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Field Trips to the Museum

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Field Trips

Join the list of school, preschool, camp and daycare groups that explore our museum offerings every year!

Our state-of-the-art science studios foster hands-on and inquiry-based learning, supporting your STEM curriculum.

Want to enhance your students’ experiences? Try a museum tour or a hands-on workshop! We can also customize tours or workshops to suit your needs. If you don’t see the topics or activities you are looking for, please contact us! at 716.896.5200 x323.

2024-25 Program Fees (Per student/individual)
  • Group Admission- $16 
    • add Hands-on Workshop (Maximum size: Pre-K: 20; K-12: 30) +$120
    • add 30-minute Zygmunt Planetarium Experience (Maximum 20 students) +$90
    • add 60-minute Science on Stage show in the auditorium (Maximum 200 students) +$200
    • add Theme Day (per student) +$3
  • Group pricing for individuals with disabilities- $5
  • Group pricing for chaperones accompanying individuals with disabilities- Free
Enhanced School Theme Days

Want to dive a little deeper? We’re offering NEW school group-focused theme days that are filled with even more STEM stations and activities that will enrich your students’ learning experience as they explore all four floors of the Museum. Spots are limited, so you’ll want to book these special experiences early!

2024–2025 ENHANCED SCHOOL THEME DAYS
February 25, 2025 – Engineering, Grades 3–8
March 11, 2025 – Paleontology, Grades Pre-K–2
April 8, 2025 – Space-a-palooza, Grades 3–8
May 20, 2025 – Messy May, Grades Pre-K–2

Workshops

Enrich your field trip with special themed activities with our team of facilitators. Workshops are approximately 45-60 minutes unless otherwise noted.

HOME HUNTERS (SUGGESTED GRADES PRE-K)

Embark on a journey to explore the diverse habitats of exotic animals with biofacts from the Museum’s collection. Learn about the movement of animals with an interactive game.

BUBBLE BLAST (SUGGESTED GRADES PRE K, K-2)

Explore the science of soap and water! Participants will experiment with bubble solution and tools and learn all about bubble science. A $10 materials fee is required.

*Seasonal Workshop (April—August).

NGSS Standards: K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, 2-PS1-2

RETHINK EXTINCT (SUGGESTED GRADES PRE-K, K-2)

Become a paleontologist and unearth animals that lived long ago! Participants will examine various fossils from Western New York and make connections between extinct creatures and those that live today.

NGSS Standards: 2-LS4-1, (3-LS4-1)

BUG WORKS (SUGGESTED GRADES K-2)

Get up close to some incredible insects! Examine live insects and other critters, observing their anatomy and behavior.

NGSS Standards: K-LS1-1, 2-LS4-1

BUFFALO IN SPACE (SUGGESTED GRADES K-2)

Help build a mega model solar system! Along the way, participants will explore the many shapes, sizes, similarities and differences of our closest neighbors in space.

NGSS Standards: 1-ESS1-1, 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2

BIODIVERSITY (SUGGESTED GRADES K-2, 3-5)

Investigate the adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in their natural habitats. Using items from the Museum’s collection, explore how changing environments affect living things.

NGSS Standards: K-ESS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2

CIRCUIT MASTER (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-5)

Explore electricity in a safe and hands-on way! Investigate insulators and conductors, build a circuit with your body, and feel the power of our Van de Graaff static electricity generator.

NGSS Standards: 3-PS2-3, 4-PS3-2, 4-PS3-4

OUR MARVELOUS EARTH (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-5)

Get to know the rocks and minerals under our feet and decode clues about the history of Earth’s surface. Examine the geologic processes that make up the rock cycle, including plate tectonics, erosion, and more.

NGSS Standards: 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-1

ARTIFACTS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-5)

Explore ancient civilizations with our excavation simulations and artifact analysis to discover the thrill of learning about the science of archaeology. While also comparing traditions, beliefs, language, and geography using items from the Museum’s collection.

NGSS Standards: 3-LS2-1, 3-ESS2-2

SCIENCE BELOW ZERO (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-5, 6-8)

Chill out during this super cool workshop! Using things like liquid nitrogen and dry ice, participants will explore the phases of matter and kinetic energy in amazing ways. A $25 materials fee is required.

NGSS Standards: 4-PS3-2, 5-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4

BASE BUFFS (SUGGESTED GRADES 3-5, 6-8)

Inspire the inner scientist in your students! Experiment with acids and bases, make some mini explosions, and more in this hands-on program. A $10 materials fee is required.

NGSS Standards: 5-PS1-2, 5-PS1-4, MS-PS1-2

STAR SEARCH (SUGGESTED GRADES 6-8)

Explore our galaxy near and far! Build and test your own map of the constellations and brush up on your skywatching skills with a virtual tour of our night skies.

NGSS Standards: MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3

ENGINEERING CHALLENGE (SUGGESTED GRADES 6-8)

Are you up to the challenge? Participants will become civil engineers and work in teams to design and build bridges. The end of this workshop will provide time for teams to carry out tests to evaluate the performance of their bridge.

NGSS Standards: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3

DISSECTIONS (SUGGESTED GRADES 6-8, 9-12)

Dissect a cow eye or squid with the Buffalo Museum of Science! This workshop allows participants to investigate body systems and visualize how structure relates to function. A $50 lab/materials fee is required.

NGSS Standards: MS-LS1-3, HS-LS1-2, HS-LS4-4

Zygmunt Planetarium

Step into our inflatable, digital Zygmunt Planetarium for a 20-30 minute facilitated experience that will allow your students to explore the night sky like never before. Limited capacity of 20 students and 2 chaperones per session.

*Also available as an outreach program to your site. See information under Science on Wheels.

Science on Stage

Gather your class in the Museum auditorium for an interactive and engaging
program bringing theatre and science together in dynamic ways!

SCIENCE BELOW ZERO (SUGGESTED GRADES K-8)

Chill out during this super cool stage show! Using things like liquid nitrogen and dry ice, participants will explore the phases of matter and kinetic energy in amazing ways. A $25 materials fee is required.

NGSS Standards: 4-PS3-2, 5-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4

Group Visit FAQ to Help you Plan your Day

How can I create the best experience for my students?

  • Choose your program based on grade level, content and/or process skills
  • Decide on the level of engagement from self-guided discovery to facilitated workshops
  • Teachers with Educator IDs are welcome to preview (most) exhibits, galleries, and programs at no charge

How many chaperones do you require?

We require at least one adult for every 10 students. Teachers and chaperones are admitted free of charge, up to 1 adult for every 10 students. Additional adults are $16 each. Discounts are not valid for group visits.

Can I adjust my reservation? What's your policy?

  • Final group numbers or changes to your reservation must be provided to the Museum a minimum of 48 hours prior to the scheduled visit. Groups that arrive with fewer people and fail to provide updated numbers 48 hours in advance will be charged the full total due on their initial reservation or the number of attendees the day of, whichever is higher.
  • If your program requires an extra supply fee, the number of supplies to be ordered must be finalized three weeks prior to the program. Even if the number of attendants changes, you will still be responsible for the full number of supplies ordered for your program.

How do I book a group visit?

To expedite your reservation, please have the following information ready when you call:

  • The complete name and mailing address of your school, the school phone number, fax number, and your e-mail address
  • Grade level of your students
  • Student total, teacher total, and chaperone total
  • The date and time you are interested in booking
  • Specific exhibits you wish to see or any programs in which you wish to participate
  • Lunch reservations

How early should I make a reservation?

Make your reservation at least four (4) week s in advance.

  • Reservations are recommended for groups of 10 or more and are required to receive the group rate
  • You will receive your confirmation and pre-visit materials by mail, fax, or email
  • If you need to cancel your visit, please call 716.896.5200 x338 to let us know as soon as possible

Anything I should know about my visit day-of?

  • Take a head count of students, chaperones, and teachers as you will need that number when you check in *The balance of the payment is due on the day of your visit and can be paid by cash, check, Visa or MasterCard
  • Any updates to head counts should be communicated to our Reservations Team 48 hours prior to your visit.
  • Payment for all students, teachers, and chaperones should be made by the contact person upon arrival in a single payment
  • You will receive your confirmation and pre-visit materials by mail, fax, or email
  • Coupons or guest passes cannot be accepted with group admissions

What about visits to Tifft Nature Preserve?

Combination fees are available for more than one experience at either the Museum, Tifft Nature Preserve or both.

What about lunch?

  • Make a lunchroom reservation when you book your visit and bring your lunch
  • If you are having lunch with us, make sure all students have written their names on their lunch bags and/or class lunches are stored together in a bag, bin, or box for easy location and identification
  • In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint we are encouraging all of our visitors to bring reusable lunch bags and other items that do not find their way into a landfill
  • Upon arrival bring your lunches into the museum where a bin will be available for storage
Family STEM Engagement Night at the Buffalo Museum of Science

Wouldn’t it be fun for your students and their families to take over the Museum for an evening? Host a STEM Family Engagement Night for your students’ families at the Buffalo Museum of Science. All four floors of the Museum will be open for your guests to explore at their own pace. Pricing starts at $3,000 for up to 200 guests. Contact our Group Reservation
line for more information or to reserve a date for your group. (716) 896-5200 x323 or [email protected].