Small Explorers Learning Together is the Museum’s program for children ages 1 – 5 and their caregivers. A professional Museum educator guides exploration of a monthly theme through a story, gallery visit, and hands-on fun activities.
It’s Spooky Season! We will explore New Jersey wildlife that come out at night. Owls, bats, foxes and more! We will read “Night Animals,” learn about animal tracks and pretend to go camping!
Tickets and registration:
10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. This month we’re reading “Lawrence in the Fall” by Matthew Farina. Lawrence is a fox who needs to find a collection for show and tell, and discovers he can find his collection in the forest! Following the story, will be a related craft. Learn more about New Jersey environments in the exhibit Ecosystems at Risk: Threatened and Endangered in New Jersey.
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
6:00 PM
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:00 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends around 7:15 pm, we will drive out to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to . Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come enjoy fun, spooky activities and games, then participate in the trick or treat costume parade at 12:00 pm! Don’t forget to pick up a coupon for $2 off any Planetarium show that day.!
11:00 am Destino Marte: La Nueva Frontier
12:00 pm To Space and Back
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure!
3:00 pm EXO: Are We Alone?
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
Small Explorers Learning Together is the Museum’s program for children ages 1 – 5 and their caregivers. A professional Museum educator guides exploration of a monthly theme through a story, gallery visit, and hands-on fun activities.
For Native American Heritage Month we will explore Lenape harvest traditions and community celebrations. We will read "Bear Says Thanks", learn about Woodland Period Lenape crops and share our family food traditions.
Tickets and registration:
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
Small Explorers Learning Together is the Museum’s program for children ages 1 – 5 and their caregivers. A professional Museum educator guides exploration of a monthly theme through a story, gallery visit, and hands-on fun activities.
For Native American Heritage Month we will explore Lenape harvest traditions and community celebrations. We will read "Bear Says Thanks", learn about Woodland Period Lenape crops and share our family food traditions.
Tickets and registration:
10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. This month we’re reading “Rock Your Mocs” by Laurel Goodluck. This book is a happy, vibrant tribute to Rock Your Mocs Day, observed yearly on November 15, which celebrates the joy and power of wearing moccasins—and the Native pride that comes with them. Following the story, will be a related craft. Look for moccasins on display in the exhibit A Much Moved People: Preserving Traditions of the Delaware Indians.
4:15 pm
Speaker: Joshua Shterenberg, Princeton University
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. A century of physics has placed a singular moment of the creation of the universe---the “big bang”---squarely in the public eye as a fact about our world. How well does this hold up? In the last few decades, better data and better theories have exposed many holes in this story, and a paradigm shift might be in order... Save a .
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
11:00 am Cuentos de cielos mayas
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm One Sky Project
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
12:00 pm Destination Mars: The New Frontier
1:00 pm One World, One Sky
2:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
3:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
4:15 pm
Speaker: Michael Pedowitz, NJ State Museum Planetarium Technician
Trying to catch a shooting star? Join us in the planetarium to learn about the Geminid and Quadrantid meteor showers, including when, where, and how to look for them. We'll also talk about other small objects in our Solar System, such as comets and asteroids, which are deeply connected with both meteor showers and the history of our planet. Discover these amazing visitors from outer space!
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
9:30 am to 12:30 pm, ONE SESSION ONLY
This special event is a winter solstice tradition. It is the only session to include a Planetarium show with your program fee! Beginning at 9:30 am, caregivers and children will participate in activities that introduce the stars and constellations that exist in our night’s sky. Families will have the opportunity to learn more about the Earth’s moon and participate in activities that engage in observation and play. All participants will get to take home multiple arts and crafts projects related to the theme and attend a showing of “One World, One Sky” in the Planetarium. This event is different from the other sessions and has a capacity of over 200 people; it will be more of a celebration than the regular small learning groups.
Tickets and registration:
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space(NEW!)
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. This month we’re reading “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner. Under the snow exists a secret kingdom of squirrels and snow hares, bears and bullfrogs, and many other animals that live through the winter safe and warm, awake and busy, under the snow. Following the story, will be a related craft. Explore New Jersey wildlife in Written in the Rocks: Fossil Tales of New Jersey.
4:15 pm
Speaker: Dr. Jacob Hamer, NJ State Museum Assistant Curator of Planetarium Education
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. Over the last 800,000 years glacial ice caps miles deep advanced and retreated across North America at least eight times. These cyclic changes in Earth climate are connected to small cyclic variations in Earth’s orbit called Milankovitch cycles. Join us in the planetarium to hear about how astronomy and climate science are intimately connected, and how New Jersey rocks have something to say about these cycles! Save a .
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
11:00 am Chispa: El universo en nosotros
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
12:00 pm Messengers of Time and Space
1:00 pm The Great Solar System Adventure
2:00 pm Spark: The Universe in Us
3:00 pm Dinosaurs of Antarctica
3rd Saturday of every month, 10:00 am
Join us in Discovery Den every 3rd Saturday of the month to hear a story and make a craft to take home. Story Time is designed for children ages 2-8 and their caregivers. Families are encouraged to explore the galleries on their own after the program. Pick up a Small Explorers gallery cards throughout the Museum.
Oct. 18, reading “Lawrence in the Fall” by Matthew Farina, illustrator Doug Salati
Nov. 15, reading “Rock Your Mocs” by Laurel Goodluck, illustrator Madelyn Goodnight
Dec. 20, reading “Over and Under the Snow” by Kate Messner, illustrator Christopher Silas Neal
October 24, 6:00 pm
Join us in the Planetarium for a special extended star talk at 6:00 pm. We’ll discuss what is visible in the night sky that evening, with an extra focus on deep sky objects that are observable with telescopes. After the star talk ends we will drive to Washington Crossing State Park where the Amateur Astronomer’s Association of Princeton has the Simpson Observatory. There, we will use the historic telescopes maintained by the club to view the objects we discussed. For directions to the Simpson Observatory go to . Dress warmly, as it cools off significantly after sunset!
October 25, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Come enjoy fun, spooky activities and games at our annual Halloween event! Enjoy making slime and playing games, then participate in the trick or treat costume parade at 12:00 pm. Don’t forget to pick up a coupon for $2 off any Planetarium show that day.
November 15, 4:15 pm
Speaker: Joshua Shterenberg, Princeton University
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. A century of physics has placed a singular moment of the creation of the universe---the “big bang”---squarely in the public eye as a fact about our world. How well does this hold up? In the last few decades, better data and better theories have exposed many holes in this story, and a paradigm shift might be in order... Save a .
December 6, 4:15 pm
Speaker: Michael Pedowitz, NJ State Museum Planetarium Technician
Trying to catch a shooting star? Join us in the planetarium to learn about the Geminid and Quadrantid meteor showers, including when, where, and how to look for them. We'll also talk about other small objects in our Solar System, such as comets and asteroids, which are deeply connected with both meteor showers and the history of our planet. Reserve your seat and discover these amazing visitors from outer space!
December 20, 4:15 pm
An Astronomer’s View on Climate: Milankovitch Cycles
Join us in the Planetarium for this free talk. Over the last 800,000 years glacial ice caps miles deep advanced and retreated across North America at least eight times. These cyclic changes in Earth climate are connected to small cyclic variations in Earth’s orbit called Milankovitch cycles. Join us in the planetarium to hear about how astronomy and climate science are intimately connected, and how New Jersey rocks have something to say about these cycles! Save a .
Small Explorers is the Museum’s program for families with children ages 1-5. Hundreds of families have experienced the magic of exploring the Museum in these sessions and now you can too! Two session options are offered each month, the 2nd Saturday or the following Thursday, at 9:30 am and are limited to 20 children per session. Sessions meets in our Discovery Den play space and begins with an interactive story time. Families move together to playfully explore a gallery and end in our classroom space with thematic activity stations including a craft to take home. Sessions are designed to maximize caregiver-child interaction and connect with a community of families to share in exploration. Each session is 45 minutes long and meet October to June.
Cost: Session are $20 per child, each additional sibling receives a 20% discount. Caregivers attend free. New Jersey State Museum Foundation members receive 10% off. Tickets for each session are sold on Humanitix, links will shared on the Museum’s Events Calendar.
If you are not on our mailing list but would like to learn more please contact Devra.Hock-Reid@sos.nj.gov.
The New Jersey State Museum is a wonderful setting for your special event with changing exhibits that can provide a unique backdrop for any occasion. The Museum is ideally located in the State Capital Complex in Trenton, and offers a one-of-a-kind venue with incredible architecture and beautiful views of the Delaware River. For rates and availability, please view our rental information or email Rentals.NJSM@sos.nj.gov.
Available Rental spaces:
This exceptional space is an ideal setting for buffet receptions, intimate sit-down dinners, business seminars and more. Available evenings and weekends only.
The 384-seat Auditorium is available for a wide variety of lectures, conferences, movie premieres, theater performances and more.
