Programs For Educators

Tours for School Groups

Education Outreach

Microscope Classes

Tours for School Groups

Guided educational visits through the galleries of the Idaho Museum of Natural History are provided to all schools, from September through June.

• Scheduling Your Visit
• Group Fees
• Planning For Your Visit
• School Group Size
• Punctuality
• Plan Time for a Restroom Visit
• Parent Chaparones
• Nametags
• Pre- and Post-Visit Activities

Scheduling Your Visit

Feel free to call the museum at any time to schedule your visit. However, to ensure availability, it is recommended that you schedule your visit at least two months in advance. April and May are extremely busy with school groups so if you are interested in visiting during these months, you may need to call as early as September.

Group Fees

There is a small entry fee for school groups to visit the museum of $1.25 per student. It is recommended that schools provide one adult chaparone for every 10 students. These chaparones are admitted to the museum for free. Any chaparones above the 1:10 ratio will be charged the $1.25 admission fee. Siblings are that are not in the class

Planning For Your Visit

Pre-planning reduces some of the logistical and discipline problems associated with fieldtrips. When scheduling your visit, plan to discuss the following details:

• Your Name and Your Association with the School
• School Name, Location, and Phone Number
• Grade Level
• Number of Students in Class
• Subjects Students are Studying Relevant to Museum Visit
• Those Objects or Exhibits in Museum You Are Most Interested In

School Group Size

A serious consideration in planning: Students enjoy a better Museum experience if they come in groups less than 50. Please try to maintain a small group size since groups over 50 do not allow children to see or interact extensively with Museum exhibits. Large groups frequently run short of time, resulting in many children being unable to experience all of the planned activities.

Punctuality

Take into consideration travel time to and from your school. Those groups which arrive late, for any reason, will have only their remaining time available to view the galleries because of other arriving groups. Tardiness will severely limit gallery time for the class.

Plan Time for a Restroom Visit

If you travel to the Museum from out of town, plan a visit to the restrooms after arriving, but before the students enter the Museum gallery. This eliminates a great deal of interruption and allows students to experience the Museum without discomfort.

Parent Chaparones

Recruit, screen, and instruct parent chaperons. Outline the chaparones' duties before the trip and make sure they know the rules you have discussed with the students. Empower the chaperons to help!

Nametags

Please have nametags for each student and chaparone. The Museum staff and Docents prefer to call a student by name because it helps establish a greater sense of the student's importance and builds a relationship between the student and the Museum.

Pre- and Post-Visit Activities

Visits to the galleries and exhibits at IMNH are made more educational and fun when students are prepared and arrive at the Museum with questions in mind to inspire exploration. Selected issues will provide information and activities to use in preparation for your Museum visit.

Also, a visit to the Education Resources Library will supply materials, information and activities to use with your students.

Education Outreach

Five Outreach Programs are available from the Education Resources Office which bring exciting materials and information into your classroom. To schedule an Educational Outreach contact the museum at least two months prior to your preferred date. No Outreach is offered in May.

• Dinosaur Outreach ~ ~ Small models of dinosaurs and their teeth are used to explain the Who, What, When, Where, and How questions concerning Dinosaurs. Appropriate for all Grades.
• Fossil Outreach ~ ~ Using fossils found in Idaho this outreach focuses on the processes of fossilization, varieties of fossils, climate, and an overview of Idaho's natural history. Appropriate for 3rd - 9th Grades.
• Native American Peoples Outreach ~ ~ Discusses the migration of humans into North America, the Pleistocene Epoch, climate and glaciers, human survival strategies, weapons, Bannock - Shoshoni beadwork, stories, and games. Appropriate for all Grades.
• Geologic Time Outreach ~ ~ Geologic Time is a difficult concept for many people. This outreach program uses fossils from each of the three major Eras of Geologic Time including a basic overview of Idaho's natural history. Appropriate for 4th - 9th Grades.
• Endangered Animals Outreach ~ ~ Comprised of commercial items confiscated by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service which have been made from the bodies of endangered animals. The program discusses the causes of animal endangerment and what measures people can take to not contribute to the economic exploitation of endangered animals. Materials used in this outreach are provided by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Appropriate for 2nd - 8th Grades.

Microscope Classes

The microscope classes are designed to be an introduction to microscope use and basic cell biology.These classes are appropriate for students in 4th Grade and higher for groups of up to 10 students.

Models of plant and animal cells are used to discuss cell structure and instruction is provided in preparing a simple onion membrane microscope slide.

Classes require approximately 1.5 hours per group.