Idaho Museum of Natural History summer programs include kids’ activities, NASA teachers' workshop

The IMNH is hosting several summer activities and camps sponsored by NASA that include:

• June 15 – 10 a.m.-noon, “States of Matter-Gas, Liquid and Solid” for kindergarten through third grade
• June 22 – 10 a.m.-noon, “Colors on the Move – Molecules and Intermolecular Forces,” fourth-eighth grade
• July 6 – 10 a.m.-noon, “Polymer-Slime and Bouncy Ball,” kindergarten – eighth grade
• July 20 – 10 a.m.-noon, “Periodic Table of Elements ,” kindergarten – eighth grade
• June 27-29 – 10 a.m.-noon, “Rockets – Chemical Reaction and Gases, third – fifth grade
• July 11-13 – 10 a.m.-noon, “Silver and Nanotechnology – Chemical Reaction in Nature,” sixth – eighth grade.

The summer camps are free of charge but registration is required because spots are limited.

NASA is also sponsoring a teacher workshop, the iNaturalist Educator Workshop, for middle and high school teachers June 13 and 14. High school and middle school science teachers are invited to spend two days learning about citizen science with botanist Rick Williams and herpetologist Chuck Peterson.

Participants in the teacher workshop will spend a day in the museum learning about citizen science resource iNaturalist and how to use it in the classroom. They will also spend a day in the field using iNaturalist learning about Idaho plants, amphibians and reptiles. Registration is required because spots are limited. There is no fee, but participants can earn one continuing education credit. Registration for this workshop opens May 22.

Other summer programs include:

• July 14 – 9:30 a.m. ­– noon, “Natural History Walk” for high school students who will spend time exploring nature discussing and observing natural history fields such as botany, geology, ornithology and entomology. Registration is required and there is a $5 fee.
• July 18 – A free “Look and Feel Day” for pre-kindergarten through second grade. Kids will be able to see, touch and feel objects from nature and view nature objects in microscopes.
• July 26 – “Weather!” for third-graders and up. Kids will explore the phenomenon of weather examining why and how it happens.Registration is required and there is a $5 fee.
• Aug. 2 – “Meet the Scientists.” High school students are invited to meet scientists from across the ISU campus and chat with them about their careers, schooling, and research. This is a free event.
• Aug. 8 –“Food Web,” for third-graders and up. From slime to lions, kids will explore food webs, learning about the different levels of the web and interactions of organisms involved. Registration is required and there is a $5 fee.

To register for any of these classes please visit imnh.isu.edu/home/summer-programs. For more information about the museum visit imnh.isu.edu or call 208-282-3168.