Examine real fossils, engineer a home, or learn about seasons and weather in our solar system!

Enhance your field trip with these hands-on experiences, designed around New Jersey’s curriculum standards.

Gallery Guides, designed to encourage students to engage and explore our long-term exhibits, are available at the Museum & on our website https://nj.gov/state/museum/virtual-gallery-guides.shtml here.

• We offer workshops for a wide range of grades, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
• All workshops are 45 minutes long.
• All workshops can accommodate groups of 15 – 25.
• Groups with a larger size will be divided into multiple sessions. Groups over 200 students cannot be accommodated on the same day but may be divided into multiple days if needed.

Reservations are now being accepted. Reservations and Information: Call (609) 292-1382 or Email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov

Cost: $5.00 per student

Preschool/Early Elementary Workshops [Pre-K – 1st grade]
TWe offer three workshops focusing on art, dinosaurs, and space that incorporate elements of play and inquiry-based learning for preschool through first grade students.

Paint Me a Story
Art and storytelling go hand in hand as we discover how the art on display tells stories and engages our minds and bodies. Explore color theory and learn to make colors to express yourself.

Dino Motion
Discover how dinosaurs and prehistoric reptiles moved through their environments as we combine science and imaginative play. Learn about trackways and what they can tell us about ancient animals.

Planets on Parade
Meet our favorite star and the planets in our solar system. Learn the order of the planets and how they orbit around the Sun, then design your own special planet!

Elementary, Middle and High School Workshops [2nd – 12th grade]

Lenape Pottery in the Archaeological Record [2 – 8 grade]
Learn how archaeologists trace the development of pottery through the Woodland Period. Students will examine pottery sherds and work together to piece pottery like real archaeologists. This workshop is available for a wide range of grades, and is adjustable to fit your grade level!

Shifting Seasons [2 – 5 grade]
What’s the weather going to be like tomorrow? What about in six months? Explore how the Earth rotates around the Sun and the reason for the seasons, and learn how scientists predict the weather.

Junior Paleontologist [2 – 8 grade]
Do you have what it takes to be a paleontologist? Explore the history of life on Earth through games and describe real fossils – some hundreds of millions of years old – by developing and honing your observation and description skills, just like real paleontologists. This workshop is available for a wide range of grades, and is adjustable to fit your grade level!

Hearth & Home [5 – 8 grade]
Using Indigenous homes as inspiration, student teams construct home models designed to combat the climate challenges of North American ecosystems and practice being sustainable engineers.

Changing Coastlines [9 - 12 grade]
Using scientific data, explore how climate scientists understand patterns of change using global temperatures over the past century. Students will learn about the impacts of sea level rise here in New Jersey and consider possible solutions for the future.

Meet the Museum’s scientists - and bring your toughest questions!

Our Ask the Expert talks are best for larger groups, but groups of any size can reserve the program. They offer a more in-depth discussion of scientific topics explored in the Museum, led by our own Museum curators! These live talks are 45 minutes long and we have options for elementary through high school students. Virtual options are also available; ask how to Zoom our Expert into YOUR classroom!

Reservations and Information: Email reservations.njsm@sos.nj.gov

Cost: $5 per student.

Fossil Exploration [K – 3 grades]
Learn about the fossils of New Jersey with Paleontologist Dr. Devra Hock-Reid and get a chance to interact with some real fossils.

Fossil Hunters of NJ [3 – 8 grades]
New Jersey abounds with fossils! Paleontologist Dr. Dana Ehret shares exciting fossil discoveries from throughout the state, what fossils tell us about ancient ecosystems, and the challenges paleontologists face in this adventurous field.

Our Place in Space [3 – 8 grades]
We’re all passengers on spaceship Earth! Learn about our place in the universe from astronomer Dr. Jacob Hamer, who will share how astronomers have discovered so much about planets, stars, galaxies, and more.

People of the Past [3 – 8 grades]
How do artifacts help archaeologists understand the lives of people in prehistoric and historic New Jersey? Archaeologist Dr. Gregory Lattanzi leads this exploration of the unique artifacts found here, and what they tell us about the lifestyle of people who lived in the state through time.

The New Jersey State Museum offers students 4 floors of exhibits exploring the Natural and Cultural history of the State, Archaeology and the Lenape people and a remarkable Fine Art collection. Each long-term exhibit gallery offers printed guides for both pre-K and older students to explore on their own.

Groups may also choose to reserve a guided tour of a specific gallery, led by our expert docent corp. Groups larger than 30 students may be split into multiple tours. Minimum group size is 15 students. Cost: FREE, advanced reservations required.

Reservations and Information: Email njsm.reservations@sos.nj.gov