Discover a world of arts and creativity, science and technology, culture, health and history. Welcome to the McKenna Children’s Museum a stimulating environment dedicated to promoting the overall well-being of children. Experience close encounters of every kind. See, touch, smell and taste in an atmosphere especially designed to build healthy young minds and wholesome bodies. Watch them live large. Learn lots. Laugh out loud. And let their imagination do the rest.

Put your child on the road to discovery at the McKenna Children’s Museum and watch the transformation begin. Exhibits include: Lend-A-Hand Ranch, the Grocery Store, Outside the Lines Art Studio, the Tot Spot, Destination Space and many more. Your child can be a doctor, banker and gardener in the morning, a scientist, artist and inventor in the afternoon! Imagination that’s all it takes to invent a healthy adventure at The McKenna Children’s Museum. Explore it today.

General Admission:

$5.50 Labor Day to Memorial Day
$7.50 Memorial Day through Labor Day
Members and Children under 12 months are FREE!
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Fall, Winter, and Spring Hours:

Labor Day through Memorial Day
Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Closed on Mondays
 
 

Summer Hours:

Memorial Day through Labor Day
Monday - Saturday: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
Thursdays: Open until 7:00 pm
Sunday: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm
We will be Closed Saturday, July 4, 2009

Closed on the Following Holidays:

New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day,
Independance Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day
 
 

NOTE: Children are not admitted without an adult, and adults are not admitted without a child. Outdoor Exhibits may be closed during inclement weather. Group Rates are available for school and community groups; advanced reservations are required and can be made by calling 830.606.9525.

The McKenna Children’s Museum is an environment designed to stimulate a child’s natural desire to learn and to give them their very own world to explore and enhance their creativity. By offering activities that encourage them to use all of their senses, their interest is heightened and imaginations are pulled in every direction. Jumping. Spinning. Out of control imaginations. It’s not likely you’ll hear “I’m bored” or “There’s nothing to do” while you’re here. Around every corner lies a new and exciting experience for children of all ages.

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Destination Space!
  • Out of This World: Enter a fantastic, fun, beautifully lit outer space environment full of real facts and out of this world fancy.
  • Musical Light Adventure: Step on beams of colored lights that produce musical tone.
  • Whats Out There?: Planets, meteors, and stars hang from the ceiling and constellations that can be seen in the night sky over New Braunfels during every season, all identified with labels, are painted on the walls for you to identify.
  • What Should We Wear?: Children put on special clothing and equipment to be prepared for their time in space, improvised space suits and helmets to moon boots and gloves.
  • NASA Facts: Bilingual posters, display cases, and signage provide information about NASA, the Space Shuttle and other NASA space ships, and the Apollo 16 astronauts.
  • Mission Control: Children sit at the panels and use all of the control buttons, dials, levers, monitors, and all other equipment on the Mission Control panel to ensure a proper lift off of the Space Shuttle, which can be watched on the monitor screen.
Grocery Store
  • Lets Go Shopping: Children look at food items labeled in English and Spanish and fill their shopping carts and shopping baskets full of good and healthy things to eat from shelves and bins in the store.
  • How Heavy?: Children weigh their fruits and vegetables in a pan balance to see how heavy their purchase is.
  • Checkout: Young cashiers scan items, listen to the beep, collect imaginary money from shoppers, and fill cloth shopping bags with purchases.
  • Restock: Children (or volunteers) restock shelves with items in cloth shopping bags and then return bags to the checkout area.
  • Green and White Grocery: Visitors look at the "Green and White Grocery" display and learn about New Braunfels historical store
Hill Country Campgrounds
  • Information Everywhere: Look at, read, and learn about the plants, trees, animals, insects, and fossils from bilingual signage throughout the exhibit.
  • Lets Go Camping: Crawl into tents and cook fish from the river over the campfire.
  • Over the River: Cross over the faux river on an accessible bridge and catch magnetic fish.
  • Kayak Ride: Wear life jackets and take a pretend ride on the faux river in a real kayak.
  • Riverbank Hunt: Discover fossils and footprints embedded along the riverbank and use bilingual signage to help with identification and interesting facts.
  • Cavern Exploration: Explore the cavern using all of your senses as you see stalactites, stalagmites, use flashlights to find cave dwelling animals and plants, listen to cave sounds, and smell moist, musky cave scents.
  • Bat World: Dress up in bat wings, get a bats eye view of the cavern, and look at bats hanging from the cavern ceiling.
  • Teepee Reading Nook: Enter a teepee reading nook and look at books about trees, forest inhabitants, the geography of the region, bats, regional Native Americans, and the history of the area.
Innovation Center with Mine-Control by Zachary Booth Simpson
  • Mine Control Exploration: Walk into this darkened space and experience the magic of Zachary Booth Simpsons Mine-Control installation. This installation invites you to interact with amazing technology, either cooperatively with others, or alone. In an almost-magical way, the projected images are able to react to and interact with the visitors.
  • Mariposa: A swarm of butterflies circles as if looking for something. When your shadow enters nothing appears to happen at first; eventually, if you remain very still, you gain their trust and they begin to land on your hand or shoulder to rest. If you make a sudden movement they will scatter as even the slightest twitch sends them into a panic.
  • Sand: A stream of liquid sand flows from above and reacts with your shadow as if it were solid. Its hypnotic motion conjures childhood feelings of playing with water or building wet sandcastles. Like making shadow puppets, you can easily construct concave structures with your hands to catch the sand and then you can pour it from hand to hand or maybe into your friend´s mouth. Play with it long enough and you might discover some of its many secrets.
Lend-A-Hand Ranch
  • Chores on the Ranch: Use a bucket to feed the longhorn, take water to the longhorn cattle in a bucket from the trough, and listen to clucking as they gather eggs from the chicken coop.
  • Giddy-Yup: Take a ride on pommel ponies and feel and smell the rich leather of the real saddle.
  • Main Haus Comforts of Home: Sit on the porch on rocking chairs, cook nutritious meals in the ranch house kitchen, and read books about the Wild West, horses, and other ranch animals as you listen to regional music on the radio.
  • Omas Attic: Discover treasures from the past, from old phonographs to rotary telephones, in the lean-to attic.
  • Live Chicks: Watch real chicks hatch from eggs in an incubator.
  • How Long? - How Tall?: Compare arm reach and head height to size of real longhorn horns.
  • Ranch Name Game: Match ranch names to their counterpart symbols.
  • Branding Activity: Press a branding shape into memory foam.
  • Where Does the Water Come From?: Aquifer element located under the windmill shows how an aquifer purifies the water we use.
McKenna Hospitable
  • Patients Room: Children take a rest from their hospital bed as they turn on the overhead light and use a tray table for their imaginary hospital meals.
  • Doctor: Put on white doctors coats and listen to the patients heart, give inoculations, take weights and height measurements, apply bandages, and use a computer program that identifies bones and organs in x-rays.
  • Patients Library: The Patients Room has a library shelf full of books on heath, visiting the doctor and dentist, nutrition, and other health-related subjects.
  • Health Information: Bilingual posters in the Patients Room provide visitors with information on dental hygiene and good nutrition.
  • Newborn Baby Nursery: Children provide well-baby care for newborn baby dolls, listen to their newborn cries while they change their diapers and weigh them, and play lullabies from around the world as they rock them to sleep.
  • Ambulance: Young ambulance drivers sit in the ambulance and drive to the hospital while the patient lays on the gurney and the attendant monitors the patient’s condition using the dials and gauges in the back of the ambulance.
  • Hospital Research Laboratory: Young researchers use a microscope to look at slides of real tissues, record their observations and experiments in lab notebooks, and study the bones of a skeleton.
New BraunFit
  • Get Moving: Visitors use a number of fitness activities and machines that line the exit corridor. Check your heart rate and dance to choreographed steps.
  • Safety First: Bilingual signage stresses the importance of safety rules while using the fitness equipment.
  • Importance of Exercise and Fitness: Study the bilingual posters that highlight the importance of exercise and fitness in keeping fit as it relates to good health.
  • Healthy and Smoker´s Lungs: See a healthy lung and a smoker´s lung and pump air through a set of demonstration lungs.
  • Sugars and Fats: View the sugar or fat content of some favorite snack foods. See how quickly certain foods are metabolized, whether it is a healthly sustaining apple or a not-so-healthy quick boosting soda.
  • Clean Your Teeth: Brush and clean our demonstration teeth and learn some healthy dental procedures.
Tot Spot
  • Train Station: Children of all ages crawl under, stand next to, and play with the wooden trains.
  • Playhouse: Young children go into the playhouse, look out the window, ring the doorbell, turn lights on and off, put the baby doll to bed, and engage in kitchen play.
  • Baby Nest: The youngest children crawl over soft sculptures, look into mirrors, and explore cause and effect activities.
  • Fine Motor Area: Children use fine motor manipulatives that they take out of (and return to) bins and baskets.
  • Active Play Area: Fashioned to have a number of levels to access, crawlers go up and down various levels, crawl through a tube, and use a small slide.
  • Book Nook: Children look at, "read," and handle chunky board books.
Under the Comal River
  • Under the Comal River: Discover the wonders under the Comal River above, all around, and on the floor as you enter the Museum.
  • Salt Water Aquarium: Marvel at the beautiful salt water fish in the huge, walk-around aquarium.
The Great Outdoors
  • Art Car: Children use paints to decorate a real car.
  • Big Dig: Children use a variety tools to dig and find buried hidden treasures.
How Does Your Garden Grow?
  • Green Thumb World: A fenced-in, accessible garden provides visitors the opportunity to tend a real garden full of flowers and vegetables.
  • Gardening Tips and Plant Information: Bilingual signage provides information about gardening tips and information on plants in the garden.
A River Runs Through It
  • Water Play: A water table with constantly flowing water provides a place for water play as well as an opportunity to learn about power created by waterpower.
  • Hydro-Power and Information: Bilingual signage provides visitors with information about hydro-power.
Town Square
  • The Bank: Use an ATM, make deposits at the teller window, and figure out the bank vaults lock combination at the bank.
  • Herald-Zeitung: Children learn about the history of the newspaper in New Braunfels from bilingual signage, look at newspapers in a variety of languages, and even put their own face on the front page of the latest edition.
  • Hardware Store: Make plumbing connections, match nuts and bolts, use electrical switches, make their own architectural drawings, get new ideas as you build with architectural blocks, and look at authentic architectural drawings.
  • New Construction Site: Young construction workers wear safety gear and tool belts as they use wheelbarrows and faux materials to build a new building in the city.
  • Mini Construction: Children of all ages use smaller building materials at tables to build to their hearts content.

There’s always something new to see and experience at the McKenna Children’s Museum. Special programs are being introduced all the time and change with the seasons. To see what’s currently happening at the Museum, just click on the schedule below.

Summer is here!
Make your plans now to attend the Children's Museum's summer activities.
Summer Day Camp.

Night at the Museum

Groups or individuals can rent the entire McKenna Children’s Museum overnight for a sleepover and have your own Night at the Museum. It’s perfect idea for the the ulimate birthday party. Scouts can experience a cool camp-in. Your party of children or adults will have access to the Museum’s interactive exhibits. Security is included and food is permitted in the Children’s Museum during private rentals. Call the Museum for more information.

Museum Rental

Imagine having the magical environment and exhibit’s of the McKenna Children’s Museum as the venue for your next gathering. All you need to do is ask and we’ll give you all the details on how to rent the entire Museum. Reservation times are available outside of normal Museum business hours. Our team can give you great ideas on how to stage the ultimate birthday party, have an inside campout for scouts, cook up a cooking party, have your baby shower or wedding reception and many other fun, unique party and event themes. Security is provided and food is available. There must be a 5:1 ratio of children to adult (18 years and older) chaperones present. What better place to let your imagination soar. Call us at 830.606.9525 for rates and details.

Whatever your child’s age, McKenna Children’s Museum is the perfect location for your next celebration! Make your child’s next party unforgettable. We offer a variety of party menus, or you can let the kids do the cooking, ingredients included. No outside food or dink is allowed to be brought in for birthday parties. Our affordable birthday party prices allow your children to celebrate in a safe and creative environment, while you relax.

  • Birthday Parties
  • Cooking Parties
Choose from 2 different party packages

#1: Birthday Feier

Heres what you get:
  • 1 1/2 hour private party room rental.
  • Museum admission and unlimited playtime for 20 children and up to 25 adults. (We require a supervision ratio of at least one adult for every five children). Extra guests are $5.50 each, children one year of age and under are free.
  • 20 invitations and name tags.
  • Party assistant.
  • One McKenna Children’s Museum t-shirt for Birthday child.
  • Quarter sheet Birthday cake, white or chocolate
  • And Moms Favorite - Party cleanup!
  • Total room capacity is 45. For parties with more than 45 guests, inquire about renting both rooms.

Choose from the following times:

  • Saturday: 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday  Friday: 2:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Party Favor bags are available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop.
Cost for Members: $200.00
Cost for Non-Members: $250.00
No outside food or drink permitted.

 

#2 Birthday Fest

Here’s what you get:

  • 1 1/2 hour private party room rental.
  • Museum admission and unlimited playtime for 20 children and up to 25 adults. (We require a supervision ratio of at least one adult for every five children). Extra guests are $7.50 each, children one year of age and under are free.
  • 20 invitations and name tags.
  • Party assistant.
  • One McKenna Childrens Museum t-shirt for Birthday child.
  • And Moms Favorite - Party cleanup!
PLUS:
  • Quarter sheet Birthday cake, white or chocolate.
  • Choice of one food package (serves 20) -Hot Dog or Corn Dog and Bag of Chips -Chicken Fingers and French Fries -Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza -Cheese, Crackers and Fruit Tray
  • Lemonade, cups, plates, napkins and forks.
  • Additional food and larger cake can be purchased at an additional cost.
  • Total room capacity is 45. For parties with more than 45 guests, inquire about renting both rooms.

Choose from the following times:

  • Tuesday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
  • Sunday: 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.
Monday parties available between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Party Favor bags are available for purchase in the Museum Gift Shop.
Cost for Members: $300.00
Cost for Non-Members: $375.00
No outside food or drink permitted.

Kids love our cooking parties. Our kids events are perfect for birthdays, graduations, holiday parties, or just about any special occasion. They are unique and affordable alternative to the ordinary kids party and the best part...you get to relax because we do all the work.

#1 Big Chef / Little Chef

The Perfect Party for Your Smaller Chef (ages 3-5)
Kids love our cooking parties. Our kids events are perfect for birthdays, graduations, holiday parties, or just about any special occasion. They are unique and affordable alternative to the ordinary kids party and the best part...you get to relax because we do all the work.

After you have made your selections from our menu, we will do the shopping, provide all the necessary tools, and teach the kids to prepare and cook a fun and yummy entrée and dessert that every child then enjoys. Your guests will leave with a full belly, a huge smile, new knowledge, and the satisfaction of having done something creative. You get to participate or take pictures/videos for an event your child will not forget.

  • 2 hour private cooking party in our kitchen / party room
  • Free admission to Children’s Museum the day of the party for 8 children and 16 adults. (One supervising adult required for every child. Extra guests are $20.00 each  Maximum of 12 children and 20 adults)
  • 8 invitations and wristbands
  • Party "Chef" /Assistant
  • One McKenna Children’s Museum apron and chef hat for the Birthday/Host child
  • Disposable aprons and chef hats for 8 guests
  • All ingredients and supplies needed to make:
  • * 9 personal size party cakes, white or chocolate * 9 personal size pizzas
  • Two (2) gallons of lemonade
  • Plates, napkins, forks, and cups
  • And Moms favorite  party clean up!

Because your little chefs will need the full time to prepare, cook, and eat, we ask that you consider opening presents at home. Cost for Members: $325.00 Cost for Non-Members: $400.00 A $100.00 non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking to hold the date. The balance is due the day of the party.

#2 Kuchenchef Fest

For Your Little Chef ages 6 and up.
Kids love our cooking parties. Our kids events are perfect for birthdays, graduations, holiday parties, or just about any special occasion. They are unique and affordable alternative to the ordinary kids party and the best part...you get to relax because we do all the work. After you have made your selections from our menu, we will do the shopping, provide all the necessary tools, and teach the kids to prepare and cook a fun and yummy entrée and dessert that every child then enjoys. Your guests will leave with a full belly, a huge smile, new knowledge, and the satisfaction of having done something creative. You get to participate or take pictures/videos for an event your child will not forget.

  • 2 hour private cooking party in our kitchen / party room
  • Free admission to Children’s Museum the day of the party for 8 children and 16 adults. (One supervising adult required for every 4 children. Extra guests are $20.00 each  Maximum of 12 children and 20 adults)
  • 8 invitations and wristbands
  • Party "Chef" /Assistant
  • One McKenna Children’s Museum apron and chef hat for the Birthday/Host child
  • Disposable aprons and chef hats for 8 guests
  • All ingredients and supplies needed to make:
  • * 9 personal size party cakes, white or chocolate * 9 personal size pizzas
  • Two (2) gallons of lemonade
  • Plates, napkins, forks, and cups
  • And Moms favorite  party clean up!

Because your little chefs will need the full time to prepare, cook, and eat; we ask that you consider opening presents at home.

Cost for Members: $325.00
Cost for Non-Members: $400.00
A $100.00 non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking to hold the date. The balance is due the day of the party.

To schedule a Birthday Party, Cooking Party, After Hours Private Party, Camp-In Adventure, or to rent the entire museum for an all out Extravaganza, please contact the Activity Coordinator at 830.606.9525.

Field trips to the McKenna Children’s Museum are encouraged for School groups and non-profit organizations with 20 or more visitors in size. In order to receive the group rate, reservations are required in advance. Field trips are offered Tuesdays-Fridays.  If you would like to eat lunch as a group, we can arrange areas for dining.  Just request it when you are making your reservation.  See the following Quick Facts for details.

Quick Facts

  • Times: Tuesdays through Fridays beginning at 10:00 a.m. for a maximum of two hours.
  • Ages: 2-12 years.
  • Cost: $3.50 per student. Chaperones are $3.50 each. This rate is available for schools, daycares, and community organizations.
  • Chaperones: One (1) adult for every five (5) children is required. There is a fee of $25 for each missing chaperone.
  • Payments: Admission for students and chaperones is required at time of reservation. Balance is due day of tour.
  • Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made a week in advance.
  • To Reserve: Call the Museum at 830.606.9525 to reserve your group today!

Rates

The Admission price for qualified group is  $3.50 each for students and adult chaperones.  Teachers are free.

Guided Tours

Guided group adult only tours are provided for a reduced admission price when reservation is made in advance.  Call the Museum to book your tour.

Field Trip Stations

The McKenna Children’s Museum can turn your field trip into an enriching and fun experience through our guided field trip stations. Whether your group is 20 or 120, our staff will customize your field trip to include science, art and fitness topics based on the needs and interests of children and adults in your group. Call the McKenna Children’s Museum today to speak with a staff member about how to make your field trip one that is educational and fun!

Link to Educator Resources

Click here for information on Museum resources for educators
Contact us at 830.606.9525 for any questions on Group Visits to the McKenna Children’s Museum.

What a smart deal! Your family will save money in just 4-5 visits. Plus - great discounts on birthday parties, educational programming, family fun events, and gift shop purchases. Join today and visit FREE for an entire year. Also, you receive a New BraunFit Gym membership and its programming for FREE with a Museum membership purchase. A McKenna Children’s Museum Membership is the perfect gift any time of year! Gift certificates are available.

Museum Memberships - Two Levels:

Spass-Familie (Fun Family)

$125.00 annually
  • All basic benefits are for two named adults, parents or grandparents,
    and two children or grandchildren under age 18.

Spiel-Meister (Play Master)

$165.00 annually
  • All basic benefits are for two named adults, parents or grandparents,
    and four children or grandchildren under age 18.

  Spass - Familie
“Fun Family” 		Spiel - Meister
“Play Master”
  Familie Grosseltern
(grandparents)		 Familie Grosseltern
(grandparents)
Unlimited FREE Museum admission for an entire year, admission value of $5.50 per person ($7.50 per person during peak season Memorial Day through Labor Day) • • • •
10% discount on purchases in the Museum Gift Shop • • • •
Discount on birthday parties at the Museum • • • •
Quarterly e-newsletter to stay informed of Museum happenings, programs, and special events • • • •
Two one-time guest passes for FREE admission to the Museum (admission value of $5.50 - $7.50, pending season) • •
Free membership to New BraunFit • • • •

 

NOTE: Children are not admitted without an adult, and adults are not admitted without a child. Outdoor Exhibits may be closed during inclement weather. Group Rates are available for school and community groups; advanced reservations are required and can be made by calling 830.606.9525.

Renewal Information

Renew your membership before your expiration date and save $20!
Be sure to renew because there is so many new and exciting things happening at the Museum this year. We don’t want you to miss a thing. Just give us a call at 830.606.9525 and we’ll send you a renewal form.
Thanks for your continued support!

Gift Certificates

Looking for the perfect present for birthdays, Christmas, to celebrate a great report card or just to brighten someone’s day? Give a gift of imagination: a McKenna Children’s Museum Gift Certificate. They’re available in any dollar amount and can be used for admission to the Museum, shopping in the Museum Gift Shop or towards a Museum Membership. Get your Gift Certificate at the Museum Front Desk. It’s like giving an entire world of arts and creativity, science and technology, that’s bursting with fun.

Contact us at 830.606.9525 for any questions on McKenna Children s Museum memberships.

The McKenna Children’s Museum Gift Shop is the perfect place to find the most unique, educational gifts and toys in New Braunfels. Many of the gifts reflect the museums most popular exhibits. An admission fee is not required to shop, so you can stop by to pick out the perfect gift for a birthday, Christmas or any occasion when ever the gift shop is open. For questions or for gift assistance, please call: 830.606.9525. And don’t forget, Museum Members receive a 10% discount on all gift shop items.

Hours of Operation:

Summer Hours:
Memorial Day through Labor Day
Monday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Fall, Winter, and Spring Hours:

Labor Day through Memorial Day
Tuesday - Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closed on Mondays
 

Closed on the Following Holidays:

New Years Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independance Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day

 


Café

The McKenna Café offers a practical solution for promoting healthy eating. The Café offers a special children s menu with delicious, nutritious offerings kids will love. Savor healthy breakfast options, lunch-time meals including a loaded salad bar and sensible snacks that are ready to take home. Or you can enjoy them in the comfortable café dining area or al fresco on the patio. The café is located just down the main hallway from the McKenna Children s Museum.

Café Hours:

Breakfast and Lunch - Tuesday through Friday
Breakfast: 8:00a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Saturday

Lunch only: 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Stop by and pick up a meal to go!
Call 830.606.9596 to place your order.

 


Area Restaurants.

The Children’s Museum is within minutes of these fine New Braunfels dining establishments.

 

Exhibit TEKS-Alignment
(Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills)
Educators, schedule your next field trip here at McKenna Children’s Museum. Our TEKS-Aligned Exhibits, with hands-on learning experiences encourages creative exploration, discovery, and inventiveness to increase student achievement and inspire critical thinking. Click on an exhibit below for more information.

Hill Country Campgrounds
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Early literacy opportunities offered by books and identification/information labels, language opportunities inspired by the exhibit, book awareness, awareness of bilingual print materials.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Availability of books related to all experiences in exhibit, opportunities for listening to and participating in conversations about the camping/exploring environment, bilingual signage, labels, and other print materials offering identification and factual information throughout exhibit.
Pre-K Math Counting items seen in exhibit, comparative measurement of fishes, height of stalactites and stalagmites.
K-5 Math Counting items found throughout exhibit, estimating numbers of plants and animals, opportunities for problem-solving, comparative measurement of fishes, spatial reasoning in cavern.
Pre-K Science Exhibit activities that prompt the asking of questions about nature, manipulation of equipment including the campfire mechanism, flashlight, and kayak, use of senses to absorb all sight, smell, touch, and sound components.
K-5 Science Observation and understanding of woodland and cavern environments, observation of representations of living organisms, understanding of the natural world, identification of fossils.
Pre-K Social Studies Obtaining information from a variety of sources, cooperation and sharing of ideas with others in exhibit activities, identification of landscape of exhibit.
K-5 Social Studies History of region, identification of familiar geographic features of environment, culture of area, problem- solving around exhibit activities.
Pre-K Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities around camping, fishing, being a bat, kayaking.
K-5 Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about exploring in the woods, camping, fishing, cooking over a campfire, kayaking on a river, cave exploration, being a bat.
Pre-K Health and Safety Asks for help as needed, respectful communications about safety.
Innovation Center with Mine-Control by Zachary Booth Simpson
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities to listen to conversations and descriptive language about activities.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Reading and listening to information and directions in bilingual text, situations that prompt the asking of questions.
Pre-K Math Experimentation with 3-dimentional spatial information.
K-5 Math Opportunities for problem solving, using technology to explore spatial relations.
Pre-K Science Observation of cause and effect, use of senses to explore and experiment with technology.
K-5 Science Observation of cause and effect, observation and analyzing change, use of senses to explore and experience exhibit.
Pre-K Social Studies Opportunity for cooperation with and listening to others, awareness of rules.
K-5 Social Studies Opportunity to share ideas and cooperate with others.
Pre-K Fine Arts Observation, dramatic play using technology.
K-5 Fine Arts Observation, dramatic play using technology.
Pre-K Health and Safety Safety around equipment and activities.
K-5 Health Education Safety around equipment and activities.
Pre-K Personal/Social Development Personal gross motor movements, cooperation with others.
Pre-K Physical Development Gross and fine motor opportunities while using technology.
K-5 Physical Education Social development while cooper
Lend-A-Hand Ranch
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Early literacy offered by books, opportunities for labeling and conversation, book awareness, awareness of bilingual print materials, exhibit inspires storytelling, language opportunities inspired by the exhibit, listening to ambient conversations.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Opportunities for verbal communication and listening to others, availability of a variety of books on many communication and cooperation skills will all be subjects related to exhibit, bilingual signage and other print information.
Pre-K Math Counting items such as eggs and ponies, similar patterns of ranch name signs, spatial sense and geometry of ranch signs, comparative measurements of self against longhorns, classification of fruits and vegetables in kitchen.
K-5 Math Opportunities for quantitative reasoning, patterns, comparative measurement and estimation using non-standard units of longhorns, geometry and patterns, problem solving and identification of math in everyday situations while looking at artifacts in attic.
Pre-K Science Exhibit activities prompt questions about animals, recognition of living animals and non-living animals in exhibit, manipulation and exploration of equipment and machines in grandma oma’s attic, observation of live chick hatchery and other live animals, use of senses to absorb all sight, smell, touch, and sound components.
K-5 Science Exhibit provides activities that promote inquiry and exploration, observation of life cycle from egg to chick, observation of change while watching chicks hatch, life cycle needs of turtles and lizards, comparison of living and non-living animals, understanding the natural world, opportunity to use tools found in attic, activities that encourage critical thinking, activities that require use of senses.
Pre-K Social Studies Activities that encourage cooperation, taking turns, sharing, and following rules, observation and understanding of ranch environment, recognizes, provides opportunities to ask questions.
K-5 Social Studies Cooperation and sharing of ideas with others in exhibit activities, opportunities to learn about history and geography of region, exploration of use of equipment/technology on ranch, problem solving activities including ranch name/symbol decoding, obtaining information about cultural heritage from books and artifacts in attic, problem-solving around exhibit activities, culture of ranches.
McKenna Hospitable
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Early literacy opportunities through bilingual labels, signage, posters, and books, listening to ambient conversations.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Opportunities for listening and communicating ideas with others, bilingual signage about health-related topics, materials for reading, opportunity to take notes on laboratory activities.
Pre-K Math Using scales to weigh baby dolls and self, measuring the length of baby dolls.
K-5 Math Comparative measurements in standard and metric units, weighing dolls and self, using machines to weigh and measure, problem solving in lab.
Pre-K Science Observation of bilingual posters on health-related, dental hygiene, and nutrition information, experimentation in lab, use of senses to explore exhibit components.
K-5 Science Scientific investigations using microscope, critical thinking about health-related issues, asking questions, using tools for scientific exploration, observing change, impact of technology on health care, examination of skeleton.
Pre-K Social Studies Opportunity to care for others, awareness of the medical needs of others.
K-5 Social Studies Opportunity to demonstrate good citizenship and caring of the needs of others, heritage of importance of health care in local culture.
Pre-K Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about health care and caring for others, opportunity to listen to music from other cultures.
K-5 Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about health care, awareness and appreciation of lullabies from other cultures.
Pre-K Health and Safety Opportunities to learn healthy behaviors andoral hygiene, opportunities to ask for help when needed.
K-5 Health Education Information about healthy practices and oral hygiene, respectful communications about safety, following rules, use of senses to experience exhibit.
Tot Spot
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities for listening to others, conversation to help increase vocabulary, language opportunities when adults label items and activities, print awareness provided by books and labels, following directions provided by adults in environment, speech opportunities.
Pre-K Math Many items to count, patterns to look at, sorting and categorizing opportunities, categorizing.
Pre-K Science Opportunities for exploration of materials, use of senses to explore exhibit components, observation of materials and others, manipulation and experimentation with objects throughout exhibit.
Pre-K Social Studies Opportunities to listen to others, activities that promote cooperation with others.
Pre-K Fine Arts Opportunities for creative play, musical experiences with manipulative toys.
Pre-K Health and Safety Opportunities to seek assistance from adults, safe materials.
Pre-K Personal/Social Development Activities promote sense of self, opportunities to demonstrate self control, opportunities for sharing and cooperation, mirror provides chance to observe self, opportunities for observation of others.
Pre-K Physical Development Gross motor movements on and around components, manipulation of smaller objects.
Under the Comal River
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Labeling of colors and sizes of fishes, descriptions of water animals and scenery, bilingual signage about the Comal River.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Language opportunities about the exhibit, reading of Comal River facts, listening to ambient conversations and sounds, bilingual signage about entering the museum and the Comal River.
Pre-K Math Patterns seen on overhead fish and freshwater fish, counting of fishes and underwater animals.
K-5 Math Counting fishes and underwater animals overhead and in freshwater tank, estimating numbers of fish, patterns of fish, measurement in terms of comparison of different fish overhead.
Pre-K Science Noticing fish habitat in freshwater tank, use of senses to absorb atmosphere of entryway.
K-5 Science Observation of fish habitat in freshwater tank and scenes of water life under the Comal River painted on the walls, observation of underwater environment.
Pre-K Social Studies Comal River information about the familiarity with the Comal River and river activities.
K-5 Social Studies Comal River reference and its importance to New Braunfels in terms of history, geography, and culture.
Pre-K Fine Arts Art awareness of fish and water animals overhead, opportunity to perhaps participate in making smaller fish that will be hung in entryway.
K-5 Fine Arts Art awareness and appreciation of the variety of fishes and underwater animals overhead, opportunity to perhaps participate in making smaller fish that will be hung in entryway.
Pre-K Health and Safety Respectful communications about safety and appropriate behavior in public space.
K-5 Health Education Respectful communications about safety.
Destination Space!
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities for labeling and conversation, book awareness, bilingual print materials, listening to conversations.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Opportunities for verbal communication about fantasy situations in space, listening to others, exposure to bilingual signage and books about space travel, planets, stars, constellations over Texas during the seasons, NASA, historical reference to Apollo 16.
Pre-K Math Counting space items, observation of patterns of stars and planets.
K-5 Math Comparative measurements of weights of cans, quantitative reasoning, problem solving with physical science activities.
Pre-K Science Asks questions about exhibit components, investigation of unfamiliar objects related to space travel, exploration of space environment, experimentation using space clothing, use of senses to explore exhibit, exploration of various weights of cans.
K-5 Science Scientific experimentation and exploration of physical science activities, exploration of weights and gravitational pull on different planets, asking questions, using tools and equipment to explore environment, understanding future events, lab science and experimentation.
Pre-K Social Studies Observation of unfamiliar environment, cause and effect exploration of various exhibit components, opportunities to ask questions.
K-5 Social Studies Opportunity to learn about history of space exploration, awareness of how science and technology have impacted space travel and exploration, exhibit activities provide opportunities to obtain information from fantasy and factual components about space travel.
Pre-K Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about space exploration and travel, opportunity to listen to music.
K-5 Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about space exploration, music awareness and appreciation.
Pre-K Health and Safety Opportunities to ask for help when needed.
Grocery Store
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities for labeling food items, listening to ambient conversation, bilingual signage, listening to others, early literacy offered by labels and shopping lists.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Opportunities for verbal communication with and listening to others, exposure to bilingual signage and other print information throughout Grocery Store, historical reference to “Green and White Grocery”.
Pre-K Math Counting food items, putting fruits and vegetables on scale, sorting and classifying food items, matching food items to labels with pictures.
K-5 Math Opportunities to weigh food items on scales, money concepts based on price of food items.
Pre-K Science Information on wide variety of foods, importance of good nutrition, weighing foods on scale, matching foods to food pictures on labels, exploration of cash register, use of senses to explore exhibit.
K-5 Science Critical thinking about nutrition and food varieties, use of senses to explore exhibit, inquiry and exploration about different foods and nutrition, different foods, use of cash register and scanner.
Pre-K Social Studies Exhibit activities foster cooperation, turn-taking, and sharing, atmosphere is an environment that is easy to recognizes, cause and effect exploration, opportunities to ask questions.
K-5 Social Studies Opportunity to learn about role of community helpers, exposure to variety of ethnic foods and corresponding cultural groups, use of equipment/technology in Grocery store, problem solving activities throughout exhibit, history and importance of “Green and White Grocery” to New Braunfels.
Pre-K Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about community workers and Grocery store.
K-5 Fine Arts Dramatic play opportunities about working in and shopping at a Grocery store.
Pre-K Health and Safety Opportunities to ask for help when needed.
New BraunFit
Grade Level; Educational Area Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities for listening to ambient conversations that provide models for language, increase vocabulary and descriptive language, print awareness of bilingual signage.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Opportunities for listening to directions, exercise activities and equipment provide opportunities for asking questions, bilingual information on fitness that provide reading opportunities.
Pre-K Math Situations that encourage counting of exercise actions, measurement on machines.
K-5 Math Measurements of strength using machines, opportunities for problem solving, using tools and technology for exercise, utilization of charts and numerical comparisons regarding exercises.
Pre-K Science Observation of cause and effect of equipment, use of senses to experience exhibit.
K-5 Science Observation of others using exercise equipment, use of equipment/tools/measurements, analyzing change in self using equipment, observation of mechanical energy, understanding of fitness as it relates to strength/health, experimentation with equipment and fitness activities.
Pre-K Social Studies Cooperation with and listening to others, awareness of rules.
K-5 Social Studies Cooperation with and listening to others, awareness of rules, understanding of importance of health and fitness and its impact on society.
Pre-K Health and Safety Awareness of healthy behaviors, awareness safety around equipment and activities.
K-5 Health Education Awareness about health and importance of fitness.
Pre-K Personal/Social Development Cooperation with others using equipment and participating in fitness activities.
Pre-K Physical Development Gross and fine motor opportunities using equipment and participating in fitness activities.
The Great Outdoors

Grade Level; Educational Area 		Educational Opportunities
Pre-K Language/Early Literacy Opportunities for listening to and communication with others opportunities, bilingual signage throughout entire area, exhibit promotes new vocabulary related to all exhibit components.
K-5 English/Language Arts/Reading Bilingual signage throughout entire exhibit, opportunities for listening, sp