Science Alliance: Middle School Program

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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