Weekly Homeschool Classes for 5-11* Year-Olds
Introduce your homeschool student to the Natural Sciences.
Now is the time to encourage your child’s love of nature! This fall, preschool and homeschool children will have the opportunity explore all that the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary has to offer. Students will experience learning through classroom activities, outdoor field investigations on our 289-acre wildlife sanctuary, laboratory science, small group activities and take-home study packets. Each course curriculum is developed by the Heard Museum's education staff who strive to recognize and meet the needs of homeschool families.
The Heard's weekly Homeschool Natural Science Program is appropriate for children ages 5-11*.
*Age of student on September 1, 2017 for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Classes meet weekly on Tuesdays from 1-3 p.m.
For monthly classes appropriate for children ages 12-13 (NEW), please click here.
Tuition
Per Semester: 26 Hours/13 Weeks
$210 Heard Museum Member* | $230 Non-member
Monthly Payment Plan
- (Includes $5 processing fee per payment)
- $95 Heard Museum Member* down payment | $115 Non-member down payment
- A monthly payment (includes a $5 processing fee) will be charged to your credit card on file the 1st of October and November in the fall or February and March in the spring.
Dates
Fall Semester
- Starts week of September 12
- Ends week of Dec 12
- No classes Thanksgiving week
- Meet the Teacher Open House
- Drop by and visit the classroom and meet the Teacher anytime during the hour - Tues 9/5 from 1-2 p.m.
Spring Semester
- Starts week of January 16
- Ends week of April 16
- No classes spring break week (3/12 - 3/16)
- Meet the Teacher Open House
- Drop by and visit the classroom and meet the Teacher anytime during the hour - Tues 1/9 from 1-2 p.m.
Registration Information
To register
Alternatively, you can use the monthly payment form (please note you must also submit the Credit Card Authorization Form). See more details below.
Please note registration is not complete until a registration form and payment have been completed and submitted for each participating child.
Topics
5-year-olds
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Fall
- Which ‘Ology is Which?
“Ology” refers to the study of a topic, and in this class young scientists are introduced to the study of a variety of scientific fields. Ornithology (birds), herpetology (reptiles & amphibians), entomology (insects) and mammology (mammals) are just a few of the “ologies” that are explored in class.
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Spring
- Which ‘Ology is Which? Earth & Planetary Science
Young scientists will explore some of the “ologies” that deal with earth and space including geology, climatology, vulcanology and planetology. The hands-on activities, games and experiments will involve your child directly in the learning process.
6-7-year-olds
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Fall
- Discover Your World: Animals
Animals come in a vast array of shapes and sizes. Students will explore animal diversity though their classification, habitats, survival requirements and interrelationships.
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Spring
- Discover Your World: Habitats of Texas
From the desert to the ocean, ponds to wetlands, and mountains to prairies, this semester we will study the many different environments in Texas and the plants and animals make their homes there.
8-9 year-olds
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Fall
- Explorers: Forest Ecology
Students will study forests around the world, the relationship between trees and plants and the animals that depend on them, as well as explore the importance of forests to us and the global environment. This class utilizes the different woodland habitats found on the sanctuary.
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Spring
- Explorers: Wildlife and Water
How plants and animals need and use water in the different habitats on the sanctuary and in the world is the focus of this experiential study. Students will also compare the ways wildlife adapts to living in freshwater and saltwater environments.
10-11-year-olds
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Fall
- Earth Trek: Living on the Planet
From ants to zebras, every animal on the Earth has a purpose. Students will discover the importance of a myriad of animal species on our planet and learn the connections they have to us and each other. We will explore different ecological dilemmas from endangered species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems, animal behavior and health. With the application of the scientific method, this will be an in-depth, thought-provoking and problem-solving experience.
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Spring
- Earth Trek: Living on the Planet II
In Part 2, we will continue to explore different ecological dilemmas from endangered species to the effects of climate change on ecosystems, animal behavior and health. With the application of the scientific method, this will be an in-depth, thought-provoking and problem-solving experience.
Refund Policies
Refund cancellation dates Fall Semester:
- Full refund minus $10 admin fee by August 18
- 50% refund by September 1
- No refund after September 1
Refund cancellation dates Spring Semester:
- Full refund minus $10 admin fee by December 15
- 50% refund by December 29
- No refund after December 29
Regarding the Monthly Payment Plan: If you choose to use the Monthly Payment Plan, please note that you will also be required to submit a Credit Card Authorization Form. The credit card information you provide on that form will be used to process your additional monthly payments. A fee of $5 per payment for your first child applies. For additional children, you will only be charged $5 per child rather than per payment. You are responsible for keeping your credit card information up to date. Your card will be charged on the 1st of (Fall) October and November and (Spring) February and March. Failure to provide payment by two weeks after these dates will result in suspension from our program and may result in the loss of future privileges to use the monthly payment option. It is the parent's responsibility to make sure that we have a valid credit card on file at the time of payment processing. A $10 service fee may be assessed if we must contact you for an up-to-date credit card account.