Science Classes
Each term — Fall, Winter, and Spring — offers a different sequence of events throughout the year. Each term’s events will include assemblies, films, lab classes, planetarium shows, and family classes that will change topics.
2023-2024 Class Schedule
Science Assembly: Each term is a new Science Assembly with exciting large group presentations with calling students to the stage and WOW explosion demonstrations.
Planetarium Shows: Six different Homeschool Education Planetarium shows will be featured throughout the year. (Previously we ran five weeks in a row of planetarium shows. Based on feedback, we are splitting these up throughout the year.) (Parent ticket is included in tuition).
Submarine Tour/Lab: Fall - General Submarine Education history tour, Winter — Nuclear and sonar systems tour, Spring — Submarine Lab (not a tour)
Science Showcase Day: Located in the Auditorium. OMSI Science Educators will present science demonstrations each hour, Lab classes have demonstration tables to show off class experiments, and Students will have tables to bring their experiments and projects from home to show or explain. (Imagine a low-key science fair for classes and individuals.)
Family Science Class: Based on survey feedback, families wanted a return of our “Outreach” Classes that offered a family-friendly class for mixed age and mixed siblings/friends. These are the series of classes, ie: Inflatable Whale, Portable Planetarium, etc., and are typically sent out of the museum to travel the state and visit schools. These will be open for parents to join their student, or to collaborate with siblings . . . allowing homeschooling families to carry the conversation in the car ride home to the living room for home science discussions.
Film Day: Each term we will offer families to help select six science films to join. The films range from younger to older (and a few high adventure!), science or history-related films. Different than in the past, tuition will include the parent ticket — no extra charge.
OMSI Science Lab Class topics (Fall, Winter, and Spring) — exact topics will be posted in June.
Level 1 (K/1st) Lab Classes 60-minute block (Per Term $125 return/$150 new)
Fall — Intro to Science and Chemistry Reactions
Winter — Physics and Earth Science
Spring — Life Science — Garden Science
Level 2 (1st-3rd graders) Lab Classes - 90-minute block (Per Term $150 return/$175 new)
Fall — Physics
Winter — Earth
Spring — Life Science
Level 3 (2nd-4th graders) Lab Classes 90-minute block (Per Term $150 return/$175 new)
Fall — Life Science
Winter — Physics
Spring — Earth
Level 4 (5-6th grade) 90-minute block (Per Term $150 return/$175 new)
Fall — Earth
Winter — Life
Spring — Physics
Level 5 —Middle School Challenge (7-9th grades) 2-hour block Morning and Afternoon options (Per Term $175 return/$200 new)
Chemistry — This class covers the basics of chemistry. In fifteen 2-hour meetings, students explore the nature of matter, examine reactions, and learn scientific techniques for measuring, separating, and identifying. Students will also complete scientific experiments of their own design.
LEGO Engineering — 2nd-5th grade (Per Term $150 return/$175 new)
This class will explore various construction methods used throughout history, highlighting relevant engineering and physics concepts. Each week will include a building session to provide a kinesthetic learning experience. Emphasized values include collaboration, cooperation, patience, and respect.
Fall — Post and Lintel, Buttresses, Arches,
Winter — Skyscrapers, Castles, Hotels, and Villages.
Spring — Bridges, Religious Buildings, Pyramids,
Level 3 Family Science (2nd-4th graders — 1 student & 1 parent) 90-minute block — Afternoons (Per Term $150 return/$175 new)
This class is designed for NT and ND students wanting to attend as a parent-student team. The class is smaller is size to accommodate more adult participation and support.
TAG: Higher-level courses are offered to 4-6th grade TAG students for community and social connections. Please contact us for times.
Special Request Options:
Scientists needing consistent/constant adult support should choose Family Science classes. These classes are designed to support smaller ratios and provide more flexibility, and parent inclusion in the classroom for neuro-typical and neuro-diverse scientists.
Science families needing special in-class accommodations will contact OHSC for the accommodation request form. Due to the OHSC program's limitation, accommodations may need one term of planning to execute. Without the accommodation request, undisclosed accommodation needs may result in reassignment to a later semester/year. OHSC and OMSI will try to create a plan to meet unique students' needs with appropriate class placement. OHSC and OMSI are not staffed, funded, or under obligation to support all requests and must adhere to safety protocols for the staff, fellow classmates, and other OMSI visitors. This is a homeschool co-op community with many volunteers and everyone pitches in to try to include everyone to the best of all of their abilities. Options available vary and not all requests can be met every semester. Please contact for more information.
Science Classes are held on Tuesdays.
Science Labs are private classes held around OMSI, taught by OMSI Science Educators, and assisted by Oregon Homeschool Science Parent Volunteers.
The sequence design allows students to experience six branches of science throughout the grade levels; Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Earth, Astronomy, and STEM. Science is about repetition, searching for the variables, replication, and new discovery. We hope you find a series of classes that support your homeschooling curriculum.
To Register — Sign up on our registration page. After your student is placed in a class, an invoice will be sent to your family.