School Programs and Group Visits
The Discovery Center is now offering school programs and group visits to local school districts, daycare facilities, homeschool groups, scout troops and more!
Enjoy fresh new lessons and old favorites that meet all your New York State Standards needs.
Group Visit to The Discovery Center with Program
- $10 per student
- One (1) complimentary chaperone for every (10) students
- $5 per additional chaperone
- Minimum class size: 10 students
- Maximum class size: 25 students
Offsite Program (at school or other location)
- $8 per student
- Minimum class size: 10 students
- Maximum class size: 25 students
View the BTBOCES Extended Classroom Enrichment Resources or scroll down for our program options.
2022-2023 Guide
NYS Early Learning Guideline Key:
♥ Physical Well-Being, Health and Motor Development
♦ Social and Emotional Development
♠ Cognitive Development
♣ Communication, Language, and Literacy
During this 1 HR STEAM workshop, children will meet the man who made sculpture move, Alexander Calder, and get to experiment and create in the ways he did by constructing simple machines in groups.
Grades: 3-5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 1 hour
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Bubbleology FEATURING the Spittlebug (20 min) – Preschool through 1st grade
Children will experience all the FUN and educational bits from our legendary program, Bubbleology, while also exploring and learning about a tiny insect that creates bubbles itself, the Spittlebug.
Grades: Pre-K-1
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 20 minutes
This program is EXCLUSIVELY booked during the months of traveling exhibit Bug Squad is on display (Feb 2023 – April 2023).
Children will embark on and observe the life cycle journey of an ant in Ants Go Marching, followed by four activities that dig deeper into the experience of these teeny tiny insects. Featuring a sensory station, roll & count game, DIY ant craft and a 5 senses game.
Grades: K-3
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 40 minutes
This program is EXCLUSIVELY booked during the months of traveling exhibit Bug Squad is on display (Feb 2023 – April 2023).
A spin on a Discovery Center classic, Candy Math, BUGGY MATH features fun-filled bug activities that show children that math is FUN! Children will rotate through 4 stations at 5 minutes a station.
Grades: Pre-K–1
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 20 minutes
This program is EXCLUSIVELY booked during the months of traveling exhibit Bug Squad is on display (Feb 2023 – April 2023).
In this whacky program, children will observe the hissing cockroach from our Bug Squad exhibit, and learn all about how they create their unique sound and why. Children will then make their own maracas, brainstorm how they can use sound to evoke emotion, and have a hissing cockroach parade around the museum.
Grades: Pre-K–3
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
This program is EXCLUSIVELY booked during the months of traveling exhibit Bug Squad is on display (Feb 2023 – April 2023).
What is the science behind BUBBLES? During this beloved Discovery Center program, children will use the scientific method to experiment hands-on and observe what bubbles look like and how they behave.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 15-20 minutes
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Math will never be this sweet! Learn about the science of sugar and practice your STEM skills as we work with counting, pattern making, sorting, building, and measuring—all using candy!
Seasonal variations: Trick or Treat- October only (costumes welcome!), Gingerbread City- November and December only
Grades: K–5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 20 minutes
Did you know that we live in the Carousel Capital of the WORLD? Together, children will learn a brief history as to why Broome County holds this fun title, read “Carousel” by Pat Cummings, engage in an educational literacy activity AND color their own carousel horse to take home.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Imagine, for a second, a goose wearing a raincoat…people playing soccer on the moon…a fish on vacation in Mexico. You probably haven’t actually seen any of these things. But you could picture them instantly. Students will be able to identify what imagination really is during this engaging and whacky 30-minute STEAM workshop.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Who knew science could be so…delicious! Children will transform into paleontologists during this interactive dinosaur workshop, identifying five species and testing fine motor skills by digging around in some sweet treats.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Where do owls live? What do owls eat? How do owls grow? What do owls look like? In this hands-on science lab, children will investigate owls in their natural habitat and use the scientific method to observe bones in owl pellets to identify its prey!
Grades: K-5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 40 minutes
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Nya:wëh sgë:nö’! Watch pinecones, flowers, stones, and berries come ALIVE as children learn about the Haudenosaunee people, their relationship with the Earth, and how as a community we can heal through art and nature. Haudenosaunee creation story “The World on the Turtle’s Back” told through group movement activity.
Grades: 3-5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 1 hour
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Children will be WOWed seeing colorful fireworks EXPLODE in water! This simple activity explores the science of liquid densities in a mesmerizing way.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Hear that? Bees are all a buzz at The Discovery Center! Take students on an exploration of hive life with this hands-on workshop. Students will learn about the bee life cycle, investigate the shapes of the hive, and learn about how bees help humans.
Grades: K–3
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 1 hour
The magical world of astronomy comes to life! This portable planetarium is a fun way to learn about stars. Enter the giant silver dome and transform into junior astronauts, ready to explore the celestial bodies with our star show. Learn all about stars, common constellations, and hear some traditional constellation myths.
Grades: Pre-K–5
Audience Size: 10–30
Length of Program: 45-60 minutes
Children will gain insight on Binghamton’s own Polish Immigrants story, read through Young Readers Choice Award “The Keeping Quilt” by Patricia Pollaco, engage in an educational literacy activity AND create a class “heirloom” based on their own history.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Children will take an explorative journey throughout the museum and Story Garden, identifying recognizable spaces and learning hands-on who the community helpers are that inhabit them. As a group we will discuss what are our needs and wants in our shared community, and reveal how every helper has a role in keeping our community safe, healthy and cultured. There will be demonstrations in specific exhibits inside the Museum and free play time included to encourage role play. After, children will be prompted to write about a community helper that they learned about that they value the most and give supporting details as to why.
Grades: 1
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
Is it magic, art or science!? Children will investigate the basics of optics and color theory, and utilize fine motor skills crafting a rainbow paper spinner during this 30 minute workshop.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Would you ever ride in a hot air balloon? Students will use the scientific method to find out what causes hot air balloons to fly through the sky. Workshop also includes a brief history on the oldest successful human flight technology.
Grades: Pre-K–2
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
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Do you see what I hear? Children will learn all about Kandinsky’s gift of Synesthesia Cognate and his use of geometric features by observing his most iconic paintings, and even try the process out for themselves!
Grades: 3-5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 40 minutes
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Children will learn about the Monarch Butterfly and what they can do to help save these endangered
species. Stations will include a life cycle craft, pollination game, and butterfly yoga. Each child will
receive a bag of starter seed to grow their own Monarch garden from home.
Grades: Pre-K-5
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 30 minutes
This program is EXCLUSIVELY booked during the months of traveling exhibit Bug Squad is on display (Feb 2023 – April 2023).
Wedge yourself into a seat! Join us as we learn about toys and simple machines!
Through guided team play students will discover the functions of simple machines and be able to
identify simple machines in everyday toys. This program features learning stations that include
identification, comprehension play, and building activities.
Grades: K-3
Audience Size: 10–25
Length of Program: 40 minutes
Dates and times are subject to availability. No deposit required. Please include adults in your anticipated group size.
Questions & Reservations for Group Visits
Please Note: Dates and times are subject to availability.
