Homeschool Programs

Architecture 101
7–14 year olds, 2 hours
Students engage in observation, drawing, and math exercises to build the skills crucial to being an architect: model-making, architectural drafting, and communication. During the program, students will also visit one of the Museum’s exhibitions as an introduction to the work of architectural creation.

Build a Green Roof
4–6 year olds, 1.5 hours
Learn about green roofs and how they help the environment. We will conduct experiments to investigate how plants help clean the air, adjust air temperature, and absorb water. As a group, students will design and build a large model green roof. Students will also take home a kit with instructions to build a working model green roof at home.

City by Design
7–9 year olds, 2 hours
Students become city planners for the day as they design and build their own model city. Students consider the problems a city can have and offer solutions by planning their own community. They use their imaginations to design and construct model buildings for the city using colorful supplies and recycled materials. Students will take their model buildings home.

Designing for the Arctic
7-9 year olds, 2 hours
Students will become architects and “meet” their client: a family in need of a new house in Barrow, Alaska. The family wants an environmentally sustainable home that can work with the extremely cold climate of the Arctic Circle. After investigating the climate and geography of this, the Northernmost city in the United States, green homes from the past and present, and green technologies and materials, students design and construct a model home to meet their clients’ needs. Students will take their designs home.

Designing for the Delta
7-9 year olds, 2 hours
Students will become architects and “meet” their client: a family in need of a new house in the New Orleans area. The family wants an environmentally sustainable home that can work with the humid, rainy climate of the Mississippi River Delta. After investigating the climate and geography of this region, green homes from the past and present, and green technologies and materials, students design and construct a model home to meet their clients’ needs. Students may take their designs home.

Designing for Disaster
10–14 year olds, 2 hours
In this hands-on investigation, students will learn how buildings can be built to withstand the force of an earthquake. They will experience the engineering design process by investigating front-line earthquake resilient technology and working in groups to design, construct, and test model buildings using a shake table. After analyzing how their structures performed, students will consider how they could improve their designs.

Designing on the Wild Side
4–9 year olds, 1.5-2 hours
Where would an orangutan like his bed? Does a tiger need personal space? What kind of exercise equipment does a macaw like? Students will investigate questions of this sort as they design habitats for animals and explore the client/architect relationship. After planning and designing a habitat for an animal, students will build model habitats to take home.

Engineering Egg Drop
7–14 year olds, 2 hours
Students learn about the process engineers use to bring new ideas to life. They are then given an engineering problem to solve through experimentation: how can they drop a raw egg safely from the Museum’s second floor balcony to the first floor without breaking? Is it possible using only one sheet of paper and a rubber band? Come test out your ideas!

Fuller’s Fantastic Geodesic Dome
10–14 year olds, 2 hours
What is a geodesic dome? Why did Buckminster Fuller think that the dome was such an innovative structure? How are engineering and math principles combined into this unique structure? Students investigate these questions while working together to construct a 6.5′ x 13′ geodesic dome.

My House, My Home
4–6 year olds, 1.5 hours
In the Museum’s House & Home exhibition, students have an opportunity to look closely at photographs and models of past and present American homes. This exploration continues in one of the Museum’s classrooms where students learn about the process of building a house through a hands-on demonstration with real tools and materials. These young builders then create their own houses out of color craft materials to take home.

Patterns Here, There, and Everywhere
4–6 year olds, 1.5 hours
Students learn about the importance of patterns in the buildings and world around them. On a scavenger hunt of the Museum’s building, students identify shapes and patterns by examining the walls, floors, and ceiling of the Museum. After investigating the Museum building, students head to a museum classroom to create patterns in individual booklets with a variety of materials.

Roller Coaster Rally
7-9 year olds, 2 hours
How do roller coaster designers create tracks that rise, fall, curve and loop, all while keeping their passengers safe? Discover the physics behind roller coaster design in this program. Students will design their own roller coaster courses for marbles, completing various challenges along the way. Class will conclude with students getting to test each other’s creations.

Storybuilders
7-9 year olds, 2 hours
Can a building tell a story? By looking closely at the National Building Museum and a visit to the Museum’s Animals, Collected exhibition, students learn about the elements of a story and how they are portrayed in buildings. Students then tell a story through different art mediums.

Symbolic Architecture
10–14 year olds, 2 hours
As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C. is both a city of residents and a national symbol. During this program students investigate how some of Washington D.C.’s monuments and memorials are examples of symbolic architecture. Through this exploration, students learn about the history of D.C. then become architects as they design their own symbolic building for the National Mall.

Think Global, Build Local
10–14 year olds, 2 hours
Students learn what makes a home environmentally sustainable, or “green,” by investigating green homes from the past and present. Students investigate different technologies and materials that help make each home suitable for its geographic region. Students then become architects and design and construct model green homes for several different geographic regions. Students take their designs home.

Water Works
7–14 year olds, 2 hours
In this program, students will learn through experimentation about the awesome power of water pressure and how civil engineers have utilized it over time. Students will work in small groups to create miniature architectural structures that transport water over distances, and shoot water the farthest possible distance. Using what they have learned, students will then design and build PVC pipe fountains. Students may get slightly wet during this class.

What time should we get to the Museum?
Check in for each program will begin half an hour before the program starts inside the Museum’s F Street entrance.

What should we do for lunch?
You may bring a bag lunch or purchase a lunch from the Museum Cafe and picnic on the Museum’s Great Hall carpet.

What is the cost?
Tickets are $10 for the morning programs and $5 for the afternoon open house. Each ticket covers one child’s participation. Children under 3 do not need tickets.

There is no cost for adults to participate as chaperones during scheduled activities. If an adult wishes to visit an exhibition independently of their participation in morning or afternoon programs, admission can be purchased at the admission desk at the regular rate of $10.

Please note that tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

What are the expectations for adult participation? Do I need to stay with my child?
Adult guardians are highly encouraged to stay during the program. This is recommended especially if your child will require additional one-on-one support from you in order to successfully participate, or if you think they will be unwilling to stay with the class for the duration of the program. Adults can contribute immensely to students’ experience at the Museum and the museum teachers appreciate support from adult chaperones. If you would like for your children to participate on their own or if you have multiple children in separate programs, all children must be picked up immediately after the program ends. For the safety of your children, adults are expected to remain in the building during the programs.

During the afternoon sessions, children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Can I bring my infant/toddler?
Yes. Please bring toys or activities to keep small children occupied during program times. Or, consider bringing any children under six years old to the Museum’s Building Zone.

My child is advanced for his/her age and grade level. Can I sign them up for a program designed for students older than his/her age?
No. Please follow the age ranges for each program when registering your children. Several of the programs for older children require children to be of a certain height or to have hand-eye coordination appropriate for their developmental age

My child has physical and/or academic special needs. What is the best procedure to include him/her in the program?
The Museum’s school programs are designed to accommodate all needs and are ideal for those students with special needs because they are hands-on and designed to complement a variety of learning styles. In order for your students to get the most out of our programs, it is important for our trained Museum Teachers to be made aware of any special needs your students have. The Museum strongly encourages you to indicate any special needs, whether physical or academic, when registering your student. Given enough notification, Museum educators can adapt school programs to fit the specific needs of your student. Please indicate how best to accommodate the student(s). A wheelchair accessible entrance is located at the G Street entrance of the Museum. Please email youthgroups@nbm.org with any questions.

What programs are offered?
Each Homeschool Day offers a different selection of programs. Please see the event page for a list of what programs are scheduled on a specific Homeschool Day.
Browse a complete list of programs.

How large are the classes?
Each program’s enrollment is limited to 22 students.

How do we get to the National Building Museum?
The Museum is located at 401 F Street NW, and is adjacent to the Judiciary Square station on Metro’s Red Line. Using the Metro is quick and easy, plus offers a great opportunity to talk with students about city design and transportation. The Museum is unable to provide public parking. We do not recommend driving to the Museum because finding parking can be very challenging. If you are driving, please allow an extra 30 minutes for traffic and to find parking. Two-hour metered parking is available on all sides of the building, however, if you are planning on staying at the Museum for longer than two hours, we recommend parking in one of the nearby parking garages.

I registered my child but we can no longer come. What should I do?
Email youthgroups@nbm.org to let us know you won’t be coming. While refunds are not available for program tickets or exhibition tickets, we will be able to offer your spot to another family

I have additional questions. What is the best way to communicate with the National Building Museum?
Due to the high volume of phone calls, e-mail is the most efficient method of communication. Email youthgroups@nbm.org for all questions regarding registration.