Youth & Family Opportunities

Our interactive labs feature Museum specimens, artifacts and laboratory equipment. Students examine ancient objects, investigate technology, meet live animals or conduct scientific experiments depending on the nature of the lab booking. Each lab lasts one hour and includes admission to the Museum’s permanent exhibit halls for lab participants. Three new Weekday Lab topics are available monthly.

Weekday Labs at HMNS
Time: 9:30, 11:00 and 1:00
Dates: Select dates each month
Capacity: 25 students per lab

Weekday Labs at HMNS Sugar Land
Time: 11:00 and 1:00
Dates: Select Thursdays and Fridays each month
Capacity: 25 students per lab

We also offer individual registration labs for students that are not part of a group. We offer them both in person and virtually, and they can be purchased in our online box office! Look for (Individual) for in person individual labs, and (Virtual) for virtual individual labs. 

Want a lab experience for your field trip? Need help with a TEKS objective? Try our Labs On Demand! Each of these hands-on labs is tailored to your group’s needs.

Cost: $250 – standard Lab on Demand
$250 – dissection Lab on Demand (dissection lab prices may vary depending on dissection requested.)
$250–$500 – Advanced Lab Topics for High School
Add a $75 travel fee for traveling presentations
Lab fee includes admission to the Museum’s Permanent Exhibit Halls on the day of your lab.

Capacity: Up to 25 students

Labs on Demand Request Form
School Year Programs Guide (PDF)

Do not hesitate to email reservations@hmns.org to address your particular needs if you do not see them included on this list. We have lots of options to suit your specific needs.

Physical science:

• Chemistry
• Force and Motion
• Electricity
• Light and Optics

History and Culture:

• Ancient Egypt – To complement our new Egyptian exhibit hall
• Ancient and Medieval History Topics
• Classes based on current or past exhibitions

Biology:

• Cells
• Animal Adaptations
• Life Cycles

Earth Science:

• Rock Cycle
• Paleontology – including our new Fossil Shark Tooth Lab
• Earth Systems Topics (moon phases, tides, water cycle, solar system)

Dissection* – please inquire regarding particular specimen availability:

• Whole organism dissections
• Organ dissections

Weekday Labs are scheduled labs rotated monthly and are available at a discount if booked in that month. Labs on Demand are available at the date and time of your choice and cost a bit more.

Weekday Labs booked in the scheduled month cost $200. Dissection labs start at $250, but can cost more depending on specimens. Labs on Demand range in cost from $250–$500 per 25 students depending on the selection. Labs on Demand can travel to your school for an additional $75 travel fee.

Weekday Labs and Labs on Demand can accommodate 1–25 students per hour-long session. Multiple hour-long sessions may be booked. Lab fees are a flat rate, so there is no prorated pricing for smaller groups attending the lab.

Weekday Lab curriculum is written for 1st—8th grade and can be adjusted to accommodate your group. Dissections are limited to 5th grade and up.

Please contact the Education Registrar at reservations@hmns.org to book Weekday Labs throughout the school-year. You will be emailed a registration form to fill out with first and second choice lab dates, along with your group’s booking information. Please list your preferred labs consecutively by date, not age group.

Please contact the Education Registrar at reservations@hmns.org to book Labs on Demand. In your email, please include your preferred lab, first and second choice dates, group size, and age of students. We will work with you to find a mutually agreed upon date and time. View full list of Labs on Demand (PDF)

The Dissection labs are more expensive because of the specialized equipment and specimens.

A 20% charge per class may be applied to any cancellations or changes made after payment is received. The Museum’s education staff is very limited. Last minute cancellations affect our staff and supply costs. This small fee covers some of our losses.