For elementary students (Grades K–5)
Designed and taught by museum educators, these programs offer an
activity-oriented approach to help students develop a
deeper understanding of natural and cultural history. Students become
scientists as they handle museum specimens and artifacts, study live animals, and participate in interactive demonstrations.
Each Discovery Class is Frameworks-correlated. With your confirmation packet you will receive an Exhibit Explorer's Scavenger Hunt highlighting galleries to visit before or after the class and a Teacher Idea Packet with activities for your classroom.
Times: 9:30, 10:30, 11:30, 12:30
Number of Students: 30 maximum (for social studies) / 50 maximum (for life/earth science)
Length: One hour
Fee: $6.00 per student ($180 minimum per program) includes museum admission.
One chaperone per five students free; $6.00 per additional adult chaperone.
Grade Level: Each program is designed for a specific grade level, but some topics can be adapted for other levels.
Special Topics: Available January-March 2008. Don't see the class you need? Limited opportunities are available for Discovery Classes designed to fit your curriculum. Please contact us at least one month in advance with details about your requested class topic. $400 fee for up to 50 students (30 students in in the galleries).
Life Science Programs
Animal ABCs
grades K–2
On an imaginary walk through the
forest, students will discover different animal groups and compare
their differences and similarities. We will look at animals with and without backbones, and then examine birds, reptiles, mammals,
and amphibians to compare the life cycles and special characteristics
that make each animal unique.
Home Sweet Home
grades K–2
Students will take a tour of
habitats around the globe and search for the creatures who call these
places home. From lush rainforests to frozen tundra to scorching
deserts, we will explore these fascinating environments and the unique
adaptations that allow plants and animals to survive in challenging conditions.
Jaws and Claws
grades 3–5
Students will discover the many
amazing adaptations of predators by comparing and contrasting a variety
of fish eaters, insect eaters, and mouse eaters. We’ll examine the
unique adaptations of eyes, ears, teeth, beaks, and more which allow
predators to successfully hunt specific prey.
Inside Skeletons
grades 3–5
Through the examination of bird,
frog, and other animal skeletons, students will learn how different
animals are designed for jumping, flying, and other lifestyles. They will then look inside themselves to see how the human skeleton compares.
Exploring Ecology
grades 3–5
Students will become ecologists,
investigating how we are tied together in the web of life.
From food chains and photosynthesis to producers and decomposers, we will
explore a variety of ecological principles and discover our own connections.
Roots to Leaves
grades 3–5
Students will become botanists by
examining a variety of preserved and living specimens to learn the
different parts of plants and their functions. They will learn how plants make life as we know it possible, explore the process of photosynthesis and discover how plants,
animals, and people depend on each other to survive.
Social Studies Programs
Globe Trotters
grades K–2
Students will travel the world
by comparing artifacts from Africa, South America, Asia, and right here
at home. From hats and shoes to tools and toys, students will see how different environments shape the artifacts that people around the globe use to meet their basic needs.
Igloos to Adobe
grades 3–5
Explore the cultural diversity between different Native American groups by studying artifacts such as clothing, tools, home design, and materials from several different regions within our continent. Students will investigate the Arctic, Southwest, and Northwest Coast to develop an understanding of how environment influences culture.
The Magnificent Maya
grades 3–5
Students will investigate
Classic Maya culture through the examination of their tools, carvings,
and other artifacts. They will learn how scientists unravel the mystery of past cultures and discover how Maya culture still holds valuable lessons for our own society.
Lewis and Clark
grades 3–5
Students will join Meriwether
Lewis and William Clark on their exploration of the American West in
the early 1800s. Visiting our exhibition and engaging in hands-on
investigation of artifacts, students will trace the journey, share scientific discoveries, and learn how Sioux, Mandan, and other Native Americans aided the expedition.
Earth Science Programs
Dig Into Fossils
grades K–2
What are fossils and how do
they form? What clues can they give us to life in the past? Students
will become paleontologists as we answer these and other questions about
fossils and prehistoric life from three different periods of the Earth's history.
Rocks and Minerals
grades 3–5
Students will become geologists as
we explore the fascinating underground world of rocks and minerals.
They will learn how scientists use color, heft, hardness, and other
properties to identify minerals and discover the surprising uses of
minerals around the home.
The Changing Earth
grades 3–5
Students will explore rocks, fossils, and other specimens to uncover the geologic history of our region over the past 600 million years. They will discover how plate tectonics, weathering, erosion, and mountain building have all shaped New England's landscape.
