Curiosity Club (Grades 1-6)

Kids learn best when they can interact and play, and there’s no better place to do that than The Iowa Children’s Museum! Curiosity Club offers screen-free learning opportunities for elementary-aged students as well as “brain breaks” for children to enjoy our exhibits and explore the world around them.

Curiosity Club has an open-ended, project-based approach. Museum educators will collaborate with students to create learning opportunities that they are interested in. Students will first decide what question they want to answer (define the learning goal) and then our educators will help them come to their own conclusions and facilitate learning along the way. This child-led approach teaches resilience and allows for students to take charge in their learning by asking questions, performing research, and experimenting. We focus on giving kids the information and tools they need; they get to learn in their own way! This mindset has been proven effective in both STEM-based and arts-based programming.

This drop-off program is designed to supplement formal instruction for children participating in homeschooling or online learning opportunities. Our “hands-on, minds-on” approach helps kids learn in many different content areas, with an emphasis on 21st Century skills like collaboration, communication, and creativity.

Registration is currently closed.

Schedule

Each session is 4 weeks long: Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5:15 pm.

Time  Activity
3:15 PM Drop off and Greetings

Exhibit Exploration

3:30 PM Project-based and/or themed learning time
5:00 PM Exhibit exploration
5:15-5:30 PM Caregiver Pick-up

Cost: $40 per week, per child ($160 total for the 4-week session).

Who This Program is For: This program serves children in Grades 1-6. It is designed for students who are participating in homeschooling or online/virtual learning.

Curiosity Club meets the needs of children who are learning at home while also supporting parents and caregivers. There will be opportunities for caregivers to engage and interact with what the students are creating, playing, and learning in the program.

Other Program Details

  • Class size is a maximum of 12 students (1 adult to every 6 children ratio).
  • Our learning environment will include exhibits at The Iowa Children’s Museum as well as our classroom space. Program participants will not interact with other guests during the limited time periods where The ICM is open to the public.
  • Caregivers are asked to bring reusable water bottle for their child each day. Snacks will not be provided.
  • Extended care (before 3:15 or after 5:30 PM) is not available at this time

Health and Safety Protocols

The health of our guests, staff, and program participants in always our top priority. Please view our Health Protocols document for the full details about how we’re protecting the health of everyone in our space.

  • Participants and staff will be required to wear a facial covering during all program activities.
  • Health screenings (with a temperature check) will be required for all participants and staff.
  • Sharing materials will be limited; every participant will be provided with their own supplies to complete facilitated activities.
  • Social distancing will be a priority and, when it is not possible, we will ensure facial coverings are used.
Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend?

Little Explorers is a school readiness program for children ages 4-6.

Curiosity Club  is for children in grades 1-6 and is designed to supplement formal instruction for children participating in homeschooling or online learning.

When do programs take place?

Little Explorers is from 9-11 AM. Curiosity Club is from 3:30-5:15 PM. Both programs take place on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Drop-off programming is scheduled through the remainder of 2020, with plans to host more sessions in 2021. Each session is 4 weeks long.

Is extended care available?

Extended care (supervised play before or after scheduled program activities) is not available at this time.

What is the cost?

$40/week per child (total of $160 per session)

Members of The Iowa Children’s Museum receive a 10% discount on program fees.

What is the class size?

Maximum of 12 children per session

What is the ratio of adults to children?

Our ratio of adults to children is one adult per six children.

What health and safety precautions are you taking?

The health and safety of our participants, their families, and our staff is our highest priority. We are taking the following precautions during our drop-off programs:

  • Program capacity is limited to 12 participants.
  • Sharing materials will be limited; every participant will be provided with their own supplies to complete facilitated activities.
  • Facial coverings are required for both participants and staff.
  • Social distancing will be a priority and, when it is not possible, we will ensure facial coverings are used.
  • Health screenings (with a temperature check) will be required for all participants and staff.
  • Everyone will engage in frequent, regular hand washing.
  • Hand sanitizer will be available in all areas and staff will monitor to ensure everyone is using it frequently.
  • High-touch areas (door handles, railings, light swithces, etc.) are sanitized throughout the day and a thorough, museum-wide sanitizing of exhibit surfaces, toys, and or props is conducted each day.
  • The ICM is currently operating at a very low capacity (less than 6%) and we will ensure our play group is separate from other play groups in the museum.
  • Virus-mitigating air purifiers have been installed in our HVAC system along with other health and safety infrastructure investments.
  • We continually monitor our processes in order to make adjustments as needed.

What is the refund policy?

If you cancel your registration at least one week prior to the start of the program, we will refund your tuition minus a 5% credit card processing fee. If you cancel your registration with less than one week notice, no refund or credit will be given unless it is a medical emergency. If the program is cancelled by The Iowa Children’s Museum to address health and safety concerns (i.e., COVID-19 or other community health issues), your payment will be refunded in full.

The Iowa Children’s Museum reserves the right to cancel or reschedule classes if minimum enrollment (5 children) is not met. In this instance, The Iowa Children’s Museum will notify registrants of the cancellation prior to the start of the program and issue a full refund.