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Homeschool Days at MoPOP transport families from adventure to adventure with hands-on programs. Explore activities like how to build a fantasy costume, the science of potions, 3D printing, the anatomy of a monster, and more.
Our workshops tie into our unique pop culture exhibitions, making learning awesome. Homeschool Days tickets include full access to the museum on the day of, so homeschoolers and their families can go on their own museum adventure in addition to our offered class.
Bring a whole new dimension to learning outside the classroom at MoPOP with five different main programs and additional special offerings.
Season Pass Pricing
(includes five classes):
Student: $30
Adult: $55
Member Adult: $40
Upcoming Classes
Students must be accompanied for each program by a ticketed adult.
Science of Potions
(special series class)
Thursday, October 20, 2022 
9:00am–11:00am
MoPOP
Student: $12 | Adult: $18 | Member Adult: $15
Magical elements are whirling around this world, some known and others still shrouded in mystery. From the natural to the seemingly mystical, this workshop will help us all become alchemists and learn the science of potion-making. In this special series class featuring Faith Hagenhofer, we’ll combine the laws of nature and the limitlessness of imagination to "brew" up some magic.
This special series class is not included in Homeschool Days Season Pass workshops but can be purchased individually. The extra fee is for art supplies and materials.
Gorey and Gorgeous
(special series class)
Thursday, October 20, 2022 12:00pm–2:00pm MoPOP
Student: $12 | Adult: $18 | Member Adult: $15
This is the class to say, "that’s not brains; that’s an accessory!" Learn the magic of ghoulish makeup effects, from perfectly coifed eyebrows to the perfect shade of blood. Bring your ideas, costumes, and other inspirations for your look, and teaching artists Pakio Galore and Joshua Hancock will help you bring it to life.
This special series class is not included in Homeschool Days Season Pass workshops but can be purchased individually. The extra fee is for art supplies and materials.
Lapels, T-Pins, and Buttons, Oh My! Costuming in Action
Thursday, November 17, 2022 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
What can we learn about characters from the clothes they wear? With professional costume designer Candace Cantaloupe from the Seattle Fashion Academy, you'll explore wardrobe design and sewing basics that make swatches of inspiration come to life. We’ll also examine how designers enhance character stories by embedding design choices like color, embellishment, and historical references.
Keep Calm and 3D Print Again
Thursday, January 19, 2023 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
Don’t keep your creative problem-solving in a box — do it again, and again, and again! It’s full STEAM ahead with FabLab Education as we investigate the world of 3D printing. Practice the math, drafting, coding, and design needed to print objects from whimsical dragons to weird-looking slugs, all in three dimensions.
Inside A Monster: Scientific Illustration
Thursday, March 16, 2023 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
Create a fantastic creature from the inside out with professional illustrator Valerie Niemeyer. How does your creature walk? What’s holding up those giant scales and big eyes? Scientific illustration is the art of documenting the inside of creatures to learn more about them. Scientists and explorers use these illustrations for in-the-field research, while movie producers and authors use it to understand the beasts that fill their worlds.
Spring Special Series: You Can Sew Your Own Way
Thursday, May 4, 2023 10:00am–4:00pm MoPOP
Student: $35 | Adult: $45 | Member Adult: $40
While Fleetwood Mac encourages you to travel any way you like, MoPOP and returning teaching artist Candace Cantaloupe of Seattle Fashion Academy will help you sew your own way! In this special workshop, we’ll grow our beginner sewing skills by upcycling a fabric object into something new and radical! All levels of sewing skills are welcome!
Note: Adult attendance is not required for this workshop series, but we welcome any interested parents, caregivers, or guardians to join us!
This special series class is not included in Homeschool Days Season Pass workshops but can be purchased individually. The extra fee is for art supplies and materials.
Little Things, Big Stories: Stop Motion Animation
Thursday, May 18, 2023 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
Discover what it takes to make treasured films like Coraline and The Boxtrolls come to life in this workshop exploring stop motion animation with LAIKA talent Lindzay Irving. We’ll create our own story, learn the techniques of stop motion, and put our skills to the test by working together to make a stop motion scene from scratch.
Lindzay Irving graduated from Portland State University in 2013 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Her focus was mechanical design, which she employed extensively during the six years she spent in the aerospace industry. Now with LAIKA Studios, Lindzay uses her understanding of mechanical movement and design to devise rigs for stop motion animation. She is currently working as a stop motion rigger on LAIKA's next film, Wildwood. In her spare time, Lindzay volunteers as a Science Communication Fellow with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).
Past Classes
Lapels, T-Pins, and Buttons, Oh My! Costuming in Action
Thursday, November 17, 2022 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
What can we learn about characters from the clothes they wear? With professional costume designer Candace Cantaloupe from the Seattle Fashion Academy, you'll explore wardrobe design and sewing basics that make swatches of inspiration come to life. We’ll also examine how designers enhance character stories by embedding design choices like color, embellishment, and historical references.
Gorey and Gorgeous
(special series class)
Thursday, October 20, 2022 12:00pm–2:00pm MoPOP
Student: $12 | Adult: $18 | Member Adult: $15
This is the class to say, "that’s not brains; that’s an accessory!" Learn the magic of ghoulish makeup effects, from perfectly coifed eyebrows to the perfect shade of blood. Bring your ideas, costumes, and other inspirations for your look, and teaching artists Pakio Galore and Joshua Hancock will help you bring it to life.
This special series class is not included in Homeschool Days Season Pass workshops but can be purchased individually. The extra fee is for art supplies and materials.
Science of Potions
(special series class)
Thursday, October 20, 2022 9:00am–11:00am MoPOP
Student: $12 | Adult: $18 | Member Adult: $15
Magical elements are whirling around this world, some known and others still shrouded in mystery. From the natural to the seemingly mystical, this workshop will help us all become alchemists and learn the science of potion-making. In this special series class featuring Faith Hagenhofer, we’ll combine the laws of nature and the limitlessness of imagination to "brew" up some magic.
This special series class is not included in Homeschool Days Season Pass workshops but can be purchased individually. The extra fee is for art supplies and materials.
Keanu Weaves Too!
Thursday, September 22, 2022 Session A: 9:30am–12:30pm Session B: 1:30pm–4:30pm MoPOP
Student: $7 | Adult: $13 | Member Adult: $10
Where do elements like carbon fiber, super threads, and indestructible capes of fluid metal come together? Every super-suit starts on a loom. Follow strings of inspiration with the Seattle Weaver's Guild and learn the basics of weaving and textile-making used to create iconic costumes like the ones worn by Black Panther’s Wakandan Royal Guard.
MAY 19, 2022
FUNdamentals of Hip-Hop
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
Learn the fundamentals of hip-hop with Seattle artist, performer, and choreographer Lex Ramirez! Together, we’ll explore the community, knowledge, and culture of hip hop through history and movement and create connections with fellow students. You’ll learn basic hip hop movements and how to put them together. Prepare to move your body and draw experience from MoPOP’s special exhibit! No experience required!
MARCH 17, 2022
Portrait of an Artist: Exploring the Art of Portrait Photography
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
Join MoPOP and professional photographer Kariba Jack to explore the art of portrait photography. Whether you're using a DSLR, tablet, or your phone, we'll discover how to capture movement, character, and the techniques needed to bring still images to life and tell your audience captivating stories. In this workshop you’ll learn the role photography has played in musical movements through history and gain foundational photography skills like lighting, pose, and environment. You’ll need an image capturing device for this workshop like a camera, iPad, or phone.
JANUARY 20, 2022
Love at First Beat: Intro to Hip-Hop DJing
Presented in partnership with 206 Zulu
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
Have you seen DJs at events or in movies and wondered, “how do they do that?!” Join MoPOP for a special exploration of the art of hip-hop DJing with DJ Lady Love (Denise Briggs), one of the first female DJs in New York City in the 1970s. Together, we’ll investigate hip hop DJ history from Grandmaster Flash to Grand Wizzard Theodore and more and learn the basics of hip hop DJing. From exploring the set to counting beats, scratching, and picking your DJ name, you’ll leave this program with a deeper understanding of the roots of hip hop DJing and the skills to start practicing at home. MoPOP will provide controllers and DJ software for participants to share during the program.
NOVEMBER 18, 2021
Off with Their Head(dresses)!
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
Express your inner hero or villain and design a wearable piece that celebrates (and shows off) your identity! Join Candace Cantaloupe from the Seattle Fashion Academy to explore the visual language of clothing and how fashion designers use shape, texture, and color to express characters and convey their ideas. Examine historic and modern examples, visit MoPOP’s Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibit for inspiration, and learn construction techniques to create a headdress that celebrates you!
Note that this program will include access to the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume special exhibit!
FALL SPECIAL SIX-WEEK SERIES:
Fridays, October 15-November 19
Back to the Future! Exploring the Art and Science of Time Travel
10:00am–2:00pm
We'll take a 30-minute break for lunch
Students: $40
Adult: $50
Member Adult: $45
Note: Adult attendance is not required for this workshop series, but we welcome any interested parents or guardians to join us!
What makes the idea of time travel so powerful, and what lengths will we go to in order to make it a reality? In this six-week series, we’ll explore time travel from a variety of perspectives: science, history, literature, games, movies, and television. We’ll investigate the science behind the media as we ask, “Is it possible? What are the facts and what is fiction?” From exploring the science behind Captain America to designing games and creating their own time travel machines, students will hone their writing, visual arts, and communication skills as they learn from local experts.
OCTOBER 21, 2021
Royals, Pirates, and Witches: Makeup Effects for Every Look
1:00pm–4:00pm
Students: $12
Adult: $17
Member Adult: $15
Does your Maleficent need to look more maleficent? Is your Cinderella more cinder than princess? Complete your costume with a perfect makeup look! Stage makeup experts Kim Dorman and Joshua Hancock will help you craft your bloody bites and fairy glitter! Bring your ideas, costumes, and any other inspirations you might have for your look, and we’ll help you bring it to life with inspiration from MoPOP’s Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume exhibit. Note that this program will include access to the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume special exhibit!
Note that this program will include access to the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume special exhibit!
OCTOBER 21, 2021
Designing Characters from Page to Screen: Costuming in Action
9:00am–12:00pm
Students: $12
Adult: $17
Member Adult: $15
Where do costume ideas come from, and how to designers transform story descriptions into exciting garments? Join returning teaching artist Faith Hagenhofer for a special costuming workshop. We’ll explore the hidden history behind classic Disney stories, investigate costuming traditions, share our own design inspirations, and learn basic sewing techniques as we create own costumes. Students will learn basic costume construction techniques and tools including when to glue, when to sew, and when to tie things together. Bring your ideas or in-progress projects, investigate museum galleries for inspiration, and work together to advance your costuming skills.
Note that this program will include access to the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume special exhibit!
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021
Something Wicked This Way Comes
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
We know all about the hero’s journey…but what about the villain? A great villain is just as critical to successful stories as a great hero, but what does their journey look like? Join Seattle author Rebecca Demarest for an exploration into heroic stories…from the villain’s perspective! We’ll investigate the villain’s story cycle and think about how to tell heroic stories from a different point of view.
Note that this program will include access to the Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume special exhibit!
MAY 20, 2021
Hip-Hop FUNdamentals
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
Learn the fundamentals of hip-hop with Seattle artist, performer, and choreographer Lex Ramirez! Together, we’ll explore the community and culture of hip hop through history, movement, art, and poetry. Students will create graffiti versions of their names, write name poems to go with them, and add in full-body movements to accompany their poems. No experience needed!
This class will be offered as both an in-person workshop and a simultaneous livestream for those who wish to participate from home.
MARCH 18, 2021
LIVESTREAM: March to Your Own Drum: Protest Music and Social Action
1:30pm–4:30pm
What makes protest songs so powerful, and why is music such an important tool in pushing for social changes? How can we use our words and voices to speak out about issues that are important to us and inspire others to join us? Join Nashville singer-songwriter Tai Shan Garrison for a special exploration into the music of protest. We’ll investigate the roots of protest music, listen to past and present protest songs from numerous genres, discuss where we look for inspiration, and put our own words into action as we create original protest songs.
JANUARY 21, 2021
LIVESTREAM: Express Yourself! Using Symbols in Visual Art
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
We use symbols for everything from decorating our bodies to signaling a caped superhero for help. They can help us express our feelings about important issues, tell stories, evoke emotions, and inspire others. Join Seattle artist Brandon “BT” Thomas for this hands-on workshop about symbols and visual art! As you work together to create your own painting, you’ll explore how symbols can represent personal issues, learn how colors establish atmosphere and feeling, and create rhythm and direction using background elements. BT will share how he uses symbols in his work, show live demonstrations, and help you create your own piece of symbol-inspired art! MoPOP will provide a list of suggested supplies that you can purchase from local suppliers along with simple at-home substitutions you can use.
NOVEMBER 6, 13, & 20, 2020
LIVESTREAM: Write Out of This Comic World: Graphic Novels Workshop Series
10:00am–2:30pm
We'll take a 30-minute break for lunch.
Students: $32
Note: Adult attendance is not required, but we welcome any interested parents or guardians to join us!
Friday, November 6
Friday, November 13
Friday, November 20
Take a deep dive into the world of graphic novels, one-shot comics, and other longer-form comics projects in this special 3-week, livestream workshop series! Join professional comics artist Kane Lynch for an in-depth exploration of penciling and character design, inking and background coloring demonstrations, lettering techniques, story structure, and more. Students will leave this workshop series armed with the tools they’ll need to create their own comic projects and ready to submit their creations to MoPOP’s new comics project track in our Write Out of This World youth sci-fi and fantasy contest!
NOVEMBER 19, 2020
What’s Your Mood (Board)?
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm
What can we learn about characters from the clothes they wear? With Seattle Fashion Academy director Candace Cantaloupe, we’ll explore how costume designers utilize mood boards to define lines, colors, and textures that convey key visual cues about characters and stories. Mood boards guide the design process, help designers focus on the story or direction of a specific fashion line, and define characters or common story elements. In this workshop, students will examine how designers enhance character development by creating their own character mood boards. Students will select a color palette, fabric swatches, and visual references in order to visually portray their character’s role and personality.
OCTOBER 30, 2020
LIVESTREAM: Introduction to Comic Drawing
10:00am–2:30pm
We'll take a 30-minute break for lunch.
Students: $12
Note: Adult attendance is not required, but we welcome any interested parents or guardians to join us!
Join comics artist Kane Lynch for a special livestream workshop focused on the “how-to-s” of comic art! From technical terms to panel structures and from drawing basics to penciling effects, we’ll take a deep dive into the art of drawing comics. Take this class on its own or apply what you’ve learned to our Write Out of This Comic World series!
OCTOBER 15, 2020
LIVESTREAM: From Halloween to Comic-Con: Costuming in Action
9:30am–12:30pm
Students: $10
Adults: $15
Member Adults: $13
Adult attendance is not required with student registrations, but we welcome any interested adults to join us!
Take your costume or cosplay to the next level in this special livestream class! With returning teaching artist Candace Cantaloupe from the Seattle Fashion Academy, we’ll explore the history of costume design, share our own inspirations, and teach simple sewing techniques you can use to create your own fashion designs. Bring your ideas, in-progress projects, or fabric scraps, and we’ll work together to advance your costuming skills.
OCTOBER 15, 2020
LIVESTREAM: Gore and Glitter: Stage Makeup Effects
1:30pm–4:30pm
Students: $12
Adults: $15
Member Adults: $13
Adult attendance is not required with student registrations, but we welcome any interested adults to join us!
Does your zombie look not quite dead enough? Do you need help making your fairy princess sparkle? Complete your costume with a perfect makeup look! Stage makeup experts Kim Dorman and Josh Hancock will help you craft your bloody bites and fairy glitter! Bring your ideas, costumes, and any other inspirations you might have for your look, and we’ll help you bring it to life with tips and live demonstrations.
We will email all attendees a list of suggested supplies that you can find around your house, order online, or pick up at your local store.
SEPTEMBER 17, 2020
Choose Your Own Adventure!
9:30am–12:30pm 1:30pm–4:30pm Online Livestream
Whether it's for a book, YouTube series, or video game, creating a choose your own adventure story with its own branching storylines is a fun and challenging experience.
In this livestream you'll learn strategies for planning and writing your own adventure and how to translate that into various formats to share with your friends and family!