activities, games and objects in this Kit offer kids the skills to make healthy food choices along with information on creating a healthy balance of food intake and physical activity. The activities will allow kids to make personal food choices; to learn about various aspects of food, including origin and culture; to identify Superfoods; and to understand the relationship between power in (food) and power out (physical activity). Recipes, games and tools offer engaging activities for a variety of ages and skill levels.
Note: Many of the activities in this kit are planned around snack time and you may need to plan and shop ahead of time.
Grades K-5. 12-15 hours of activities.
[Content List, pdf]
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Light Celebrations
Light Celebrations weaves science and culture together as it gets kids experimenting with basic circuitry. All activities are centered around simple battery to wire to bulb connections. Along with materials, the kit includes activity cards and world celebration cards which introduce kids to holidays and festivals around the world that celebrate with light.
Grades 3-8. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Multicultural Games
Hopscotch and Bingo are played around the world. Learning a familiar game in a different language is a fun way to compare and contrast cultures. It helps form a common bond to know that children around the world play the same way. Maps, panels, puzzles and books offer a variety of many hours of engaging play.
Grades K-5. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Native American Games
The Bowl Game, Moccasin Game and Ring and Pin toys hint at the variety and richness of the Native American cultures. The ring and pin games are made by the Iroquois. The bowl game is a reconstruction of an old Passamaquoddy dice game and the Moccasin game is a guessing game. Books, photographs, game directions and print materials are included to give students more information on historical and contemporary Indian life.
Grades K-5. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Papermaking
Set up a paper recycling plant right in the classroom! The Kit includes all the equipment to make your own recycled paper. All you will need is some newspaper to recycle and anything else you want to add to your slurry (plants, color, etc.). Information about the history of paper and how it is manufactured is included in the Teacher's Guide and in the books.
Grades K-5. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Plant Dyes
Students can create their own dyes through a series of experiments with the materials provided in this Kit. They will gain an appreciation for colors that their dyes produce and will develop the skill of distinguishing variances in colors. Equipment, instruction cards, yarns and organic dyestuffs are included. The Teacher's Guide includes information on the history of dyeing and the collecting of materials to make dyes.
Grades K-5. 8-10 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Powwow and Strawberry Thanksgiving
Powwows are Native American social and ceremonial events which are held all over the United States throughout the year. They are important for the preservation and sharing of Indian heritage. Strawberry Thanksgiving is a festival held in June to honor the early summer moon - the "strawberry moon." People who eat the strawberries and participate in the festival must forgive past disagreements. With the artifacts in the kit -- Native American hand-made moccasins, beaded cap, baskets and clay pot -- you can hold a powwow or a strawberry thanksgiving.
Grades K-5. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Price List
Printmaking
Stamping and block printing are a very old and popular art form. Using the stamps, blocks and supplies, students can print their own story books, make postcards, greeting cards, murals and even learn their numbers and letters. The Kit includes inks, brayers and trays for students to use for printing, and materials to make their own simple prints. Stamp pads, colored markers and lots of paper are provided. These materials encourage a unique way to learn language and art skills and provide hours of creative fun.
Grades K-5. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Quilt Design: The Right Triangle
Geometry is fun! This Kit teaches design using the right triangle. Six boxes filled with right triangle-shaped fabric samples of assorted patterns and colors assist in the recreation of traditional and contemporary quilt patterns. Visual outlines enable students to match patterns or create their own quilt design. The Teacher's Guide includes an abundance of information on the history of quilts and the origins of quilt designs.
Grades K-3. 6-8 hours of activities.
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Shoreline
A day at the beach in your classroom! Use the shells in this kit to examine the diversity of sea life and the shoreline environment. Kids can learn to identify the shells, compare them, draw them and understand that animals lived in these shells. Use the field guide to identify the shells in the kit and play the Shell game to match shells to their pictures. The New England Shore is a collection of sand, shells and seaweed found on the beaches of New England. An extensive teacher’s guide offers lessons about the beach environment in science, math and literacy.
Grades Pre-K-5. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Urban Wildlife NEW!
Your neighborhood is a wildlife habitat! Many animals have adapted or even discovered an easier life living near people, because these surroundings supply lots of food, water and shelter. This kit includes specimen furs, skulls, insects and feathers to showcase the diversity of animals living in our neighborhoods and the special skills they use to survive. Students will explore new information on urban wildlife through creative science, literacy, and art activities and discover ways to have direct experiences with nature in the city.
Grades K-5. 10-12 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Views and Clues
Explore the natural world and learn the fundamentals of scientific observation. A series of activities challenge kids to observe and record the natural and built world around their neighborhood. Kids use the post-cards, chart cards and lotto game sheets to record and share observations with each other. Viewing tools, guide books and challenge cards help organize the investigations.
Grades 3-8. 8-10 hours of activities., [Content List, pdf]
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Weaving
Students can try three different types of handmade looms for fiber and cloth weaving. Everything needed for weaving is included: yarn, cloth strips and directions. There is even an activity on dissecting cloth. The Spider Games book can help create a whole course on weaving. Learn about paper weaving, a very simple and familiar craft. Make paper hearts or experiment with your own designs. Two beautiful display panels can be used to designate a learning center.
Grades K-3. 6-8 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Wind Ways
Learn the basics of weather and wind power through a series of creative activities. Your kids will learn to detect wind and wind direction by making a compass, a wind vane and a windsock. They will be able to harness the wind to power kites and chimes. Stories and maps help kids understand how people around the world think about the wind and weather.
Grades 4-8. 12-15 hours of activities. [Content List, pdf]
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Price List
Group Visits Information
The Boston Children’s Museum offers group visits led by museum content specialists for Grades 1 and up. Featuring: Self-Guided visits and weekend drop-in activities. Please call (617) 426-6500 x405 or email groupvisits@bostonchildrensmuseum.org for more information.
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