Picture of Aircraft at the Air Zoo in Michigan

Homeschool Discovery

Homeschool Discovery Days at the Air Zoo!

Kids at Homeschool Discovery Days at the Air Zoo

Homeschool Discovery Days are the perfect addition to any homeschool curriculum. The Air Zoo’s homeschool programs are designed to fulfill both Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Michigan Science Standards with dynamic, hands-on lesson plans and interactive demonstrations and tours. Prepare for your classes and follow up to reinforce concepts with the pre- and post-lesson activities available on our website! Download the 2021-2022 Education Guide now!

General Information:

Ages: 5-14
Dates: First Tuesdays of the month, according to schedule.

Times: Check-in/Free time 1-1:45pm
Class/Demonstration/Tour (in rotation by age group) 2-4:30pm
Free time 4:30-5pm

Fees: $11 per participating child (covers admission, classes, tours, and demonstrations), Member discount 10% (must sign in prior to selecting your program online)

An adult must remain on site during the homeschool program. Discounted admission can be purchased at the ticket counter upon arrival: $8 per adult (members free), $7 per non-participating child ages 5 - 18 (members free), Youth 4 and younger free.

Registration: Online registration deadline is 3 pm the Monday before each class. Registration is required for participation. Walk-ins on the day of the event will not be permitted to take a class.

Financial Aid and Scholarship funds are available! If applying for Financial Aid/Scholarships, please submit your application prior to registering for a Homeschool Discovery Program. Click HERE to apply on line.

COVID Safety Policy:

All students, teachers, aids and parents will be required to wear a mask during the program, no exceptions.

2021-2022 Programs

November 30, 2021 – Earth Science

Registration Deadline: November 29th @ 3pm

Science Rocks!: Learn to experiment with geology in the kitchen with Devin Dennie on the Geology Kitchen YouTube channel. Watch The Hungry Geologist create the three types of rocks, volcanoes, plate tectonics and different types of minerals. Do try this at home!

Ages 5-7 Mineral Detective: Oh no! We dropped a box of sorted minerals on the floor and we need your help figuring out what each mineral is and getting it back into the correct bin. Students will learn about mineral classification and then help classify minerals based on the Mohs’ Hardness Scale and other mineral tests.

Ages 8-11 Dynamic Earth: Children reveal Michigan history by digging out “fossils” and learn to interpret map data in this hands-on class. Observe simulated glacial movements that re-create the formation of the Great Lakes. Alter the landscape in our 5-foot stream table model to prevent water erosion and flooding!

Ages 12-14 Earth Scientists: Use the law of superposition to create a model of the Earth’s crust and underground resources, then use geoscientific processes to deform and change the landscape. Explore how energy from the Sun interacts with the hydrosphere, causes state changes, and drives the water cycle that supports life on Earth.

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 3-LS4-1, 4-ESS1-1 MI, ESS2.A, LS4.A, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS3-1

February 1, 2022 – Aviation Materials Science

Registration Deadline: January 31st @ 3pm

Open Cockpits: We will have a few airplanes open in both the Main Campus and East Campus for you to climb on in and see the cockpit panels and controls. A great photo op!

Ages 5-7 Aviation Materials Science: Which materials have the properties best suited to achieving and maintaining flight? Young engineers will classify materials based on texture, hardness, and flexibility, explore the effects of friction, and test their designs under a variety of extreme conditions.

Ages 8-11 Aviation Materials Science: Which materials have the properties best suited to achieving and maintaining flight? Test and modify a variety of materials including metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites while exploring how matter behaves under the extreme temperature and pressure changes experienced by aircraft.

Ages 12-14 Aircraft Restoration: What happens to an aircraft after it’s been lying at the bottom of Lake Michigan for 68 years? Discover how thermal energy, pressure, and other extreme conditions modify natural and synthetic materials while you help restore a World War II airplane at the Aircraft Restoration Center (Air Zoo East Campus).

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2, 2-PS1-4, 5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4, MS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4

March 1, 2022 – Meteorology

Registration Deadline: February 28th @ 3pm

Fizz, Boom, Soar: Get blown away by erupting liquids, a booming cannon, and soaring machines in this ultra-high energy demonstration of physics, chemistry, and flight science that will get everyone out of their seats!

Ages 5-7 Weather Explorers: Children encounter air pressure at work with a large, puppet version of the “Cat in the Hat”, and explore the question, “What is weather, and why is it important to us?” Kids learn about and utilize the vocabulary of weather, view instruments used to measure our changing atmosphere, and create tools to measure wind direction in this wacky weather workshop.

Ages 8-11 Storm Chasers: Young meteorologists make weather observations, use weather map skills, and operate weather instruments while learning the science behind our changing atmosphere. Students study natural hazards like tornadoes and floods by interacting with a dry ice tornado and a 5-foot stream table model.

Ages 12-14 Weather Watchers: You know what they say about weather in Michigan, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes!” Weather is very difficult to predict, especially near large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. Explore the motions and complex interactions of air masses that result in changes in weather conditions. Use a model to describe how patterns of atmospheric and oceanic circulation determine regional climates.

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: K-PS3-1, PS3.B, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS3-2, ESS2.D, 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS3-1, 3-PS2-2, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6

May 3, 2022 – Physics

Registration Deadline: May 2nd @ 3pm

The Greatest Show on Earth: Experience the thrills and chills of a lifetime while testing the true power of energy, the laws of physics, and forces in motion. Audience members demonstrate amazing feats of strength and agility using their scientific knowledge and skill against Thor’s Hammer, the Strongman Hammer Challenge, and the Air Zoo Bumper Car extravaganza!

Ages 5-7 Motion Madness: Do you have what it takes to design the best amusement park ride ever? Learn what it takes to get things moving by experimenting with forces and motion as you design a ride for a ping-pong ball full of ramps, spirals, cups, and whatever else you can get the ball to ride on. Fasten your seat belts!

Ages 8-11 Rockin’ Roller Coasters: Young physicists learn how speed, mass, g-force, and potential energy affect the design of the most popular thrill rides on the planet! Students use engineering principles to cooperatively build and test their own large-scale roller coasters in this popular class experience!

Ages 12-14 Kinetic Coasters: Young physicists learn how acceleration, the Law of Conservation of Energy, and potential and kinetic energy affect the design of the most popular thrill rides on the planet! Students use engineering principles to cooperatively build and test their own roller coasters.

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 4-PS3-4, 5-PS2-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-5, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4

Come visit us.

Great place! Very interesting educational and informational! Great place to take the whole family as there is something for young children up to adults!

blackeyedsusan2018
We took our grown daughters and young grandsons to the Air Zoo. It was very entertaining for all of us. There is so much to see and do. Rides for the whole family!

Rick C

Homeschool Discovery

Homeschool Discovery Days at the Air Zoo!

COVID Safety Policy:

2021-2022 Programs

November 30, 2021 – Earth Science

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2, 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 3-LS4-1, 4-ESS1-1 MI, ESS2.A, LS4.A, MS-ESS2-1, MS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS3-1

February 1, 2022 – Aviation Materials Science

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: 2-PS1-1, 2-PS1-2, 2-PS1-4, 5-PS1-1, 5-PS1-3, 5-PS1-4, MS-PS1-3, MS-PS1-4

March 1, 2022 – Meteorology

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: K-PS3-1, PS3.B, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS3-2, ESS2.D, 3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS3-1, 3-PS2-2, MS-ESS2-5, MS-ESS2-6

May 3, 2022 – Physics

These classes fulfill the following NGSS: K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, 3-PS2-1, 3-PS2-2, 4-PS3-4, 5-PS2-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3, MS-PS3-1, MS-PS3-5, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4

For Kids

Come experience the sky

Come visit us.

Great place! Very interesting educational and informational! Great place to take the whole family as there is something for young children up to adults!

blackeyedsusan2018

We took our grown daughters and young grandsons to the Air Zoo. It was very entertaining for all of us. There is so much to see and do. Rides for the whole family!

Rick C