Science Alliance: Middle School Program

Part of Children & Families

science-alliance-2460-1384
Classes at the Museum for students in Grades 6-8.

Learn new skills doing what you love—and meet our scientists. Explore the Tree of Life, our universe, and humankind. Make friends and collaborate on scientific discoveries!

Join Science Alliance

All classes are for students in Grades 6–8. Students can choose the topics they want to explore: anthropology, astrophysics, conservation science, Earth science, and evolutionary biology. 

During the school year, Science Alliance runs three sessions: Fall, Winter, and Spring. Classes will be offered on Thursdays and Fridays after school and Saturdays during the day. Class listings for Spring will be available in February.

  • Thursday and Friday classes meet from 4:30–6:30 pm for eight weeks.
  • Saturday classes meet from 10 am–3 pm for four weeks.

During the summer, Science Alliance offers a six-week Summer Science Academy where students explore a different scientific discipline each week. Summer Science Academy meets 9 am–4 pm.

Have an older student? See the Science Alliance High School Program.

How to Register

  • Please note that the grade level for Fall, Winter, and Spring programs below refers to the grade your child will enter in the 2023 academic year.
  • Students should sign up for classes based on the designated grade bands. 
  • To register for each program, click the “purchase” button.

Fees

  • Fall, Winter, and Spring courses are $1,000 each.
  • The six-week Summer Science Academy is $6,000 for the entire summer.

Tuition Assistance

We offer a limited number of reduced tuition (50% off) and free tuition seats in Science Alliance.

Following are household income requirements for free and reduced tuition. 

Household Size Free Tuition Reduced Tuition Full Tuition
2 people $76,400 or below $76,401–$157,575 $157,576 or higher
3 people $85,920 or below $85,921–$177,210 $177,211 or higher
4 people $95,440 or below $95,441–$196,845 $196,846 or higher
5 people $103,120 or below $103,121–$212,685 $212,686 or higher
6 people or more $110,720 or below $110,721–$228,360 $228,361 or higher

Should you have any trouble registering using the program links, please call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to purchase or be added to the waitlist.

SAP Cancellation and Refund Policy

You will be eligible for a full refund (100%) if you cancel at least 30 days before the start of the program. You will be eligible for a partial refund (50%) if you cancel at least 15 days before the start of the program. Any cancellations less than 15 days before the program's start are not eligible to receive a refund. ​

In the event that a class must be canceled due to inclement weather, COVID-19 issues (e.g., increases in local Covid cases, changes to local Covid guidance, positive Covid cases among Museum staff, etc.), or other causes outside the control of the Museum, we will aim to reschedule the date(s) of the affected class(es) within the existing course schedule. In the event that rescheduling is not possible, refunds for class cancellations are not available.

To cancel your registration in our programs, please call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200.

Join our mailing list to learn about other middle school offerings.

Fall 2023 Sessions

CLASS
AGE GROUP
DATES & TIMES

Class:
Mineralogy

Minerals are the building blocks of our planet and through the study of minerals we can learn about the natural processes that make our planet unique, dynamic, and suitable for life. Throughout our investigations in mineralogy, we will use signature specimens from the AMNH collection, as well as natural features of the surrounding environment. to answer questions such as: What is a mineral? How and where do minerals form? Why are minerals essential to life? How have minerals impacted the growth and development of human civilization?

Thursdays: 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to be added to the wait list 

Cost: $1,000

Sold Out

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Thursdays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
AnthroExplorations

Cultural Anthropology is the study of how human culture develops and changes across large societies to the smallest communities around the world.  In this course, students will explore how cultural anthropologists investigate culture and cultural change. The class will examine how culture is learned, changes over time and across geographic space, and how it is represented by others, as well as at the American Museum of Natural History.  Students will tamper with taboos, track cultural exchange through board games, experiment with culture through a camera lens, and consider their own cultural identities in the context of doing social science. 

Thursdays: 10/12, 10/19, 10/26, 11/2, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to be added to the wait list 

Cost: $1,000

Sold Out

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Thursdays, 4:30-6:30pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Thursdays, 4:30-6:30pm

Class:
Introduction to Microbiology

Explore the diversity of our microbial planet: the bacteria, protists, and viruses that are all around us, in us, and on us. Students will build a Winogradsky column in Central Park to observe how microbes interact with soil, swab various halls in the American Museum of Natural History to explore the microbes living on our exhibits, culture bacteria in the classroom, learn how to make a simple stain and a Gram stain for analyzing bacteria under the microscope, analyze the health benefits of various microbes in the human microbiome, and explore some of the consequences of the overuse of antibiotics.

Fridays: 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to be added to the wait list 

Cost: $1,000

Sold Out

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
Astro Explorations

Humans have gazed into the sky for centuries and wondered how our lives are connected to the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars that dot our night view. Through the science of astronomy, we have uncovered not just connections to our own lives, but to the universe at large. This class is designed as an introductory step into astronomy. We will survey the history, scale, and motions of the universe and learn about the ways that humans continue to gain a coherent picture of the cosmos. Along the way, we will also explore how Museum astronomers carry out their observations and other work to make new discoveries.

Fridays: 10/13, 10/20, 10/27, 11/3, 11/17, 12/1, 12/8, 12/15

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to be added to the wait list 

Cost: $1,000

Sold Out

Age Group:
Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm.

Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8

Fridays, 4:30–6:30 pm

Class:
Neanderthals

Though Neanderthals were among the first hominins discovered, evolving bodies of evidence concerning their disappearance have been under debate for decades. Some believe climate change was the cause of their extinction: the stocky Neanderthal body-type built to retain heat was maladaptive to a warming environment. Others believe a new, highly specialized and adaptive species of hominin, Homo sapiens, was responsible for their demise, since these modern humans were better equipped to hunt and survive in the same environment. New genetic evidence is now suggesting modern humans and Neanderthals interbred and that many of us are actually carrying genetic traces of Neanderthals today. Others argue the line between “human” and “Neanderthal” was never clear to begin with. These and many other hypotheses are being tested by scientists around the world. The study of Neanderthals is a part of the story of us.  

Saturdays: 10/14, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

Call Central Reservations at 212-769-5200 to be added to the wait list 

Cost: $2000

Sold Out

Age Group:
Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 8

Dates & Times:
Saturdays, 10am-3pm.

Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 8

Saturdays, 10am-3pm

 

Support for the Museum’s education and evaluation programs is generously provided by a grant from the Bezos Family Foundation.

The Museum’s Education Collection is generously supported by the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation and Elysabeth Kleinhans.