Animal Adaptations  |  45 minutes |  $3/student  |  NO KIT

Please, schedule at least 2 weeks in advance!

Explore the amazing variety of animal body parts that help creatures sense their surroundings, eat, survive, and thrive! Use your creativity to adapt or improve your human body. Pay a virtual visit to AirZoo Education’s creepy crawly class pets. 

ECSQ-PK: S1-1, S2-1, S2-3, S2-5; NGSS: K-LS1-1, K-ESS3-1

Fantastic Flying |  45 minutes |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Discover how people learned to fly by studying birds and experimenting with kites, gliders, and planes! After comparing the shapes and functions of a bird’s body with an airplane, young aviators make their own take-home flying machines. 

ECSQ-PK: S1-3, S1-4;  NGSS: K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, K-2-ETS1-1

Weather Explorers   |  45 minutes |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Children encounter air pressure at work with 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. 

ECSQ-PK: PS3.4, PS3.5; NGSS: K-PS3-1, PS3.B, K-ESS2-1, K-ESS3-2, ESS2.D 

Astronauts |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Astronauts are living in space! Join us for an astronaut challenge as students learn about the special tools and equipment used aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Young explorers end the class by creating their own space apparel! 

K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-PS1-3, K-2-ETS1-1, ETS1.A 

High Flying Fun |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Discover how people learned to fly in this introductory aviation course. Start by comparing the shapes and structures of a bird’s body to the parts of an airplane, learn about the basic forces of flight, and then get hands on with a flying craft! 

K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, K-2-ETS1-1 

Primary STEAM Engineering Challenge  |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Jump into the story of the ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff’ and then design a bridge to protect the goats from the troll! In this introductory engineering course, students will use the engineering design process to identify problems, ask questions, brainstorm solutions, and then test their creations!  

K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, K-2-ETS1-3 

Astronauts |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Astronauts are living in space! Join us for an astronaut challenge as students learn about the special tools and equipment used aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Young explorers end the class by creating their own space apparel! 

K-LS1-1, 1-LS1-1, 2-PS1-3, K-2-ETS1-1, ETS1.A 

High Flying Fun |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Discover how people learned to fly in this introductory aviation course. Start by comparing the shapes and structures of a bird’s body to the parts of an airplane, learn about the basic forces of flight, and then get hands on with a flying craft! 

K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, K-2-ETS1-1 

Primary STEAM Engineering Challenge  |  45 minutes  |  $5/student 

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Jump into the story of the ‘Three Billy Goats Gruff’ and then design a bridge to protect the goats from the troll! In this introductory engineering course, students will use the engineering design process to identify problems, ask questions, brainstorm solutions, and then test their creations!  

K-PS2-1, K-PS2-2, K-2-ETS1-1, K-2-ETS1-2, K-2-ETS1-3 

The Forces Are with You  |  60 minutes  |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Young scientists utilize engaging models to demonstrate the power of physics and learn about Newton’s Laws of Motion. Basic physics principles come to life as students manipulate variables while building make-at-home hovercrafts and catapults to test the formula: Force = Mass x Acceleration. 

4-PS3-1, 4-PS3-4, 3-5-ETS1-3, 5-PS2-1 

This IS Rocket Science  |  60 minutes  |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Young astrophysicists learn how rockets work by gaining knowledge of physical forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion. They race the force of gravity, investigate the exchange of energy, and create real-life action/reaction scenarios while building and launching their own make-at-home reusable rockets (weather permitting). 

4-PS3-4, 5-PS2-1, 5-PS2.B 

Young Aviators  |  60 minutes  |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Students explore the science and history of flight during this exciting hands-on experience. Young Aviators experiment with the four forces of flight and learn how to manipulate airplane control surfaces to make their own homemade glider soar! 

3-5-ETS1-3, 4-PS3-4, 5-PS2-1 

Flight School Science  |  60 minutes  |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Students explore the science and history of flight during this hands-on experience! Participants design and build FPG-9 gliders and experiment with the four forces of flight, control surfaces, and Bernoulli’s Principle. 

PS2.A, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS2-4, MS-ETS1-2 

This IS Rocket Science  |  60 minutes  |  $5/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

Young astrophysicists learn how rockets work by gaining knowledge of physical forces and Newton’s Laws of Motion. They race the force of gravity, investigate the exchange of energy, and create real-life action/reaction scenarios while building and launching their own make-at-home reusable rockets (weather permitting). 

MS-PS2-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS3-4, MS-PS3-5 

Aeronautical Engineering   |  120 minutes  |  $8/student

Please, schedule at least 4 weeks in advance!

What does it take to design a new aircraft? Aspiring aeronautical engineers examine this real-world engineering challenge and study Bernoulli’s Principle of air pressure, lift-to-drag ratios, and flight controls. Students explore aircraft design and aerodynamic principles, build and test wing prototypes with a fan, and modify their designs to make them fly! 

HS-PS2-1, HS-PS2-2, HS-PS3-3, ETS1.C, HS-ETS1-2 

Field Trips - Visit us!

Depending on your unique interests and how much time you have to spend with us, your class trip will have you exploring the many hands-on learning opportunities at the Air Zoo!

The Air Zoo houses an impressive array of aircraft from the Sopwith Camel to the fastest airplane ever to streak across the sky, the SR-71B Blackbird. But that's just the beginning! Your students can take a spin in our Full-Motion Flight Simulators* lift up and away in the Montgolfier Balloon Race ride and share the cockpit of a colorful Flying Circus Biplane! And don't forget our theater with three movies, in addition to our Paratrooper Jump, Corsair Challenge* and our newest hands-on exhibits Alien World's & Androids. Middle and high school students can also work side by side with our nationally recognized restoration team as they restore one-of-a-kind WWII aircraft that have been rescued from the bottom of Lake Michigan!

*Some experiences are limited or unavailable due to COVID-19 safety policies. Please inquire about these items when booking your trip with our group and events team.

Homeschool Discovery Days

These programs are scheduled the first Tuesdays of the month and are the perfect addition to any homeschool curriculum. The Air Zoo's homeschool programs are designed to fulfill Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) 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! 

Preschool STEAM Days

Preschool STEAM Days are designed to give young children and their adult chaperones a taste of science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM). These fun, hands-on, interactive activities will leave your young scientist wanting to explore even more at home! These programs will be offered the first Wednesday of the month.

Launchpad to Learning!

Online Activities & Videos to keep kids entertained (and learning)

With more than 60 videos spanning from artifacts and aircraft, to science experiments and stories of our aerospace pioneers, there are countless ways to offer educaitonal and inspiring content for your students - in the classroom, or at home!