Educational Programs & Group Tours

| Astronomy | Birds | Ecology | Earth Science | Dinosaurs | Native Americans | Natural History | Preschool | Physical Science | Weather | Discovery Kits | Fees |

The place for schools!

Below is a list of programs the Kingman Museum offers for your group's participation. Our experienced staff will customize any of these programs to meet specific needs of your class or group. They will work to include specific benchmarks for school classes, and will plan activities that are appropriate for the age and interests of the students. There will be lots of learning, and there will be lots of fun as well!

But this is only the beginning. If there is a topic in natural history, science, or native culture that is not on this list, give us a call anyway. The museum has over 100 years of its history as well as ancient artifacts collected from throughout the world. We can design a custom program for you if given a little time to plan.

Explaination of interest level designations:
p = primary grades; i = intermediate grades; m = middle school; s = high school; a = adult

Birds top
B-1: Bird adaptations--p,i,m,s,a
Get up close and personal with actual birds and bird parts to learn how birds solve the problems of flight, swimming, finding food, migration, and escape from predators. Meets benchmarks in Live Science: life cycle, food/energy, heredity, evolution, ecology.
B-2: Identification--p,i,m,s,a
Learn the characteristics of bird families and bird behavior that are useful in identifying local species. Meets benchmarks in Life Science: living things, body parts, classification, ecology, heredity, evolution.

Ecology/Ecosystems top
E-1: Adaptations--p,i,m,s,a
Examine examples of adaptations in many kinds of animals. Learn a variety of ways in which animals solve the problems of survival in the natural world. Study will include vertebrates and invertebrates. Meets benchmarks for Life Science: living things,heredity, evolution, and ecology.
E-2: Endangered Species--i,m
Students will learn about the causes of endangerment as well as things they can do to protect plants and animals today. They will play a game to actively experience problems that animals face in today's world. It meets life science benchmarks in living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.
E-3: Food chain/Predator Prey--i,m
Discover how energy flows through an ecosystem by learning who eats whom! Meets benchmarks in Life Science in living things,heredity, evolution, ecology.
E-4: Habitats--p,i,m,s,a
Discover what makes up a habitat and how plants, animals, and non-living parts work together to make a variety of land and water ecosystems. Meets benchmarks for Life Science: living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.
E-5: Relationships--p,i,m,s,a
Mutualism, parasitism, symbiosis, predator/prey--discover all the ways living things work together to create the living arrangements in an ecosystem. Meets benchmarks in Life Science for living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.

Geology, Earth Science and Dinosaurs top
G-1: Dinosaurs--p,i
Linking learning with fun and games, this program features a puppet show, slides, song, puzzles, and digging for fossils in our fossil pit. Students will also have a choice of a craft, fossil dig, or video to complete their dinosaur exploration. It meets Life Science benchmarks in living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.
G-2: Earthquakes--i,m,s,a
Learn the whys and hows of our dynamic earth, and find out how modern equipment locates and measures the forces that move our planet. Meets benchmarks in Earth and Space Science, geosphere, earth surface, and hydrosphere.
G-3: Earth History--i,m,s,a
Explore fascinating specimens from the museum's collections to learn not only the earth's past but also how we find out about it. Meets benchmarks in Earth and Space Science: geosphere, earth surface, earth materials, rocks and fossils, and Life Science: evolution.
G-4: Rocks and Minerals--i,m,s,a
Use the museum's extensive collections to learn about origins of rocks, identification of minerals, and uses of these earth resources. Meets benchmarks in Earth and Space Science for geosphere, earth materials, rocks and fossils, and changes in matter.
G-5: Volcanoes--i,m,s,a
Explore the fascinating work of volcanoes. Learn where and why they exist, stories from the past, and the role of volcanoes in creating the future of the earth. Meets benchmarks in Earth and Space Science, geosphere, earth materials, earth surface features, hydrosphere, atmosphere, space.

Native Americans top
NA-1: Native American Crafts--p,i,m,s,a
Examine excellent examples of native crafts from many areas of North America and learn their origins and meanings. Classes can be arranged to allow students to create their own art work.
NA-2: Native American Culture--p,i,m,s,a
Learn about the First Americans and how their philosophies have much to teach the people of today. The main emphasis is on Michigan Indians-- Potawatomi, Ottawa, and Ojibway. NA-3: Native American Legends--p,i
A skilled storyteller shares several legends about how things in the natural world came to be. The stories include use of sign language. Students complete their experience by playing a game enjoyed by Native American children of the past.

Natural History top
NH-1: Adaptations--p,i,m,s,a
Discover ways animals are adapted to life in various environments and niches by a close examination of actual animal structure. Meets benchmarks in Life Science for living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.
NH-2: Animal classification--p,i,m,s,a
Using the museum's amazing collections of skeletons and specimens, the system of dividing animals into groups will be explored--hands on! Meets benchmarks in Life Science: living things, heredity, evolution, and ecology.
NH-3: Deserts--i,m,a
Discover plants, animals, and land forms totally different from Michigan. Or are they? Learn the tricks of survival nature has designed for the harshest environments. Meets Life Science benchmarks in heredity, evolution, and ecology.
NH-4: Night Eyes--i,m,a
How do animals see in the dark? How can you see better in the dark? Try these activities and learn more about how night-seeing eyes work. Meets Life Science benchmarks in heredity, evolution, and ecology.

Preschool Programs top
PR-1: Sorting and Classifying
A variety of hands-on learning stations designed to help students sort colors, shapes, weights, textures, sinking/floating objects, magnetic objects, and more. All are geared to develop motor skills and prereading skills. Students work at their own pace.
PR-2: Seasons
Each season of the year, we will present a program full of games, music, science, and fun geared to the age and skills of the very young.

Physical Science top
PS-1: Measurement--p,i,m
Students will learn a little of the history of measurement and use hands-on activities to measuring solids, liquids, gases, and time. Meets benchmarks in Constructing, Reflecting, and Physical Science matter and energy, matter changes, earth/space, and hydrosphere.
PS-2: Science without answers--i,m
Programs that allow students to experiment here in the museum to make their own creations work. Program topics include building a roller coaster, flying a glider plane, experimenting with chemical reactions (weather permitting) and others. Call for details and ideas.
PS-3: Solids, Liquids, Gases--p,i,m
Fun hands-on activities will reinforce ideas about how three states of matter react under a variety of situations. Meets benchmarks for Physical Science: matter and energy, matter changes, earth/space, hydrosphere.

Weather top
W-1: Ways of Weather--p,i,m,s,a
Called "the last frontier," learn about the force of nature that affects us everyday, but we can do nothing to change. From sunny days to stormy nights, learn about the natural causes of weather and the equipment used for prediction. Meets benchmarks in Earth/Space, atmosphere, weather conditions, seasonal changes, safety, geosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere.
W-2: Clearing up Clouds--i,m,s,a
Become an expert at identifying clouds in six easy steps! Examine cloud shapes--both common and some you have to climb mountains to experience. You'll find plenty to fire your imagination when these clouds march overhead! Meets Physical Science benchmarks in hydrosphere and atmosphere.

Discovery Kits top
Discovery Kits are combinations of artifacts and/or equipment, books, activities, A.V. materials, posters and information packets all boxed up and ready to travel to your classroom. Each kit is designed to be used with all ages, preschool through adult. Plus, many of these kits will complement a program at Kingman Museum. Also available for loan are a variety of small bird and animal mounts. These kits and mounts are available to all schools, groups, families and individuals.

LOAN PERIOD: Kits are typically borrowed for two weeks.

RESERVATIONS: Call Kingman Museum at (269) 965-5117 for kit scheduling and fee information. To assure that you are able to obtain the kit you need at the time you need it, it is to your advantage to make reservations as soon as you have your unit planned. The kits may be picked up at the museum during regular hours or may be delivered for an additional fee.

DISCOVERY KIT TOPICS: