Homeschool Workshops

Three young children are sitting at a wooden table, looking through colorful cardboard viewing devices, while a group of kids and adults are in the background in a large, well-lit room.

Join us as we problem solve, test, and investigate using the engineering design process through hands-on activities that introduce important engineering concepts. Add on a visit to our experience gallery to make it a full day of engineering fun. Workshops are appropriate for kindergarten through 5th grade.

$12 per participating child ($10 for members)

Add museum admission for HALF PRICE since you’re already here! ($7.00 per person – adults and children 2 and up). Just mention that you’re registered for a homeschool workshop to receive the admission discount for your family/group. As always members visit the museum for FREE. On homeschool workshop days, museum hours will be 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

If you have any additional questions please email info@theworks.org.

All children need hands-on engineering experiences. The Works Museum’s Gateway access program offers discounted admission, membership, and camps for families with demonstrated financial need, such as participation in WIC, SNAP, or MinnesotaCare.

Please fill out the Homeschool Workshop Scholarship Registration Form to apply for assistance, or visit theworks.org/gateway/ for more information.

Monday, October 5, 2026

A young boy with short curly hair smiling and holding a small lighted object, wearing a red and black patterned hoodie, sitting on a colorful rug inside an indoor space with a purple wall and a door in the background.

Circuit Explore

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Learn about the flow of electricity and hook up different circuits to create a light to take home.

Register for circuit explore

Monday, March 2, 2026

A person holding a jar with a label from The World Museum that reads "Environmental Engineering." The jar contains dirt, soil, or organic matter. In the background, there are chairs and a person wearing a yellow jacket.

Environmental Engineering

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Discover how engineers work to reduce erosion in the environment. Build a hillside out of dirt, then design an erosion mitigation plan using rocks, fabrics, wood, sand, and other materials. Test your design in a rain shower, then see if you can improve it.

Register for Environmental Engineering

Monday, January 4, 2027

A classroom scene with a man sitting on a stool at the front, surrounded by children sitting or standing on a colorful rug. The man is holding a red object, possibly a small ball or toy, and the classroom has purple and beige walls with a whiteboard and targets in the background.

Feel the Noise

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Start with vibrations and the science of sound. Explore patterns and relationships of sound created by different materials. Construct an ear harp to take home. 

Register for Feel the noise

Monday, February 1, 2027

Four young boys playing with a small model ship floating in a black plastic water tray outside on concrete pavement.

Float your Boat

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Explore buoyancy with different materials, then build your own boat. Evaluate and improve your design, just like a real engineer!

Register for Float your Boat

Monday, March 1, 2027

A girl with blonde hair wearing an orange shirt holding a colorful geometric toy near her eyes, sitting on a floor with multicolored tiles and a blue and green patterned rug, with various people around.

Light and Kaleidoscopes

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Experiment with the reflection and absorption of light. Design and build a colorful kaleidoscope to take home.

Register for Light and Kaleidoscopes

Homeschool Workshop Policies

  • Space is limited, so we strongly recommend registering your family ahead of time. If there are tickets remaining, they may be purchased at the door. We do not guarantee ticket availability. Museum admission must be purchased at the door.

  • A caregiver MUST remain at The Works Museum for the entirety of your visit.

    We encourage parents/guardians to attend the workshop with their child(ren). For families with multiple children who are not all participating in the workshop, a caregiver MUST remain in the experience gallery with any children who are not participating in the workshop.

  • Workshops are appropriate for children in kindergarten through grade five. Four- and five-year-old siblings who are not yet in kindergarten may also participate in the workshop with assistance from a parent/guardian.

  • Workshops begin promptly at 10 a.m. These are guided workshops, so to avoid disruption no participants will be admitted after our 15 minute grace period. No refunds will be issued for latecomers or no-shows.

    If you need to cancel:

    • 7 or more days before the workshop, 50% of the workshop fee will be refunded (minus a 10% processing fee) OR you can choose to receive a voucher for the full amount of the workshop fee to be used for future workshops.

    • 2-6 days before the workshop, receive a voucher for the full amount (minus a 10% processing fee) of the workshop fee to be used for future programming at The Works Museum.

    • Less than 48 hours before the workshop, no refunds or vouchers will be issued.

    If The Works Museum must cancel the homeschool workshop for any reason, we will work with you to find another homeschool workshop to switch your registration to, or you will receive a full refund or a voucher for the full amount of the homeschool workshop.

  • No food or drink is allowed in the Museum, and The Works Museum does not have lunchroom space. Visitors may eat at the outdoor picnic tables; there are also a number of restaurants within walking distance (leave your wristbands on if you want to return the same day).

  • No. Children must be accompanied by a caregiver at all times. If a parent/guardian is with a child in the workshop, there must also be a caregiver to accompany any additional children that are in the experience gallery.

  • Engineering is for everyone!

    Please adhere to the following guidelines to make the museum a safe, comfortable, fun space for all.

    • Walk and use your inside voice

    • Food and beverages are not allowed inside the museum

    • Show respect to others and museum property

    • Share materials, take turns, and clean up after you finish at an exhibit

    • Do not leave valuables unattended. We are not responsible for lost or stolen items

    Museum staff and volunteers are here to help! Let us know if you have any questions, needs, or concerns during your visit.