Bring the Museum to You!

Otter Cove on the Go

Otter Cove on the Go

If time or travel is a barrier to visiting Otter Cove, check out Otter Cove On the Go. Designed for preschools, child care programs and elementary schools, Otter Cove On the Go brings the museum to you!

Cost

Thanks to the generous support of the Minnesota Department of Education, Otter Cove On the Go is able to subsidize program costs and offer complimentary visits based on organizational structure and location.

Childcare providers, libraries, community organizations, and home-based Head Start and Early Head Start programs

Up to three complimentary sessions per school year (September–May). Please contact us to inquire about pricing for additional sessions.

Schools, including classroom-based Head Start and Early Head Start programs

Group Size

Maximum of 30 children per session. An adult teacher/leader must remain present at all times.

Topics

Available workshop topics are listed in the yellow menus. Expand each section to see the workshop description. Each workshop is approximately 45 minutes depending on class size and age group. Please allow additional time for set up and tear down.

Availability and Booking

  • Otter Cove On the Go can be scheduled on Mondays or Tuesdays.

  • Workshops need to be scheduled at least one month in advance. For the best choice of day and time, please schedule early. Contact us at least one week in advance to cancel your workshop.

Hands-On Storytime

  • It’s an alphabet race up the coconut tree! After reading Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, children will explore uppercase and lowercase letters and create their own coconut trees.

  • Numbers, numbers everywhere. Can you count along with Bear?

    Children will practice counting to five and create their own bear puppet!

  • Walter is a little spider determined to make a sturdy web using special shapes. After reading Walter’s Wonderful Web, children will explore shapes and use a variety of materials to create their own unique web shapes.

  • “I like myself! I’m glad I’m me. There’s no one else I’d rather be.” After reading I Like Myself!, children use a variety of materials to create one-of-a-kind self-portraits.

  • A box is just a box…or is it? After reading Not a Box, children will use a variety of materials to transform an ordinary box into whatever they can imagine!

  • Snippets: A Story About Paper Shapes reminds us that even the smallest scraps can become something beautiful!

    After listening to the story, children will explore color, shape, and creativity as they use a variety of paper "snippets" to create their own unique works of art. There is no right or wrong way to create - just an opportunity to experiment, imagine, and discover what can happen when simple shapes come together in new ways.

  • A pig named Boomer participates in the Animal Olympics. He isn’t the fastest or the strongest, but he does work hard. One of the events Boomer has trouble with is the pole vault - he just can’t seem to make it over the bar. Children will use a variety of materials to create a catapult that can launch an object.

  • Celebrate what makes you unique with The Smart Cookie by Jory John and Pete Oswald! This heartwarming story reminds us that everyone is smart in their own special way. After the story, kids will use a variety of recycled and craft supplies to invent and build an original creation of their own. There are no rules - just imagination! Whether it's a creature, machine, building, or something completely new, every masterpiece is a chance to show off creative thinking and problem-solving skills.

  • ¡Hola, Mexico! Travel south to explore one of North America's vibrant neighbors. Children will discover where Mexico is located, explore photographs of its people, landscapes, celebrations, and traditions, and listen to the lively sounds of traditional Mexican music. They'll learn how maracas create rhythm before designing and building their own instruments to play together. Through music, art, and exploration, children will gain an appreciation for another culture while discovering that people around the world express themselves in many wonderful ways.

  • Konnichiwa, Japan! Journey across the Pacific to explore the island nation of Japan. Children will locate Japan on a map, examine photographs of its landscapes, cities, traditions, and daily life, and learn about koinobori, colorful carp-shaped windsocks traditionally displayed during Children's Day to symbolize strength, perseverance, and hope. Inspired by this tradition, children will create and decorate their own koi windsocks while discovering how art and cultural celebrations help tell the stories of people around the world.

Culture

  • Meet Vincent van Gogh! Discover one of the world's most famous artists and explore how he used bold lines, swirling movement, and vibrant colors to express what he saw and felt. Children will examine examples of van Gogh's artwork and learn about his unique artistic style before creating their own "yarn paintings" using colorful yarn and contact paper. By experimenting with lines, texture, and composition, children will discover new ways to create art inspired by one of history's most celebrated painters.

  • Get bold like Jackson Pollock! Discover how Jackson Pollock transformed everyday paint into energetic works of art through movement, color, and experimentation. Children will explore examples of Pollock's famous paintings and learn how artists can create in many different ways. Then they'll use marbles, paint, and motion to create their own colorful abstract masterpieces while experimenting with patterns, movement, and chance.

Artists

This work is funded in part by MHC with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.