Harvard Museum of Natural History551

The winner of our 2008 Parents' Picks quest to find the best museum in Boston, the Harvard Museum of Natural History has a stunning assortment of meteorites discovered around the globe. Kids can watch Impact!, a dynamic video presentation that explores meteorite origins and the factors that bring these extra-terrestrial bodies in contact with Earth. Where do meteorites come from? How often do they strike? What do they reveal about the origins of our solar system?

The best section for kids is the zoological galleries, where they'll find an 8-foot turtle and a 42-foot Kronosaurus (a marine reptile). Even the ancient stuffed birds and animals (apes, polar bears, a giraffe, and a Bengal tiger) are fun to look at, giving the feel of an indoor zoo.

Animal Artists Club is a six-week, Tuesday afternoon workshop series designed for kids ages seven to 11 who love animals and art. Kids sketch face-to-face with a zebra, ostrich, tiger, or moose as they learn to draw animals from the museum's zoological collections. With provided materials, students focus on different animal groups each week and practice using different media. By the end of the six-week course, students will have gained greater confidence in their expressive skills as well as a new appreciation for the animal world. Visit the website for session dates.

During the summer, kids ages four through grade 5 can have fun with summer science programs. Designed and taught by museum science educators, each Science Week morning program blends hands-on, activity-based learning with a healthy dose of fun to help kids develop a deeper understanding of nature. Check the website for dates and themes. Contact reservations@oeb.harvard.edu or call 617.495.2341 for more information.

Admission: Adults $9, Seniors/Students $7, Children (3-18) $6. Admission is free on Sundays from 9am to 12n (year-round, MA residents only) and on Wednesdays from 3pm to 5pm (Sep-May, MA residents only).