School Visits - Grades K–12

Our programs utilize our unique collection of fossils, rocks and minerals, animal specimens, and interactive activities to supplement classroom lessons. Programs are designed to encourage scientific inquiry, and engage students in the natural world.

School Visit Request Form

Reservations

Regular School Visit 

School visits take place at the museum and can accommodate up to 30 students at one time with at least two accompanying adults. Please schedule your visit a minimum of 2 weeks in advance. Requests for visits are filled on a first-come first-serve basis. The best times to schedule are Tuesday or Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 2pm.  We do also have some limited availablity on other days. Cost is $2 per student for 15 or more students - chaperones are free.

Fill out the online request form or call 707-826-4480.

Self-lead School Visit

We ask that you give us a minimum of one week notice, a first choice and a second choice date and time, the age and number of students in your groups, etc.

Fill out the online request form or call 707-826-4480. 

Transportation

Your field trip might qualify for funding. Contact the Humboldt Area Foundation (HAF) for more information.

If you can't make a trip to the museum, we have Teaching Boxes and Engineering for Elementary School curriculum binders available for checkout.

These can be checked out for free for a maximum of two weeks.

Here is a PDF of the items we have available for you to check out.

We also invite you to explore our online exhibits found on the EXHIBITS link.

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School Visit Programs by Grade

Kindergarten

A scientific drawing of four finches with different evolutionary beak adaptations

One Leg, Two Wings, No Tail

Hands on activities and museum exhibits are used to compare animal structures (i.e. legs, wings, tails), and teach students about adaptation and different ecosystems.

NGSS: K-LS1, 1-LS1 (1-LS1.A and 1-LS1.D); EEI (K.3.a)

First Grade

A photo of a cat skull

All the Better to Eat With

The museum’s collection of real animal skulls is used to relate different types of teeth to an animal’s diet.

NGSS: 1-LS1 (1-LS1.A); EEI (1.2.d)

Second Grade

Nine different minerals arranged on a white background

Minerals Matter

Learn to classify minerals through observation of physical properties and by performing tests.

NGSS: 2-PS1 (2-PS1.A and 2-PS1.B); EEI (2.3.a and 2.3.b)

Third Grade

A photo of a bovine skull with a beige background

Mammals Today and Yesterday

Matching games utilize mammal fossils to compare modern day mammals and to explore animal classes, extinction, and adaptation.

NGSS: 3-LS4 (3-LS4.A); EEI (3.3b and 3.3c)

Fourth Grade

Photo of an assortment of different types of rocks

Rocking Detective

The three different rock groups are explored including how the rocks are created, by sorting them into groups using classification guides.

NGSS: 4-ESS1 and 2 (4-ESS1.C and 4-ESS2.B); EEI (2.3a and 2.3b)

Fifth Grade

Photo of a trail into a redwood forest.

Connections of the Redwood Forest

Discover the flow of energy in a living system between biotic and abiotic factors that come together to create one of the most unique ecosystems on Earth.

NGSS: 5-LS1 and 2 (5-LS1.C and 5-LS2.A), 5-PS3 (5-PS3.D); EEI (4.2b)

Sixth Grade

Close up photo of a fault line

What’s Shaking

Investigate plate tectonics and the resulting earthquakes by learning about some of our local geology including various faults, plate boundaries, and the accompanied hazards such as volcanoes.

NGSS: MS-EES1 and 2 (MS- ESS1.C and MS-ESS2.B)

7-12 Grade

We also have a number of options for 7-12th grade and beyond and are also happy to work with teachers to build a content specific program. Contact the museum to discuss details.

Self-Lead Programs

Photo of a magnifying glass and a pen atop a textbook. A globe is in the background

You can always come to the museum and do a self-lead visit with no formal program. Please allow 1-2 weeks notice. We are closed Mondays. COST $2 per student. Call 707-826-4479

Virtual Visits -- 1st -7th Grade

We have virutal visit programs (over Zoom or Google Meets) for 1st-2nd grade, 3rd-4th grade, 4th-5th grade, and 6th-7th grade students.  These programs will include a 40-60 minute interactive Zoom (or Google Meets) session with your class as well as additional activities for teachers to do with students before or after the virtual visit.  Each program is NGSS aligned.  For more information or to arrange a virtual visit to your class, email us at natmus@humboldt.edu with Virtual Visit in the subject of the email. 

Open Wide - Look Inside (1st-2nd)

Students learn the difference between carnivores, herbivores, and omnivores by looking at their teeth!  During this session, students will look at skulls to learn the difference between a fox, a coyote, a raccoon, and much more!

Mammals Today & Yesterday (3rd-4th)

Using observed patterns, students will identify various prehistoric mammals and will match living mammals to related ones that lived in the past. In addition, participants will learn about animal adaptations and how paleontologists also use patterns to identify fossils.

Pass the Pizza! Learning about Energy and Resources (4th-5th)

Using all of the ingredients needed to make and bake a pizza, students learn about material resources, where they come from, and how energy is required to make these resources. Once energy resources are discussed, participants identify renewable and non-renewable resources and how consuming resources has an environmental impact.  The presentation concludes with students brainstorming ways they can conserve energy. 

Where's the Carbon? (6th-7th)

Carbon is an abundant element on Earth and one that everyone is talking about. During this program participants will learn where carbon is found, how it is the element of life, in what forms it can occur, and how it is related to fossil fuels and the greenhouse effect. In addition, they will learn how burning these fuels is changing our atmosphere and affecting our planet. The presentation ends with a discussion of some future career possibilities in green energy and carbon capture technologies. 

To submit questions outside the realm of the online school visit request form, please email Julie Van Sickle at jav16@humboldt.edu.

We look forward to seeing you!