Educator Open House

Join us for our Educator Open House. You'll hear about our School Programs offerings for the 2026–2027 school year, enter to win some fabulous prizes, including a bus scholarship for a trip to the Museum, and enjoy table displays and activities inside the Museum.

Sold out? Join the waitlist here!

PROGRAM SCHEDULE*

8:30 am: Check-in & Light Breakfast | Commons Plaza | Sitting, walking & standing

• Check in with museum staff before entering
• Enjoy light breakfast and refreshments
• Enter to win some fabulous prizes, including a bus scholarship for a trip to the Museum, resources for your classroom and more!

9:15–10:30 am: School Programs Presentation | NHM Commons Theater, Level 1 | Sitting 

• Meet the School and Teacher Programs team 
• Hear about what is being offered to students and teachers this school year

10:30 am–12 pm: Resource Fair | Grand Foyer, Level 1 | Sitting, walking & standing

• Learn about our Mobile Museum Experiences and how to apply.
• Drop by our School Programs table, learn about the new school programming from the La Brea Tar Pits, pick up resources to take back to the classroom and chat all things field trip related with our staff.
• Stop by our Horticulture table, see what's growing in the garden, and take home a scavenger hunt for you and your students.  
• Hear from some of our partner organizations:
  • California Science Center
  • The Craft Contemporary
  • LACMA
  • Los Angeles Public Library
  • Tree People

11:30 am–12 pm: Intro to VTS | Location: Reframing Dioramas, Level 2 | Standing

• Meet with a School & Teacher Programs Program Manager to learn more about Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS), a core pedagogical approach we use to support observation, inquiry, discussion, and meaning-making in our programs at NHMLAC. 

All Day: Orcas: Our Shared Future | Location: Ground Floor | Standing and Walking

• Orcas: Our Shared Future invites you to explore the powerful connections between orcas, people and the oceans we share. Check out this captivating experience to learn more about the science and culture of some of the ocean's most formidable animals. 
• Ask a staff member how to redeem your free tickets to this special exhibit.

12 pm:  Event Concludes

• Even though our event will be wrapping up, check out the rest of the museum! Your Educator tickets will allow you to roam the galleries at your own pace, so you can make a day of it. 

1:45 pm: Dinosaur Encounters | Location: Commons Theater | Sitting

• Dinosaur Encounters returns with new puppets and a refreshed storyline, which follows paleontologists at a remote dig site where fossil bones transform into dinosaurs right before your very eyes! 
• Ask a staff member before the event ends to redeem your free tickets to this event. 

*Schedule is subject to change

Important Workshop Information:

• View this Workshop Information packet to learn more about parking, logistics, what to bring, and what you’ll receive as a participant!
• Our workshops fill up incredibly fast! Please only sign up if you are sure you can make it - and if plans change, cancel your RSVP to give a space to someone on the waitlist.
• While we love welcoming your families to our museums, this specific program is intended for formal & informal educators who are adults (18+)
• In-person workshops are subject to cancellation due to low registration, inclement weather, or changes in safety measures.
• We aim to make NHM an exciting, educational, and enjoyable experience for everyone. If you have any questions about this event and the accommodation services we offer, contact our Call Center at 213.763.3466 or info@nhm.org. We ask that any requests for special accommodations be made at least 48 hours in advance.