Don Harrington Discovery Center

Educational Programs for Schools and Groups:

When you visit the Don Harrington Discovery Center, you will be immersed in science when you visit the Space Theater, explore science in the exhibit galleries or discover science in a hands-on class. We offer many unique, quality programs that will challenge your mind and make learning fun. Our programs also meet Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and AISD Benchmarks.

Space Theater:
The Don Harrington Discovery Center is proud to possess the latest in educational and entertainment technology with the Digistar 3 digital theater system. Inside the Space Theater, students can travel through the Universe with presentations designed to delight the eyes and ears as well as provide an enriching educational environment. Capable of holding up to 90 visitors, the Space Theater can give your group an immersive experience that will take their imagination to new places and expand the definition of a BIG PICTURE! For a list of shows, AISD Benchmarks and TEKS, please click here.

Hands-On Classes:
The classes are dynamic and encourage students to learn through discovery. Each class is grade-appropriate and meets state education standards. The classes can be used to cover a particular subject or as an enrichment of the material already taught in the classroom. In many of the classes, the students will be making something that they can take home. Maximum class size is 30 students. For a list of shows, AISD Benchmarks and TEKS, please click here.

Click here to view an Educational Planner with a complete list of classes

Exhibit Gallery:
We encourage you and your students to explore, create, play, tinker, solve, read and discover with all of the exhibits. You can learn about the weather, helium, puzzles, structures, sound, optical illusions, fish, coral and reptiles.
We have several ways that students can be guided during their exploration. We have age-appropriate scavenger hunts and a more in-depth activity that encourages the students to “Think Like a Scientist”. The Discovery Center requests that you pick one of these activities for your students to do while in the Exhibit Gallery.
We also have Exhibit Guides that are here to answer any questions you might have, help with your activity and encourage hands-on learning.
To find out more about the Exhibit Halls and for scavenger hunts, please click here.

Starlab (Outreach):
The Starlab is an inflatable, portable dome that is 20 feet wide and 10 feet high. Inside the Starlab, students can have the experience of visiting a planetarium without leaving school – what an adventure! For a list of shows, AISD Benchmarks and TEKS, please click here.

Please fill out the Reservation Form and call (806) 355-9547 ext. 14 or fax the form to (806) 355-5703. If you have Acrobat Reader Professional or Acrobat Approval you can open the document , fill out the form and email it to reservations@dhdc.org to make a reservation. See School Group Reservations and Fees.

The museum is a private, not-for-profit organization that makes science exciting, relevant and interesting to all types of learners by providing interactive exhibits and programs that actively engage children, adolescents and their families. It fosters inquiring minds and nurtures the individual genius that is within each of us.