Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Announces Expanded Museum School

As the very first accredited and licensed museum school in the United States, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History’s Museum School® has been at the forefront of early childhood education for decades.

The same visionary spirit that founded Museum School over seventy years ago continues to propel the program forward today into a new decade. For the first time ever, Museum School will offer classes for students as young as thirty months of age in the 2020-2021 school year. This innovative addition to the seventy-year educational legacy of Museum School makes the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History the first museum in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to offer a thirty-week science enrichment program for children under three years of age.

“Museum School has inspired generations,” said Van A. Romans, President of the Museum. “Thousands have discovered a lifelong love of learning in those classrooms, and now we can instill that passion for education at an even earlier age.”

The expanded age range of Museum School adjusts the age requirement for school year classes by six months – a vital six months for child development. Around two and a half years of age, children’s communication skills progress as they form phrases, they learn the concepts of pretend play and socialization and they become more independent as motor skills are mastered. The new Science Sprouts program will support this important learning stage by providing developmentally-appropriate science experiences within the engaging Museum School environment. Much like the classes for ages three to six, the weekly discovery time for Science Sprouts will often feature science specimens and history artifacts related to the lesson’s topic.

“Museum School fuels exploration and discovery with innovative and interactive lessons,” commented Amber Shive, Director of Education. “We’re thrilled to offer our community the gift of another year of learning through the addition of the Science Sprouts program.”

The inaugural class of two-and-a-half-year-old Science Sprouts will join a rich history of over 220,000 students that have participated in Museum School. Science Sprouts classes aren’t the only new addition to the 2020-2021 school year. Twice-a-week and extended day classes will be available for four-year-olds as well as the traditional 2 hour or 2.5 hour classes. Five- and six-year-olds, who previously had choices of 2 hour, 2.5 hour or twice-a-week classes, will also have an extended day class option.

Registration for Fall/Spring 2020-2021 Museum School opens to the public on March 2. The brochure will post on the Museum School’s webpage on March 2 and registration will open at that time.