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Families

Each week Thanksgiving Point hosts educational and fun activities for families of all ages and abilities! Our Family Programs include Tales for Tots, Melody Makers, and Dirt on Dinos, just to name a few. 

The programs are always adapting and changing throughout the year so check back often for updates. They are also led by our trained educational team to ensure each person at the activity has a great time learning and playing together as family and friends. Click each drop-down menu below to learn more about these one-of-a-kind educational opportunities at Thanksgiving Point and to see dates, locations, and times for each one. See you soon!

All activities are FREE for Thanksgiving Point Members, as they are included with venue admissions.

 

11 – 11:20 am

Mondays: Museum of Ancient Life

Wednesdays: Farm Country

Fridays: Butterfly Biosphere

Saturdays: Museum of Natural Curiosity

Join us for our weekly storytelling adventure, Tales for Tots, held each Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 11 am. Staff will engage guests with interactive storytelling as well as movement and/or music activities that connect to the story theme of the day.

Included with regular venue admission

 

Upcoming Schedule

November 16 | Farm Country | Barn Dance by Bill Martin Jr & John Archambault
A young boy is surprised when he hears noise and music through his window in the middle of the night. As he sneaks out to the barn, he can hear music and dancing, but who would be having a barn dance at that time?

November 18 | Butterfly Biosphere | The Tickly Spider by Margaret Wise Brown
As a little boy explores the grass, he sees lots of strange and wonderful things. He begins to learn that he and the tickly spider must share the outside world.

November 19 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | If I Were a Jungle Animal by Amanda Ellery
Morton is bored in the outfield at his baseball game, but, he thinks, if he were a jungle animal life would be exciting! But exciting can also be distracting!

November 21 | Museum of Ancient Life | Thanks for Thanksgiving by Julie Markes
At Thanksgiving, there are so many things to be thankful for! Delicious turkey, falling leaves, hot cider, but most importantly: family!

November 23 | Farm Country | Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey
A field trip to a turkey farm the day before Thanksgiving has the children giggling, gobbling, and leaving with full bellies as they remember everything that they are thankful for.

November 25 | Butterfly Biosphere | Frank the Seven-Legged Spider by Michaele Razi
Frank loves being a spider and loves having eight legs! One day though, he wakes up to find that he is missing a leg! Is he still a spider? Frank must go on a journey to find out.

November 26 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | I Am a Story by Dan Yaccarino
Humans have always told stories, but the way that they have been told has changed throughout time. Join us for an exploration and celebration of the art of storytelling. 

November 28 | Museum of Ancient Life | Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp by Carol Diggory Shields
Have you ever been curious about what the dinosaurs did for fun? After a long day of being a dinosaur, they wanted to let loose with a dinosaur stomp! They wiggled and jived, twirled, and tangoed! 

November 30 | Farm Country | Walk This World by Susan Hood
Explore the differences and similarities between cultures around the world. Say hello to people in New York, Russia, Brazil, France, and more as we observe the everyday life of people around the globe. 

December 2 | Butterfly Biosphere | The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
Peter wakes up one morning to find that the first snowfall of the season has happened! He puts on his snowsuit and ventures out into the cold to see the adventures that the new snow will bring to his little neighborhood. 

December 3 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay
Find your way into a winter wonderland as Stella and her little brother Sam spend the day playing in the snow! Sam has lots of questions, Stella has lots of answers, and they both have lots of fun! 

December 5 | Museum of Ancient Life | Say Something! by Peter H. Reynolds
Our words have power, so use them wisely. If you have an idea, say something! If you notice something wonderful, say something! This story will remind you to use your voice to tell the world who you are and what you are thinking. 

Join us for our weekly storytelling adventure, Tales for Tots, held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:00am. Staff will engage guests with interactive storytelling as well as movement and/or music activities that connect to the story theme of the day.

Join us for our weekly storytelling adventure, Tales for Tots, held each Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11:00am. Staff will engage guests with interactive storytelling as well as movement and/or music activities that connect to the story theme of the day.

December 7 | Farm Country | Sunshine and Snowballs by Margaret Wise Brown 
Join us for an exploration of the seasons. Experience the colors, sounds, and sights of each of the four wonderful seasons we have: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter! 

December 9 | Butterfly Biosphere | The Happiest Book Ever! by Bob Shea
What makes you happy? Dancing, candy, chocolate cake? Help us truly have the happiest book ever by finding what makes you happy and helping to get rid of anything unhappy in this story! 

December 10 | Museum of Natural Curiosity |  Penguin Problems by Jory John
This penguin friend has come to tell you that life is not all fun and games in Antarctica. Penguins have problems too. Have you ever tried to find your mom in a crowd of identical penguins? Or been blown by icy wind? Join us for this comical exploration of penguin problems. 

December 12 | Museum of Ancient Life | Baking Day at Grandma’s by Anika Denise
Three little bears join their grandma for a day of measuring, mixing, dancing, and drinking hot cocoa. Join them as they learn that the one thing better than baking with grandma is sharing their sweets with those they love.

December 14 | Farm Country | Snow Ponies by Cynthia Cotten
Have you ever wondered what causes the snow to fall and winter to begin? Come learn the legend of the snow ponies, which run across the fields, turning everything they touch into a winter wonderland. 

December 16 | Butterfly Biosphere | It’s Snowing! by Olivier Dunrea
Mama rocks her baby on a cold, cold night, when suddenly she sees snowflakes begin to fall. She bundles Baby in warm fur, and they go outside to explore the sounds, smells, tastes, and feelings of snow.

December 17 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Mr. Willowby’s tree arrives but is too tall for his parlor! Not to worry though, the butler cuts the top off and they decorate the tree. But that is not the end of the adventures for the top of the Christmas tree, as it is passed to family after family in the forest, spreading Christmas cheer to all.

December 19 | Museum of Ancient Life | How do Dinosaurs Say Merry Christmas? by Jane Yolen
Do dinosaurs celebrate Christmas? Do they wait patiently to unwrap presents on Christmas morning, or do they sneak down in the middle of the night and rip off all the wrapping paper? Find out just how dinosaurs say Merry Christmas, the only way dinosaurs can.

December 21 | Farm Country | Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
Bear always sleeps through Christmas, so this year his friends give him task after task to keep him awake. Bear helps to find a Christmas tree, hang up stockings, bake cakes, and best of all: give gifts!

December 23 | Butterfly Biosphere | A Wish to be a Christmas Tree by Colleen Monroe
Every pine tree in the forest wishes to be a Christmas tree, especially the old, tall pine tree which has been passed by every year. Just as he begins to give up on his dream of ever being a Christmas tree, his woodland friends band together to remind him how wonderful he truly is.

December 24 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | My Two Holidays: A Hanukkah and Christmas Story by Danielle Novack
When the children in Sam’s class take turns sharing which holidays they celebrate, Sam becomes nervous. What should he say if he celebrates both Hanukkah and Christmas? Join Sam as he discovers the joy of celebrating both holidays and sharing his traditions with his classmates.

December 26 | Museum of Ancient Life | Hanukkah Bear by Eric A. Kimmel
Bubba Brayna has plan for Hanukkah, she invited her Rabbi and friends to her home for latkes and celebration. But when the smell of the latkes wakes up a hungry bear from his hibernation, he finds his was down to Bubba Brayna’s house and joins in her celebrations, eating every last latke. What will happen when the Rabbi and Brayna’s friends arrive? 

December 28 | Farm Country | My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz
Learn the importance of Kwanzaa and the ways it is celebrated in this simple introduction to the seven days of Kwanzaa as a little girl learns what Kwanzaa represents. 

December 30 | Butterfly Biosphere | Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa by Donna L. Washington
Li’l Rabbit’s favorite part of Kwanzaa is the feast, Karamu. But this year, Karamu is not going to happen because Granna Rabbit is sick. Li’l Rabbit knows just what to do! He will find Granna Rabbit a special treat to lift her spirits and help her celebrate Karamu anyway. 

December 31 | Museum of Natural Curiosity | P. Bear’s New Year’s Party by Paul Owen Lewis
Count the guests as they arrive at P. Bear’s dapper New Year’s party. One whale, two horses, three cows… and learn to count and tell time along the way.