Child Science Spots in the San Jose Area

Child Science Websites in the San Jose area:

• The Tech Museum - Not only does The Tech offer field trips for school groups, but they also offer extensive child science projects and games online. As an example, take a look at this 3rd grade activity titled "Camouflaged Critters." There is also a big Educator Weekend Event coming the first weekend of October, which is a free admission to the museum to have a special screening and preview of the new exhibits opening in October. While you're at their site, subscribe to the free e-newsletter Tech Times for Teachers.
• Monterey Bay Aquarium - Why not study biology first hand? With the aquarium's live web cams showing different habitats from within, you can make studies come to life. The aquarium also has quite a few educational tools (my favorite are the sea otter). I really like the Kids E-Quarium, which is an online kids' zone with activities and games that relate to child science and marine biology.
• UC Berkeley's Weather Journal "Eye on the Sky" - This is a cute survey younger kids can do to answer questions about what their weather is like that day.
• Children's Discovery Museum - Subscribe to their free Teachers' Newsletter, or look up tools for PreK - 8th grade child science activities. Most of their suggestions are for offline learning, which is great for homeschoolers to get ideas and then do with the whole family. They also have a teacher appreciation night on October 22nd. They also have a Parents' Newsletter, and Kids' Zoomer area.
• Happy Hollow Park & Zoo - Don't forget this gem in our own backyard for wildlife studies. They offer a ClassroomWILD class at the Zoo using a combination of presentation and hands-on activities. Also, for those involved with Scouts, you can earn badges and patches through the Zoo. Contact the Education department at the Zoo 277-3497.
• Youth Science Institute - This great educational organization has three locations in the Bay Area: Vasona Park, Los Gatos; Alum Rock Park, San Jose; and Sandborn Park, Saratoga. They offer classes for ages Pre-K through 3rd grade, Science Safaris for all ages, and operate a natural science museum that educates about the relationship of people and the natural world. They have a newsletter that you can download from their website that includes all the upcoming activities.
• Exploratorium - Although this is in San Francisco, it is a great science resource for those of us "down south" from them. On their website you can study weather, science of cooking, space science, and science projects for home.