Outreach Programs

Meet Istar the whale!

The Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine can come to you! Outreach programs, including large-space programs, individualized classroom workshops and classroom kits bring the Museum & Theatre's resources and expertise directly to your school. Choose a classroom workshop or classroom kit to bring our collection and expertise into your classroom. The cost for classroom workshops is $90 per program, plus mileage. There is a two program minimum beyond 10 miles of the Museum & Theatre, and a three program minimum beyond 25 of the Museum & Theatre.

Reservations: To book an Outreach Program please begin by clicking the link below to submit your program request. A staff member will contact you to confirm your program and process payment.

Click here to fill our online Outreach Program form.
^∗FMI call 207-828-1234 x232 or email shana@kitetails.org

Classroom Workshops:

The Story of Istar^∗∗
Meet Istar, a humpback whale who visits the coast of Maine. Get face to face with a 45-foot life-size replica of Istar. Explore artifacts to learn amazing facts about this ocean mammal. The Story of Istar is approximately 45 minutes in length and is suitable for groups of up to 65 students. Groups of 30 or fewer can go inside Istar.
^∗MLR: Classification, Adaptation, Maine Marine Organisms, Food Chain

STARLAB^∗∗
STARLAB, a portable planetarium, brings the wonders of the night sky to your school. The 15-foot domed STARLAB is inflated at your site and allows your students to explore the constellations and learn the stories and facts behind the stars. Choose from Greek or Native American themes. The STARLAB program is approximately 30 minutes in length and is suitable for 30 or fewer students per show.
^∗MLR: Stars, Night Sky

^∗∗Please note: Istar and the Starlab are appropriate only for large spaces, such as gymnasiums or cafeterias. Istar can be used outdoors although the interior cannot be accessed.

Adaptations and Communications
Learn how a variety of mammals, birds and amphibians communicate in and adapt to the forest.
^∗MLR: Adaptation, Classification, Body Parts, Senses, Maine Organisms

Animal Signs
Explore the tracks, scat and fur of Maine's wildlife and learn how to spot evidence of these creatures in the great outdoors.
^∗MLR: Adaptation, Classification

Be a Tree
Explore the many parts of a tree and discover what a tree needs for survival.
^∗MLR: Living & Non-Living Things, Trees & Forest, Plant Structure & Function

Beaver Adaptations
Explore beaver artifacts and play games while learning how beavers adapt to pond life.
^∗MLR: Adaptation, Aquatic Environments, Body Parts, Senses

Birds In Flight
Learn bird songs, explore bird beaks and discover the challenge of migration and flight.
^∗MLR: Senses, Sound, Adaptation

Celebrate Asia
Explore the cultural traditions and daily life of families with ties to Japan, Cambodia and China! Based on our We Are Maine exhibit videos, this kit introduces students to a young member of each family featured in the video stories. Learn how they celebrate various cultural holidays through food, crafts, games, language, music and dance.
^∗MLR: Cultural Customs & Beliefs, Historical Knowledge, Concepts and Patterns

Dinosaurs
Journey through the Mesozoic Era and learn about dinosaur characteristics, adaptations and fossils.
^∗MLR: Prehistoric Life, Fossils & Past Life, Classification, Adaptations

Kids in Japan
Learn what life is like as a child in Japan. Explore popular games, customs and other daily activities
^∗MLR: Cultural Customs & Beliefs, Human Interaction with the Environment

3-D Nature Photography
This unique outreach program led by Roger Richmond offers your students an opportunity to discover and explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world around us using true 3-D photography
Programs include "Nature Under Your Nose" and "Patterns and Places in Nature's Small Spaces". Available Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Note: all equipment (including 3-D glasses, special screen and projector) is provided. All that you need is a dark space.

Marine Mammals of Maine
Discover the whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals that inhabit the Gulf of Maine and explore their many adaptations to life in the salty sea.
^∗MLR: Local Environments, Classification, Adaptation, Food Chains/Webs, Maine Marine Organisms

Owls of the Night
Explore the owl's many adaptations to its nocturnal life. Dissect owl pellets for a first-hand discovery of an owl's digestive system.
^∗MLR: Adaptations, Body Parts & Senses, Food Chains & Webs

Reptiles & Amphibians
Explore the similarities between reptiles and amphibians. Learn frog songs, inspect turtle shells, discover a salamander's sense of hearing and more.
^∗MLR: Senses, Adaptation, Classification, Aquatic Environments

Rock Riddles
Learn about sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks. Investigate these building blocks of the earth as you solve their many mysteries.
^∗MLR: Change in State, Rocks/Minerals/Soils, Fossils & Past Life, Living & Non-Living Things

Simple Machines
Explore simple machines and discover how they make work easier. Experiment with simple machines and discover the simple machines used in your daily life.
^∗MLR: Simple Machines, Forces and Motion

SmartArt Available January 2010!
Unite your left and right brain to explore and examine the world through art and science. Topics include perspective and optics, color and chemistry, and patterns and designs found in nature.
^∗MLR: Principles of Design, Nature of Science

Teeth & Skulls
Using real skulls and replicas, explore the woodland world of Maine's carnivores, omnivores, insectivores and herbivores.
^∗MLR: Body Parts, Adaptation, Classification, Food Chain & Food Web

Turtles of Land and Sea
Investigate these ancient reptiles and their many obstacles to survival in today's world. Compare and contrast land turtles and sea turtles, explore turtle adaptations and get a close look at turtle artifacts.
^∗MLR: Body Parts & Senses, Classification, Adaptations, Maine Marine Organisms, Endangered Species