A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village - Educational Programs

Educational Programs

Classes | Three-hour Workshops | The Preschool

Homeschool Workshops | Thanksgiving Break Workshops

To Register, call 503-371-3631 during open hours.

Please register early! We make our preliminary decisions to run a class one week before the class begins.

Attendance/Admission Policy: Children three and under must be accompanied by an adult unless otherwise specified in the class or workshop description. All educational programs include admission to the Village for the class participant.

Cancellation/Refund Policy: There are no refunds for three-hour workshops. If you withdraw 14 days before a class begins, you will receive a full refund less a $10 registration fee; 13 to seven days before, you will receive a 50% refund less a $10 registration fee; less than seven days before, no refund. If a class is canceled for any reason, you will be notified and receive a full refund.

Classes

Acting Up for Preschoolers!
Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – noon
September 14 – October 19
-OR- (two sessions of the same class)
Tuesdays, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
November 9 – December 14
Does your preschooler like moving and pretending? In this creative dramatics class, little hams will learn some simple, basic theater skills, such as projecting and movement, through drama games and activities. Ages 3-5. $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Caregiver may stay; registration required.

Chess Rules!
Starts Saturday, September 25
10 a.m. – noon
Any child who can be taught the alphabet can learn to play chess. In this class, kids will learn game strategies as well as hone their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Class runs: 9/25, 10/2, 10/16, 10/30, 11/6 and 11/20. Ages 6-12. $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

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Homeschool Workshops

Math + Art = MATH-TERPIECES
Friday, September 24, 10 a.m. – noon
This workshop for homeschoolers pairs mathematical concepts with the artists who used them. Discover Fibonacci numbers with Piet Mondrian, tangrams with Henri Matisse, magic numbers with Albrecht Dürer, origami with Katsushika Hokusai, tessellations with M.C. Escher and more. All ages welcome. Members: $13 per person / $35 for three children in the same family. Nonmembers: $18 per person / $50 for three children in the same family. Registration required.

Clay Creations
Thursday, October 14, 1 – 3 p.m.
This workshop for homeschoolers gives kids a chance to try their hands at both white and terracotta clay. Students will make a photo frame, name plate and flower pot. Ages 5-8. Members: $13 per person / $35 for three children in the same family. Nonmembers: $18 per person / $50 for three children in the same family. Registration required.

Radical Robotics
Thursday, October 14, 1 – 3 p.m.
Kids will learn how to program a robot and make it do tricks while exploring how robots fit into our daily lives and shape our future in this workshop for homeschoolers ages 8-12. Members: $13 per person / $35 for three children in the same family. Nonmembers: $18 per person / $50 for three children in the same family. Registration required.

Art about Artists
Friday, November 12, 9 a.m. – noon
Kids ages 5-7 will learn about Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and others. While creating artwork in the style of famous artists, students will explore a variety of painting methods, paper collage and more. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Science Sampler
Friday, November 12, 9 a.m. – noon
Physics, biology, chemistry and engineering all come together in one fun, hands-on workshop! No lectures here! Ages 8-12. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Messy Science
Friday, November 12, 1 – 4 p.m.
Get messy with one of our best science workshops! Using non-toxic household materials, kids ages 5-7 will try their hands at creating chemical reactions, physical oddities and more. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Youth Impov
Friday, November 12, 1 – 4 p.m.
Time to get loud, get expressive and act it out! Theater warm-ups and improvisational games will release the ham in kids ages 8-12 in this dramatic workshop. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Theater Kids
Friday, November 19, 1 – 3 p.m.
Lights up on this acting workshop that explores theater techniques and acting. In this workshop for homeschoolers ages 5-8, kids will have fun learning theater games and creating their own skits. Members: $13 per person / $35 for three children in the same family. Nonmembers: $18 per person / $50 for three children in the same family. Registration required.

Out of This World
Friday, November 19, 1 – 3 p.m.
In this workshop for homeschoolers ages 8-12, kids will create the phases of the moon from Styrofoam, make a play dough model of the solar system and build a telescope like the one Galileo used 400 years ago. Come explore space and take home your own Galileoscope to look at the night sky. Members: $13 per person / $35 for three children in the same family. Nonmembers: $18 per person / $50 for three children in the same family. Registration required.

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Three-hour Workshops

Art about Artists
Friday, November 12, 9 a.m. – noon
Kids ages 5-7 will learn about Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and others. While creating artwork in the style of famous artists, students will learn a variety of painting methods, paper collage and more. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

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Thanksgiving Break Workshops

Starring You!
Monday, November 22, 9 a.m. – noon
Hone your acting skills as we practice theater techniques and put together short skits to be performed at the end of class for family and friends. Ages 5-7. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Funny Money
Monday, November 22, 9 a.m. – noon
In these tough economic times, make sure your kids have the tools to get ahead! Students will engage in hands-on activities and games to learn about working with money, including fun simulations of how to save, budget and rent a home. Ages 8-12. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

What’s Baking?
Monday, November 22, 1 – 4 p.m.
Kids will learn the basics of mixing, folding, rolling and cutting in this hands-on workshop. Participate in kitchen science activities too! And of course, enjoy tasting your creations! No sharp knives allowed. Ages 5-7. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Radical Robotics
Monday, November 22, 1 – 4 p.m.
Kids will learn how to program a robot and make it do tricks while exploring how robots fit into our daily lives and shape our future. Ages 8-12. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Messy Science
Tuesday, November 23, 9 a.m. – noon
Get messy with one of our best science workshops! Using non-toxic household materials, kids will try their hands at creating chemical reactions, physical oddities and more. Ages 5-7. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Treats to Eat
Tuesday, November 23, 9 a.m. – noon
What better way to encourage healthy snacking than teaching kids to prepare fun foods themselves? Mix that in with a little kitchen science, cooking and nutrition, and you’ll have a budding chef or nutritionist! Ages 8-12. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Animal Wonders
Tuesday, November 23, 1 – 4 p.m.
What do animals eat? Where do they live? What do they need to survive? Through activities and art, students will learn the answers though they may think they are just having fun! Ages 5-7. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

Art Mix-Up
Tuesday, November 23, 1 – 4 p.m.
Try a little of this and a little of that. Draw, paint, sculpt and build in this workshop that teaches the basics of several media. Ages 8-12. $21 members / $30 nonmembers. All day with lunch care: $42 members / $60 nonmembers. Registration required.

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The Preschool

The Preschool at A.C. Gilbert's Discovery Village offers child-centered activities with nurturing and qualified teachers who cultivate curiosity and the desire to learn. The preschool is designed for ages 3-5 and is housed within Salem's renowned children's museum. Now enrolling! To find out more, go here.

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