School Field Trips
Education is at the heart of The Magic House’s mission! The Museum offers a variety of field trips where kids can engage in hands-on exploration. Our field trip programs help students develop critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving abilities, and social skills through play-based learning.
Each program is adapted to the students’ grade level and aligns with the Grade Level Expectations outlined by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (GLEs); and the Missouri Early Learning Standards (MELs), as noted in program descriptions.
Our content-rich guided field trip programs include private exploration of a designated area of the Museum with the option to stay and enjoy free play throughout The Magic House until noon. Additional public-hour field trips are available after 12:00 pm.
Field Trip Admission Rate
Schools visiting on a reserved field trip will be admitted for a special admission rate, plus teachers are free. A minimum of one adult chaperone is required for every five children.
The Magic House: $7.00 per student and chaperone
MADE for Kids: $6.00 per student and chaperone
For questions about field trips, click here.
Scholarships
The Magic House is committed to ensuring that every child has the chance to experience an unforgettable field trip to the museum! Through our Access for All initiative funded by generous donors and the Sugar Creek Donor Advised Fund, The Magic House provides free learning experiences to Title 1 schools, as well as schools with 50 percent or more students that qualify for free and reduced lunch. If your school qualifies, please select ‘Scholarship Funded’ when making your online reservations.
Our scholarships cover admission for all participating students as well as the recommended number of chaperones (1 adult for every 5 students). Additional chaperones pay the $7 field trip admission fee.
For additional information contact the Education Department at educationinfo@magichouse.org.
Grade: Preschool – Kindergarten
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 40 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 14 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
Early childhood groups will enjoy a 75-minute Wonder Works field trip program. Young children will engage in a developmentally appropriate and discovery-based approach to learning within the STEAM-focused play space designed to support and nurture children’s natural curiosity in their world.
Children will get hands-on with simple machines, explore the science of sand, and interact with the power of air. Children will also have multiple gross motor opportunities featuring a one-of-a-kind climbing structure, spiral slide and an elevated balance beam.
Following exploration of the Wonder Works exhibit space, groups will participate in a classroom-based program where children’s literature is presented with accompanying hands-on learning activities.
MELs: Physical Science 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 2.b, 3.b, 4.a, 4.c, 4.d; Life Science 1.b, 2.a, 2.b, 4.a; Earth and Space 1.a, 1.b, 1.c, 2.b, 4.a; Measurement 2.a; Physical Development 2.c, 3.a, 3.c; Health 1.c; Speaking/Expressive Language 1.a, 1.b,
Listening/Receptive Language 1.b, 1.d; Reading 1.a, 1.d
School groups in all field trip programs are invited to enjoy free play in the rest of the Museum following their program from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Grade: Preschool
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 40 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 14 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
In the new early childhood exhibit, Story Time Magic, groups will enjoy a 75-minute field trip program. This exhibit is designed to support the Missouri Early Learning Standards, with a focus on Language, Literacy and Expressive Arts.
While enjoying Once Upon a Time, children can explore Winnie-the-Pooh’s tree house, tend to Peter Rabbit’s Garden, help build the homes of the Three Little Pigs, present a puppet show in Old MacDonald’s Farm and go inside the pages of the beloved book, Good Night Moon. In addition to these playful experiences, students will engage in our Story Time Magic Program featuring the month’s highlighted book. This exploration of the dramatic arts will allow students to create their own props or costumes and work as a class to get into character!
MEL’s: Drama A. 1-4; Spoken/Expressive Language A. 2-3; Listening/Receptive Language A. 4-5; Knowledge of Print and Books A. 1 & 4; Sounds of Language A. 1-2
Grade: Kindergarten – Grade 5
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 75 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 15 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
In the Children’s Village, an immersive learning environment sparks the imagination of students as they explore a child-sized community that provides a world of 21st-century learning opportunities in math, science, social studies and more. Each 90-minute program includes an exclusive exploration of the exhibit space and concludes with a classroom-based educational program.
Community Workers (Kindergarten – Grade 2)
Students explore the concept of community as they take on the roles of engineers, mechanics, doctors, veterinarians and other community members. The Community Workers program features private exploration of the Children’s Village followed by a classroom-based program designed to guide students in creating a model community of their own; determining what roles and institutions are necessary for it to function. Students will also sharpen their map skills as they become city planners and create a map of their brand new community.
GLEs: Social Studies K-2: Geography 5A; Tools and Social Science 7B
Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees (Grades 3 – 5)
Students earn paychecks, make consumer choices, use teamwork and learn how members of a community depend upon each other during this hands-on financial literacy educational program. Following private exploration of the Children’s Village, students will participate in a guided classroom-based program where they form a “family” and work together to make appropriate personal budget decisions about their wants and needs.
In advance of your Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees field trip, teachers will receive supporting materials necessary to prepare for the fun-filled experience.
GLEs: Social Studies 2-3: Economic Principles 4A; Math 2-3: Data and Statistics A
Holiday Magic (Kindergarten)
December 4th-6th & 11th – 13th
The Children’s Village is transformed into a winter wonderland for this special holiday tour. Children will listen to a delightful story told by Mrs. Claus and enjoy a surprise visit from a very special guest. This experience will surely inspire little ones to Ho-Ho-Ho all the way home!
School groups in all field trip programs are invited to enjoy free play in the rest of the Museum following their program from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Grade: Kindergarten – Grade 5
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 60 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 12 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
Description: Where can students use a microscope, play with Oobleck, see butterflies in their growth cycle and observe a life size skeleton- in the Science Lab of The Magic House STEAM Center! And that is just the beginning of a field trip that has something for everyone including our Future Tech experience, Art Studio, Makers Space and LEGO- based Math area. Following free exploration, students collaborate on exciting design challenges that meet GLE’s.
Straw Rockets – Kindergarten
Create and launch a rocket that can shoot over a wall.
GLE’s: Science K-5: Motion and Stability: Forces of Interaction; K.PS2.A.1 & 2, Science K-5: Engineering Design B-C
Turn Up the Volume – Grade 1
Design and build a device that makes sound in two different ways.
GLE’s: Science K-5: Wave Properties 1.PS4.A, Science K-5: Information Technologies and Instrumentation, Science K-5: Engineering Design 1.ETS1.A-C
Roll With It – Grade 2
Design and build a device that can move a car 6 inches without touching it.
GLE’s: Science K-5: Engineering Design 2.ETS1.A-C
Tower of Strength – Grade 3
Build a skyscraper using a variety of non-traditional building supplies strong enough to withstand the wind.
GLEs: Science K-5: Engineering Design 3-5A, B&C, Science K-5: Earth and Human Activity 4A & 3B, Science K-5: Energy 4B.2
No-Wire Circuit – Grade 4
Create a circuit using household objects, anything but wire, to light an LED bulb.
GLEs: Science K-5: Engineering Design 3-5A, B&C, Science K-5: Earth and Human Activity 4A & 3B, Science K-5: Energy 4B.2
Hole in One – Grade 5
Build a machine that can hit a ball into a stationary cup.
GLEs: Science K-5: Engineering Design 3-5A, B&C
School groups in all field trip programs are invited to enjoy free play in the rest of the Museum following their program from 10:30 a.m – 12 p.m.
Grade: Grades 1 – 5
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 75 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 15 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
Classic Magic House takes students on a path of discovery with dozens of exciting and challenging hands-on exhibits including magnetism, light and shadows, the five senses, force and motion and more. As an added bonus, students can check out the new St. Louis City Soccer Exhibit where students can explore the four key components of fitness. Every 90-minute program features exclusive exploration of the Museum’s original three floors of interactive exhibits and a classroom-based educational program.
Featuring the Electrostatic Generator, Bubble Room, Pulleys, three-story Super Slide and more, the Classic Magic House field trip concludes with a classroom investigation of magnetism, static electricity, forces and more that will cultivate students’ creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
GLEs: Science 2-6: Matter and Energy 2A, Force and Motion 2D, Scientific Inquiry 1A
School groups in all field trip programs are invited to enjoy free play in the rest of the Museum following their program from 10:30 a.m – 12 p.m.
Grade: Kindergarten – Grade 5
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 50 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 10 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
“¡Bienvenido a Argentina!” Take your students on a trip to the second largest country in South America with a visit to our World Traveler Gallery exhibit, Argentina’s Niños. Designed to encourage global awareness and cultural appreciation, students will explore a variety of immersive environments important in children’s lives around the world, including a traditional school, home, marketplace and more. During their visit, students will experience the vibrant culture and traditions found throughout the Argentine community.
GLEs: Social Studies K-5: 5.A-F, 6.A-D
School groups in all field trip programs are invited to enjoy free play in the rest of the Museum following their program from 10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Grade: Kindergarten – Grade 5
Dates: April 28, May 5 and May 12
Cost: $7.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Max 75 students. A minimum of one adult chaperone is required for every five children.
Description: Celebrate the end of the school year with a culminating field trip experience at The Magic House! Select Mondays in the spring are reserved exclusively for school field trips from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Groups take a self-directed field trip through the entire 60,000-square-foot Museum exploring hundreds of hands-on exhibits including the Children’s Village, the World Traveler Gallery, the STEAM Center, Bubble Room, the Electrostatic Generator, and more. Schools decide on arrival and departure times that fit their schedules. Our Museum Shop will be open for limited hours during the day.
April 28, 2024
May 5, 2024
May 12, 2024
Grade: Kindergarten – Grade 8
Cost: $6.00 per student and chaperone. Teachers are free.
Capacity: Maximum 75 students. One adult chaperone is required for every five children with a maximum of 15 adult chaperones. Teachers are not included in the chaperone count.
Location: 5127 Delmar Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108
Description: Schedule your visit to The Magic House’s satellite location in the City of St. Louis, MADE for Kids! Students are invited to explore this STEAM-infused makerspace, featuring 7,000-square-feet of interactive learning experiences including four areas: a Makers’ Workshop, an Artists’ Studio, a Designers’ Lab, and an Entrepreneurs’ Marketplace. Following private exploration of MADE for Kids, students will sharpen their problem-solving skills and engage their creativity as they participate in a grade-level specific design challenge, created to align with Missouri GLEs.
Kindergarten Straw Rockets: Create and launch a rocket that can shoot over a wall.
Grade 1 Turn Up the Volume: Design and build a device that makes sound in two different ways.
Grade 2 Roll With It: Design and build a device that can move a car 6 inches without touching it.
Grade 3 Tower of Strength: Build a skyscraper using a variety of non-traditional building supplies strong enough to withstand the wind.
Grade 4 No Wire Circuit: Create a circuit using a variety of household objects, anything but wire, to light an LED bulb.
Grade 5 Hole in One: Build a machine that can hit a ball into a stationary cup.
Grade 6 – Grade 8: Design challenges available upon request.
