It's too cold to play outside and you're tired of sitting on the couch all weekend. How about a trip to a museum? For the next four Tuesdays, Classroom Extra will feature a different museum - and show you how much fun it can be, if you know where to look.

Museums aren't just for grown-ups. A trip to a museum can be fun for you too. New York has more than 100 different museums, featuring exhibits on almost any subject you can think of.

There are museums for everything from fine art and sculptures to airplanes and fire engines. The trick to getting the most from your visit is finding the right one for you.

The good news is that just about all museums have special features and activities for kids so that you can learn about the many exhibits - and have fun doing it. And it won't break your piggy bank either. Most museums have reduced admission prices for kids and suggested donations on certain days, which means that you pay what you can.

You can have a ball while learning when you visit a museum.
- Photo courtesy of Children's Museum of Manhattan

Here are some tips to help you have a great time at the museum.

• Plan your trip with your family and discuss what you'd like to see and do on your visit.
• Check out a few museum Web sites and see what exhibits interest you.
• Bring a camera to take plenty of pictures to share with friends and classmates.
• Bring a notebook or sketchbook to write or draw your thoughts about your experience.
• Take a break and get snacks.
• Don't get tired. You can't see everything in one visit, but you can always come back.

How about a museum where everything is just for you? From toddlers to teens, the Children's Museum of Manhattan has something for every child. Their exhibits are especially designed to help you have fun while learning. There are even special classes and workshops featuring favorite stories and characters.

Feed your inner artist at the "Art Inside Out" exhibit at the Children's Museum of Manhattan
- Photo courtesy of Children's Museum of Manhattan

Budding Picassos will love “Art Inside Out.” This exhibit will get your creative juices flowing, as it features great contemporary artists like Elizabeth Murray, William Wegman and Fred Wilson. This exhibit uses art to tell stories and express feelings about life.

You can direct a photo shoot, create sculpture and learn how the featured artists created their work. You'll find two dozen original works by all three featured artists in the show. The exhibit runs until April 2004.

The Children's Museum of Manhattan is at 212 W. 83rd St. in the Tisch Building. Admission for kids and adults is $7. Call 212-721-1223 for more information.

Source: Children's Museum of Manhattan

Today's lesson fulfills the following New York standards: E1c, E2d, E3c, E3d, E4a, E4b, E5a. The Arts: Standard 3

Look on the Web sites of different museums. Ask your teacher or parents for suggestions.

Plan the perfect day at a museum. Include your favorite activities and a snack break.

Use art to tell a story. It could be a series of pictures, drawings, a papier mache sculpture or a collage. Write a paragraph to go along with your creations.