Museum Info

Anthropology: Prehistoric Cultures of Ohio (grades 4 - 6)
Prehistoric people lived in Ohio for thousands of years before any Europeans arrived. Since they left no written records, we can only learn about the past by studying the traces of ancient cultures. A Museum archaeologist leads students through 11,000 years of prehistoric cultures in Ohio, using artifacts, images, timelines, and maps to illustrate what is known about these people.

Anthropology: The Science Behind Archaeological Excavation (grades 6 - 8)
At a small prehistoric village site near Dayton, Museum archaeologists are attempting to discover how native people lived 900 years ago. A Museum archaeologist demonstrates how science and geometry are applied in archaeological excavation and explains how stone and bone tools, pottery, and other artifacts hold secrets about the past.

Anthropology: Historic Native Cultures of North America (grades 4 - 12)
Native peoples living in different parts of North America developed many different ways of living. A Museum anthropologist will display material goods of these native peoples to compare the everyday lives of Inuit, people of the Northwest Coast, Southwest Coast, Eastern Coast, Plains, and Eastern Woodlands around the year 1890.

Rocks and Minerals (grades 4-6)
Become a Mineral detective by using concepts of luster, color, hardness, etc. We will ship kits of nine different mystery minerals to your classroom and your students will use their powers of observation to figure out their names. Students will learn why rocks and minerals are important by learning about their features and uses.

Are We Standing on Solid Ground? (grades 5-12, Parents, Library Patrons)
How do scientists learn about the center of the earth if we’ve never been there? Students will find out as they explore interior structures, plate tectonics and the forces behind the formation of landforms. Using models, activities, and simulations your students will get their hands dirty and their minds challenged.
Grade(s): 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, retirement communities, Library Patrons

Environmental Science: Oil Spill Recovery (grades 4-12, Parents, Library Patrons)
Students become environmental scientists as they try the actual techniques used in the cleanup of ocean oil spills. Students will use booms, skimmers, and sorbents to try and recover their mini oceans from the ecological brink.
 

Animal Homes (grades 1-3)
In this program, students will discover the different kinds of habitats that animals live in throughout the planet.  By creating their own animal homes, they will explore the structures that help creatures survive.  During the program, residents of our Discovery Zoo will be introduced, and students will explore the natural habitats of these creatures.

Live Animal Show (grades 1-12)
Through this exciting, personal animal talk, students of all ages will get the inside scoop on the animals in our live animal department. Students will learn age-appropriate lessons about how animals interact with their environments, food chains, physiology and more. This program features both exotic animals and species native to the Eastern United States. Each program will include at least five live animals; we can sometimes accommodate special requests.

Nanoscale Science and the Future of Food (Grades 7-12, Adult Learners, Library Patrons)
One of the most exciting new realms of science is super small. Nanoscale science is the study of stuff that is on the scale of 1 billionth of a meter. This is the scale of atoms and small molecules. It is on this scale that scientists are coming up with ways to solve important problems in healthcare, food, materials science, computing, and more. There are also ethical concerns around nanotechnologies. What happens to the living organisms that inevitably consume nano particles? Who will regulate their manufacture?

In this class, students will learn about how changing things on the very small scale can change the nature of large objects by doing hands on activities and watching compelling demonstrations about nanotechnology and the food they eat. Students will also be engaged in a conversation about the ethics of nano scale science and engineering.
 

The Matter Box (grades 1-6)
Matter, matter, everywhere! Students' minds will be captivated as they explore different states of matter, and they ways these states can change. This kit includes hands-on demonstrations as well as explosive demos conducted by a museum instructor. The matter box also includes some very strange matter – from ferrofluid that your students can see and manipulate to other non-Newtonian substances that blur the lines between solids, liquids, and gases.

Nanoscale Science and the Future of Food (Grades 7-12, Adult Learners, Library Patrons)
One of the most exciting new realms of science is super small. Nanoscale science is the study of stuff that is on the scale of 1 billionth of a meter. This is the scale of atoms and small molecules. It is on this scale that scientists are coming up with ways to solve important problems in healthcare, food, materials science, computing, and more. There are also ethical concerns around nanotechnologies. What happens to the living organisms that inevitably consume nano particles? Who will regulate their manufacture?

In this class, students will learn about how changing things on the very small scale can change the nature of large objects by doing hands on activities and watching compelling demonstrations about nanotechnology and the food they eat. Students will also be engaged in a conversation about the ethics of nano scale science and engineering.

.