Overview | What do science museums have to offer? How can visiting a science museum complement classroom curriculum and reinforce science standards? What can students get out of a trip to a science museum? In this lesson, students reflect on the exhibits, learning experiences and purposes of science museums, then prepare for and visit a local science museum where they engage in an open-ended scavenger hunt. Afterward, they develop scripts for a museum guide to use with visitors and/or generate ideas for their own science museum.
Materials | Computers with Internet access (optional), copies of the handout
Warm-up | Begin by having the class brainstorm a list of places in their community that provide an opportunity to learn about science. Record the list on the board. Students might name science museums, zoos, nature centers, aquariums, science-oriented exhibits at children’s museums and other non-science museums, local colleges or universities, farms, weather stations, state parks, Audubon centers, planetariums, rock formations, rivers and ponds, etc.
Once students have compiled the list, you might review the major disciplines and sub-disciplines of science, and sort the locations by asking: Where would you most likely learn about life science, physical science, and earth science? What places might feature, for example, astronomy? Which would likely focus on environmental science?
Discuss further the purposes of the various sites they listed. Is their primary purpose to teach science, or do they tie science together with another focus, such as history or sociology? Are they designed to inspire awe, provide an experience or promote a cause? Ask students to identify trends. For instance, they might realize that their town has many opportunities to explore the life sciences, but few places to learn about physics or chemistry.
Generate further discussion with the following questions:
- What science museums, or science exhibits in other museums, have you visited?
- Which ones are your favorites? Why? What memories come to mind?
- Which are your least favorites? What didn’t you like about these sites or exhibits?
