Homeschool Classes

Explore the natural world in Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s homeschool classes! Students ages 6-18 from the Western Pennsylvania homeschool community are invited to attend interactive, engaging sessions designed to complement homeschool science curriculums.  Read on below to learn more about the schedule and descriptions of all our classes and to register your learner today – classes fill up quickly!

2025-2026 Homeschool Classes listed below meet at the museum on the following Mondays. Classes for all sessions and ages will run from 1:00–3:30 p.m.

Register for Homeschool Classes Below

Spring 2026 Session

Wild and Wonderful Plants (Ages 6-8)

Spend the spring learning all about plants! Get your hands dirty as you learn how to plant and take care of seedlings in your own mini garden. Observe the life cycle of plants, learn about different types, and find out what each plant needs to grow and thrive. Conduct a flower dissection and look at the parts of plants under a microscope. Explore the museum to see how plants have changed and adapted throughout Earth’s history, and discover “living fossils” like the magnolia that have been around for millions of years.

Classes begin April 13, 2026. Please register by March 30, 2026.

Register for Wild and Wonderful Plants →

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Aquatic Micro Explorers (Ages 9-12)

Take a walk and get an up-close look at what’s in the water around us. Collect and analyze water from ponds, streams, and runoff, then learn how to properly use microscopes to identify the good, the bad, and the ugly living in local waterways. Conduct a full analysis of the health of local watersheds. As spring and warmer weather develop, watch life emerge in the water – observe algae, bacteria, and insects growing in their mini habitats.  

Classes begin April 13, 2026. Please register by March 30, 2026.

Register for Aquatic Micro Explorers →

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Forensic Science III (High School – Ages 13-18)

Continue building your investigative skills in the Spring Session and conclusion of our Forensic Science series. Experiment with forensic odontology by creating and analyzing dental casts and molds of humans and other animals. Go behind-the-scenes in the museum’s entomology department to explore the significance of using insects and arthropods in criminal investigations. Implement forensic anthropometry through examination, measurement, and dissection of bones. Use deductive reasoning and your new skills to solve a forensic mystery.

Classes begin April 13, 2026. Please register by March 30, 2026.

Register for Forensic Science III →

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Registration and Cancellation Policies

Late registration (within two weeks of the session start date) may be possible with an additional $50 fee. Contact. ProgramRegistration@CarnegieMuseums.org to inquire about availability.

For cancellations to a single session, participants are eligible for a full refund minus a $10 processing fee if cancelling more than one week before the session begins. For cancellations made less than one week before the session starts, but before the second class in the session, participants are eligible for a refund minus a $10 processing fee and the pro-rated cost of the first class. No refunds will be issued after the second class in the session.

Inclement Weather Policy

For children’s programs scheduled to occur December through March, the following inclement weather policy will be used: Should hazardous conditions result in cancellation of classes, announcements will be made on local Pittsburgh television stations including KDKA, WTAE, WPXI, and FOX. Decisions are based on the needs of all students and instructors, some of whom drive considerable distances to Oakland. Makeup days may be scheduled for missed classes. During any inclement weather, please use your own discretion to attend for your own safety and that of your student.