Just for Teachers
Are you looking for the best place to bring your group? The Children's Museum of South Carolina is a popular field trip destination for childcare centers, schools, and family reunions. Our exhibits are interactive and correlated to the North and South Carolina Science Achievement Standards.
Don't want to come to CMSC? Let us come to you! We have educational outreach programs just right for your students from preschool through grade 8!
Field Trips
The fun only gets better when you visit the Museum with your friends! For you, your classmates, church group, scout pack, neighborhood friends... whoever, we offer special programs and special prices for your visit. There's something special about how friends play and learn together that makes your visit just that much more fun!
To make your field trip the most fun, we offer a Field Trip Planning Checklist and during your visit we ask you to follow these few simple rules.
Click here to book your CMSC Field Trip!
Costs & Reservations
- Child Discovery Option - $4.50 per child (minimum 10 children) - Length: 90 minutes
- Group Rates include 1 Free Adult Admission for every 5 Paid Child Admissions, additional adults/children will be admitted at a discounted rate of $6.00 each. Membership Passports are NOT valid for field trip admissions.
Add-On Options
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Gem Mining $4.00 per child (maximum 96 children per field trip visit)
- During this 15 minute experience, children work as a team to sift and wash authentic Brazilian ore in the 15 ft. flume complete with running water. Over 16 gemstones are discovered and identified! This exhibit is facilitated by a Museum educator and students go home with their own rock collection!
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Fossil Mining $4.00 per child (maximum 60 children per field trip visit)
- During this 15 minute experience, children work as a team to sift and wash through fossils in the 15 ft. flume complete with running water. Many fossils and shark teeth are discovered and identified! This exhibit is facilitated by a Museum educator and students go home with their own fossil collection!
- Tales for Tots $2.00 per child (maximum 45 children per field trip visit)
- During this 20 minute experience, preschool students listen to an interactive story and make a craft with their teachers and chaperones to take home!
- Digitalis Planetarium $3.00 per child (maximum 45 children per field trip visit)
- During this 20 minute experience, students enter our inflatable planetarium and learn about the sun, moon and the constellations in the sky that night!
- Tiny Seeds $3.00 per child (maximum 45 children per field trip visit)
- During this 30 minute experience, students learn about the parts of a seed and how the Earth works as they create their own ecosystem to take home!
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Soliquid $3.00 per child (maximum 45 children per field trip visit)
- During this 30 minute experience, students explore the states of matter and create a mysterious substance called OOBLECK that is made from solids, liquids and gases!
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Attract Me, Attract Me Not $3.00 per child (maximum 45 children per field trip visit)
- During this 30 minute experience, students learn about magnets and create their own artwork through the magic of magnetism!
Lunch Options
All packages are booked through the museum only at the time of reservation.
Packages Available
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Children’s Museum of South Carolina and lunch at Wendy’s.
Cost per child: $7.75 -
Children’s Museum of South Carolina and lunch at State Fair Food Court at Broadway at the Beach.
Cost per child: $7.75
All taxes and tips are included in the price.
What You Get for Lunch
Wendy’s
Kids Meal choice of: Hamburger, Cheeseburger, or Chicken Nuggets or Make The Healthy Choice: Substitute mandarin orange slices instead of french fries and choose lowfat milk or chocolate milk. 1 free Adult Single Combo per 10 children* Additional adults will order at Wendy's. No split packages please.
State Fair Food Court
Call for prices and food options.
All these packages are booked through the museum only. Call the museum at (843) 946-9469 to book your educational excursion today!
Outreach Programs
The Children’s Museum of South Carolina is proud to offer hands-on science outreach programs correlated to both National Science Standards and North Carolina and South Carolina Science Standards. Our programs are designed to be used as introductions to a unit or as supplemental instruction to your current program.
Programs can be customized to suit the needs of your group. They are designed for up to 25 students per session and range from 1 - 2 hours in length depending on the program, however programs may be customized to suit the needs of your group. An additional fee is charged for each session. Travel and overnight expenses may be charged for programs booked outside the museum's service area. Please contact the CMSC or call 843-946-9469 for more details, or request a copy of our Educational Programs Guide PDF to be emailed to you!
Click here to book a CMSC Outreach Program
Educational Correlations
Our South Carolina Correlations and North Carolina Correlations will help you match our Museum Exhibits to the necessary skills defined by the state for children in various grade levels.
Our Outreach Programs are also correlated with North Carolina and South Carolina State Standards.
Child Development (2-4 years)
View a PDF of Child Development Standards Correlations for SC
Program Fees: $75 per session (up to 15 students per session)
Shaping Up!
Length: 30 minutes
Students will be using their minds and bodies to explore geometric shapes. Each student will classify by shape and color, and use shapes to create patterns.
Bubbles Away
Length: 30 minutes
Students examine the properties of bubbles. Students learn how mixtures of liquid detergent and water will demonstrate changes in bubbles. Each student will make a picture using bubbles and learn how bubbles become “un-poppable”.
Programs for Kindergarten
Tiny Seeds
Length: 60 minutes
Students will use observation and scientific process skills to understand seed structures and functions through an interactive activity to learn about the life cycle of plants. Each student will plant their very own plant to monitor in the classroom.
Floaters and Sinkers
Length: 45 minutes
Students will learn that water has weight. They will discover why objects that are lighter than an equal volume of water will float, and why objects that are heavier than an equal volume of water will sink.
Attract Me, Attract Me Not
Length: 45 minutes
Students will be introduced to magnets and magnetic properties. They will discover that magnets pick up objects that contain iron, while making an iron paper clip ”walk” up a paper hill with the magnets.
Air, Air Everywhere
Length: 45 minutes
Students learn that all living things need air to live. They will discover that air occupies space and has weight. Students will use manipulatives to explore the function of the lungs.
Outreach Programs for Kindergarten are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Programs for First Grade
Tiny Seeds
Length: 60 minutes
Students will use observation and scientific process skills to understand seed structures and functions through an interactive activity to learn about the life cycle of plants. Each student will plant their very own plant to monitor in the classroom.
The Mighty Penny
Length: 60 minutes
Students will learn how to bar graph simple information and how to interpret data. Each student will use a penny to conduct several experiments, while graphing their results.
What Do You Hear?
Length: 60 minutes
Students learn that one of our five basic senses is the sense of hearing. While exploring different objects, students will learn and recognize that different objects make different sounds. Students identify that sound is produced by vibrations.
Outreach Programs for First grade are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Programs for Second Grade
Soliquid! PLUS
Length: 120 minutes
Students explore the properties of solid objects and build vocabulary through observation and hands-on manipulation. They investigate the appearance and behavior of several liquids in containers and are encouraged to use descriptive language, which serves as a springboard to develop precise vocabulary for properties of liquids.
Magnet Force be with You
Length: 120 minutes
Students discover that iron is the only everyday material that is attracted to magnets and explore ways to detect magnetic force. They observe that some objects can become temporarily magnetized and examine the relationship between the force of attraction and the distance separating two magnets.
Outreach Programs for Second grade are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Programs for Third Grade
What's In My Rock
Length: 100 minutes
Students are introduced to the concepts of rocks and minerals and the tools and techniques of a geologist by investigating the properties of a homemade rock. Students separate it into different ingredients by taking it apart, dissolving part of it in water, and by using evaporation.
Do You Hear Something?
Length: 120 minutes
Students explore their ability to discriminate between sounds. They identify objects by the properties of their sounds while dropping objects into a drop chamber. They develop a code and send messages to one another by using a drop chamber. In mini-activities, students explore a tone generator and homemade musical instruments to find out what produces sound and what changes pitch.
Outreach Programs for Third grade are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Fourth Grade
Weather Watchers
Length: 120 minutes
Students will explore climate, temperature and weather patterns. They will discover ways to predict weather while learning how to use the tools of a meteorologist. The students will examine the dangers and hazards of severe weather, and create their own tornados.
Outreach Programs for Fourth grade are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Fifth Grade
Variables: Float My Boat
Length: 120 minutes
Students will use lifeboats to explore independent variables. Students will work in groups to build boats of different capacities and graph their results.
Solute vs. Solvent
Length: 120 minutes
Students learn about the properties of matter as they investigate the concept of concentration. This program allows students to expand their ideas and think about concentration in both concrete and abstract ways. Students apply what they have learned to determine the correct recipe for a homemade soft drink.
Outreach Programs for Fifth grade are $150 for the first class/$100 discounted rate for each additional class unless otherwise specified
Digitalis Planetarium Shows
The Digitalis Planetarium System is a small portable version of a permanent theater style planetarium which can seat approximately 25-40 students. It requires a space that is 25’ x 25’ with a 15’ ceiling clearance. A completely digital experience offers the flexibility to teach about the planets, the moon, the daytime and nighttime sky and constellations.
Digitalis Planetarium Shows are $4.00 per child plus a $50.00 set up fee.
Digitalis planetarium programs are standards-based and are best suited for grades one, four, and eight in South Carolina and grade three in North Carolina. Session lengths vary based on the age and focus of the program which allows for up to 4 sessions per day. Digitalis programs are offered Tuesday through Friday, so you are free to choose the date and time that fits your schedule. If you are interested in Digitalis, please call the Program Department at (843) 946-9469 or use our contact form. Be sure to book early, sessions fill up quickly.
1st Grade: Students embark on an imaginary field trip to outer space. On their journey, they discover why the Sun appears to move and what actually is moving! They explore the different shapes and phases of the moon and observe change over time. Students will view the night time sky to see how stars form constellations and planets visible from their backyard. (45 minutes)
4th Grade: Students learn about Earth movement and how it effects our seasons. Students will focus on moon phases and shadows to observe how these change over time. Students will view the night time sky to see how stars form constellations and planets visible from their backyard. (60 minutes)
8th Grade: Students will learn about Earth movement and how our sky appears different during different seasons. Students will investigate moon phases and eclipses and discuss the differences between asteroids, meteors, and comets. Students will view the night time sky to see how stars form constellations and planets visible from their backyard. Students will also be introduced to the concept of the zodiac. (60 minutes)
Digitalis Planetarium shows are also correlated with NC Standards for Third Grade Students
Magic of Science
Everyone loves the wonder of a magic show! Students participate in learning the MAGIC OF SCIENCE! Watch as a colorless liquid magically changes to red, back to colorless, purple, and back to colorless again. Learn how acids, bases, and indicators play a role in this spectacular show. See this and many more magical science demonstrations. This science demonstration is appropriate for large groups and includes audience participation.
- Length: 45 minutes Cost: $5.00 per child/$100.00 minimum fee
- Great for assemblies, special events, and large groups of over 25 students.
Educational Correlations
The following documents are available upon request:
South Carolina Correlations to CMSC exhibits & outreach programs for all grade levels, North Carolina Correlations to CMSC exhibits & outreach programs for all grade levels.
South Carolina Correlations, North Carolina Correlations, North Carolina State Standards, South Carolina State Standards
