Each week at Thanksgiving Point are tons of educational and fun activities for families of all ages and abilities! Our Family Programs include, Tales for Tots, Monday Night Activities, and Design Challenge, just to name a few. All activities are FREE for Thanksgiving Point Members, as they are included with venue admissions.
The programs are always adapting and changing throughout the year so check back often for updates. They are also led by our trained educational team to ensure each person at the activity has a great time learning and playing together as family and friends. Click each drop-down menu below to learn more about these one-of-a-kind educational opportunities at Thanksgiving Point and to see dates, locations, and times for each one. See you soon!
Join us for our hands-on storytelling adventures, Tales for Tots, held each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 11 am. Each day a new story is read followed by a fun activity that goes along with that story.
Tuesday – Museum of Ancient Life
Wednesday – Farm Country
Thursday – Museum of Natural Curiosity
Friday (June - September) – Ashton Gardens
Upcoming Schedule:
June 26 | Dinosaur Vs. The Library by Bob Shea
Dinosaur is going to one of his favorite places: the library! But how will his roaring go over at the library? Has Dinosaur finally met his match in Storytime?
July 2 | Beekle by Dan Santat
This magical story begins on an island far away where an imaginary friend is born. He patiently waits his turn to be chosen by a real child.
July 10 | Linus the Vegetarian T-Rex by Robert Neubecker
Dino lovers young and old will delight in this picture book chock-full of prehistoric personality—and don’t forget to search for the naughty velociraptor duo hidden throughout the book!
July 17 | Magnet Max by Monica Lozano Hughes
Magnet Max loves experimenting with magnets. He knows all about how they work and loves using them to attract new types of things
July 24 | Charlotte and the Rock by Stephen W. Martin
Charlotte has always really wanted a pet, so when her parents present her with one for her birthday she expects a cat, dog, or maybe a bird. Instead, she receives a rock.
July 31 | Are Pirates Polite? By Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehring
Pirates are unruly and pirates love to fight, but pirates still say 'please' and 'thanks' 'cause pirates are polite.
June 20 | Mary Had a Little Lab by Sue Fliess
Mary is an enterprising young inventor. She wants a pet, but it isn’t one she can easily buy…so she makes one with the Sheepinator!
June 27 | You Nest Here with Me by Jane Yolen
As a mother describes to her child how many species of birds nest, from pigeons on concrete ledges to owls in oak tree boles to swallows above barn doors.
July 4 | No Class
July 11 | Have You Seen My Cat? By Eric Carle
A little boy worries about his missing cat and travels to different places in search of his pet.
July 18 | Do Cows Meow? By Salina Yoon
Do cows sing? Do cows cuckoo? All I know is cows go...MOO!
July 25 | Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
Wilbur is different from the other Naked Mole Rats in his Colony, because he wears clothes (and he likes it!).
June 21 | Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Caralyn Buchner and Mark Buchner
Join goldilocks in in her adventure into the home of the three bears.
June 28 | My Aunt Came Back by John Feierabend
Revisiting a folk music classic, this delightfully illustrated picture book adds an unexpected twist to a timeless song, building to a hilarious conclusion certain to engage children time and again.
July 5 | Alice the Fairy by David Shannon
Alice has a nose for trouble, but luckily she's a fairy--a Temporary Fairy.
July 12 | Our Marching Band by Lloyd Moss
When all the kids in the neighborhood take up musical instruments, they produce awful tones, but with practice they come together as a marching band that brings brassy, classy fun.
July 19 | If You’re a Robot and You Know It by David A Carter
If you're a robot and you know it clap your hands, jump and beep, fly around, shoot laser beams out of your eyes!
July 26 | City Street Beat by Nancy Viau
In City Street Beat, a young girl travels along a city's twisty road on her way to a friend’s house. Together, they embark on an adventure, taking in all the city’s sights and sounds.
June 22 | Oh Where Has My Little Dog Gone by Iza Tapani
After being scolded by his young owner, the little dog with his ears cut short and his tail cut long runs away from home.
June 29 | Hank’s Big Day by Evan Kuhlman
Hank is a pill bug with a busy life—for a pill bug, that is.
July 6 | We Found a Hat by Jon Klassen
Two turtles have found a hat. The hat looks good on both of them. But there are two turtles. And there is only one hat....
July 13 | Rap A Tap Tap by Leo and Diane Dillon
There once was a man who danced in the street / He brought pleasure and joy to the people he'd greet / He didn't just dance, he made art with his feet / Rap a tap tap--think of that!
July 20 | On Beyond Bugs by Tish Rabe
Find out all you ever wanted to know about insects when the Cat and company get an up-close view of life as a bug.
July 27 | Cloudette by Tom Lichtenheld
This charming book gets at the heart of what it means to make a difference no matter your size
Bring your tots and enjoy a fun morning of exploring music and movement at the Museum of Natural Curiosity and Farm Country. Led by our education staff, Melody Makers is the perfect opportunity for little kids to dance and move in a fun and friendly environment. Included with regular venue admission.
Tuesdays at 11 am: Museum of Natural Curiosity
Thursdays at 11 am: Farm Country
Upcoming:
June 26th | Splish-Splash!
Summertime is a great time to take a cool bath or go for a swim! Come relax with some of our favorite water songs! Make a decorative, unique water bottle shaker.
July 3 | Animal Parade
Come be a part of our animal parade! Learn more about your favorite animals through songs. Use our tapping lid as we march in a parade and take this instrument home.
July 10 | On the Pond
What kinds of animals live on a pond? Join us as we leap like a frog and swim like a fish. We will be making a fish and a frog stick puppet ribbon wands you can take home.
July 17 | Going to the Zoo
We will be featuring music to explore the many types of animals you might see at the Zoo. Swing back and forth like a gorilla, clap like a seal, jump like a kangaroo, and join in as we have fun pretending. Make a button bracelet instrument.
July 24 | No Class
July 31 | Water Fun!
Come explore the wonders of the underwater world as we turn ourselves into a multitude of fun exotic sea creatures! Be a Slippery Fish with Us! Glug! Glug! Mini bottle shakers is the take home today.
June 21 | Leaping Lizards
Come learn about our fantastic scaled friends by becoming a dragon and snapping with the alligators! Make a drum with us today.
June 28 | Wiggle and Giggle
It’s time for silly songs today. Try to make a funny face, make a silly sound, or try a few silly phrases as we sing, dance, and play to silly songs. So, wiggle and giggle and join us for fun and games through songs. Today’s activity is a kazoo.
July 5 | Splish-Splash!
Summertime is a great time to take a cool bath or go for a swim! Come relax with some of our favorite water songs! Make a decorative, unique shaker.
July 12 | Time to Dance
Put on your dancing feet and come explore different dances with us. We will be learning how to dance like a chicken, disco like a duck and tap it out with a country jig. Play and take home a craft stick kazoo that sounds like a duck.
July 19 | Move to the Beat
It’s time to move to the beat and shake it up. Move, clap, and make a beat to various rhythm patterns as we use shakers, maracas and drum sticks to enhance the music. A castanet is the take home instrument today.
July 27 | On the Farm
Old MacDonald had a farm and we love all the animals on his farm. Come explore with us as we learn songs about the many animals you can find on a farm including BINGO the farmer’s dog. Make a small box drum today.
It’s not every day you could meet an alligator or greet a skunk. Animals are all around us, some live in your backyard, some live far away, but all are important to our world. Come get up close and personal with some of the most interesting animals you will meet as we explore some of the curious critters that make our world wonderful.
Second Saturday of each month at 11 am: Museum of Natural Curiosity
Fourth Saturday of each month at 11 am:
October-February at the Museum of Ancient Life
March-September at Farm Country
Upcoming:
July 14 | Exotic Animal Issues
Have you ever dreamed of owning a parrot or cockatoo, or a colorful macaw? You might be surprised how much work it takes, and these birds can be quite demanding! Come appreciate their beauty and learn how their amazing minds and bodies can make them very difficult yet rewarding pets while meeting Jim Fowers and his flock
July 28 | Baa Baa
It’s time to learn about sheep! What do sheep help us humans with, and in what ways? What does a sheep feel like and how do we take good care of them? Come meet some sheepish friends and practice your bleat! Baa Baa!
Featuring new activities each week, Monday Nights at Thanksgiving Point focus on a single theme with various activities designed to entertain and educate the whole family.
4:30 - 7:30 pm. Location varies by season. See below.
January, February, March: Museum of Ancient Life
July, August, September: Farm Country
April, May, June: Ashton Gardens
October, November, December: Museum of Natural Curiosity
Ashton Gardens
June 25 | Garden Favorites
Come enjoy some of the favorite activities from past Monday Nights in the Garden. Join in a nature scavenger hunt, observe birds, feed the Koi fish, and join in our exciting outdoor activities. There will be a few lawn games like ladder ball, kickball croquet, and more.
Farm Country
July 2 | Farm Fowl
Have you ever seen a peacock, duck, goose, or turkey? What do they look like? Where do they live? Come observe our feathered friends and enjoy an evening with the farm fowl.
July 8 | Farm Animal Fun
Join us for a day of farm animal discoveries. Where do they live? Create a miniature habitat, look at skulls, furs, feathers and then join us at the goat pen as we feed the goats and observe their features up close.
July 15 | Baby Animals
Come see the baby animals at the farm. Explore what these new babies look like. Compare the baby's sizes to their mamas and join us as we come up with names for the new babies.
July 23 | What Makes a Farmer's Market
What's that on my plate? Where did it come from? How did it get there? How do fruits and vegetables grow? Follow your produce from soil to market.
July 30 | Do You See What I See?
Come explore the world of light. Play with prisms, do a sunprint experiment and learn about the benefits of the sun for plants and animals. Join us for these exciting Leap into Science experiments and discoveries.
Looking for a fantastic Friday night activity? On the first and third Friday of every month from 5:30-7:30 pm, get your game on with a variety of classic and new board games during our Family Game Night. Family Game Night is a family-focused evening for kids and parents of all ages.
First Friday of each month: Museum of Natural Curiosity
Third Friday of Each Month: Ashton Gardens (June-September)
Upcoming
July 6 | Dice Games
Come prepared for a night loaded with fun! Play Yahtzee, Farkle, and other original dice games.
July 20 | Flight Challenge
Tonight, we take Game Night to new heights! Come create a flying machine and play with things that soar.
Come have fun while innovating! Design Challenge is a Museum program that gets everyone engaging in the engineering design process. Make a team with your family and join us! Up to eight teams may compete at each challenge. It is free to compete and all supplies will be provided but if you wish to take your project home there will be a small fee to cover the cost of supplies. Come ready to design, build, test and prototype a solution to a given problem. The top three winners for each challenge will receive a trophy and every team will receive a participation certificate.
Third Saturday of each month from 2-4 pm: Museum of Natural Curiosity
Upcoming
July 21 | Water Slide
Just imagine a water slide! Feel the cool water on your back as it rushes you down twists and turns into a beautiful blue pool. The summer heat is here and we need some fun ways to cool down. Gather your team of swimmers and come design your very own miniature water slide! Can you make it both exciting and safe? All supplies will be provided."
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