Educational programs designed for homeschool families
Our next Homeschool Day will take place on Monday, March 23, 2026.
Visit the Museum for a day of interactive programing all about Connecticut history! Workshops are offered throughout the day for a variety of ages centered around two primary themes: 1) Animals in Connecticut history; 2) immigration and migration to Connecticut. Each workshop includes a list of additional resources to encourage further at-home exploration of the workshop themes.
A lunch break will take place from 11:45 am-12:30 pm. Bring a bagged lunch and enjoy meeting other homeschool families! Please note, parents or guardians are expected to remain on Connecticut Museum premises for the duration of Homeschool Day. The auditorium lobby will be available for adults to use throughout the day.
Families can also register their children under the age of 5 for Little Learners. Available throughout the day, this loosely structured program features story times, crafts, and guided activities related to the day’s themes. Children enrolled in Little Learners must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
If you have any questions, please contact Katerina Mazzacane, Youth and Family Programs Manager, at 860-236-5621 x222 or email kmazzacane@connecticutmuseum.org.
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Pricing
- Little Learners (ages 0-1): Free of charge
- Little Learners (ages 2-4): $5 per child
- Workshops (members): $20 per child for full day
- Workshops (non-members): $25 per child for full day
- Family maximum: $100
Pre-Registration Required
- Our next Homeschool Day is March 23, 2026. Registration will open January 26, 2026.
- Enrollment is limited and families must pre-register. Full, non-refundable payment via credit card must be made at the time of registration to reserve your child’s place.
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Little Learners: Ages 0-4
Just Keep Swimming: Animals in the Ocean
10:30 – 11:45am
Have you ever seen a whale? Or gone fishing? Through special storytimes, activities, and crafts, students will learn about some aquatic creatures that are important to Connecticut’s history and ecosystem.
From Here to There
12:30 – 1:45pm
If you moved, what would you bring? Maybe a special toy or your favorite photo? Through storytimes and activities, students will explore what it means to move from one place to another. They will then design their own ‘suitcase’ to fill with pictures of their favorite items to bring on their next journey!
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Activities and Workshops: Ages 5-7
Community Helpers: Animals at Home
10:30 – 11:45am
How have pets been part of our community? Through close-looking at items from the Museum’s collection and a variety of hands-on activities, students will uncover the stories of people’s beloved household pets. They will learn about K9 first responders, animals serving as a means of transportation, and even helping soldiers during war. Then, students will decorate a special pet accessory to celebrate the achievements of Sergeant Stubby, Connecticut’s canine hero!
Travelers and Trunks
12:30 – 1:45pm
Have you ever moved? Students will read a story, look through curated immigration trunks packed with artifacts, and try historic jobs to explore stories of moving to Connecticut. Then, inspired by art in the exhibit Drawn Here: Stories from Hartford’s North End, they will create a special craft to take home!
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Activities and Workshops: Ages 8-10
From Farms to Battlefields: Animals at Work
10:30 – 11:45am
Now hiring all animals! Through crafts, activities, and close-looking at historic objects, children will learn about the many jobs animals have held throughout history, including service dogs, K9 first responders, carrier pigeons, and Connecticut’s hero Sergeant Stubby! Then, students will create a portrait of their own furry friend of favorite animal!
Unpacking the Past
12:30 – 1:45pm
Why have people immigrated to Connecticut throughout history? Students will work together to answer this question by looking closely at trunks packed with artifacts, exploring our temporary exhibition Drawn Here: Stories of Hartford’s North End, and trying out jobs done by immigrant groups in the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Activities and Workshops: Ages 11-13
Part of the Team: Animals in Entertainment
10:30 – 11:45am
From circus performers to mascots, animals have been part of mainstream entertainment for decades. In this workshop, students will explore items from the Museum’s collection to uncover the roles of animals in popular culture. Then, they will create their own mascot inspired by their favorite animal and decorate a sports pennant!
On the Move
12:30 – 1:45pm
Why do people move? What challenges and successes do they experience in their new home? Through the investigation of photographs, interviews, and objects, students will explore family stories of moving to Connecticut from places like Italy, Puerto Rico, and Germany. Then, inspired by the artwork in our temporary exhibition Drawn Here: Stories of Hartford’s North End, they will design a piece of art that represents their own family’s unique story.
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Activities and Workshops: Ages 14+
Lights, Camera, Action: Animals in Show Business
10:30 – 11:45am
Have you ever seen a lion perform with a lion tamer? Or an elephant in a circus? Students will go behind the scenes into the Museum’s storage areas and explore the history of animals as performers. Through close-looking and hands-on activities, students will explore the good and the bad of this decades-old form of entertainment.
Chasing the American Dream
12:30 – 1:45pm
What is the American Dream? How has it impacted immigration to Connecticut throughout history? Students will take a deep dive into the stories of Connecticut immigrants like the Fox family and Christopher Battalino, exploring the successes and challenges they experienced during their life in Connecticut. Through close-looking at photographs, documents, and objects, students will investigate the question – was Connecticut a Land of Opportunity?