Simple Machines
(Physical Science)
Using full-scale lever and pulley systems, students will gain hands-on experience with the fundamental concepts behind simple machines. Focus will be on measurement, lever classes, and mechanical advantage.
Grades: 3-5
Time Required: 45 minutes
Cost: $125 for the first class, $100 per class for additional classes. Up to four classes per day
The Solar System at Your Fingertips
(Earth & Space Science)
Students will create two models (size and distance) of the solar system, which will serve as launching points for discussion and questions and answers with staff from the Bishop Planetarium. (45 minutes. Distance model requires outdoor space.)
Grades: 2-5
Time Required: 45 minutes
Cost: $75/class. Up to four classes per day
Recreating the Past
(General Science, Social Studies, Fine Arts)
Much of what we know about Florida’s early native cultures comes from studying potsherd, bits of broken pottery. Each sherd is a potential clue that can shed light on the people who created it. Students will create and break their own pottery, and learn how to decipher clues by studying real artifacts from the South Florida Museum’s extensive collection.
Grades: 3-5
Time Required: 1 hour
Cost: $125 for the first class, $100 per class for additional classes. Up to four classes per day
Ask The Museum Guy
This open-ended program brings Jeff Rodgers, the Museum’s Director of Education and Director of the Bishop Planetarium, into the classroom for an anything-goes science discussion with your students.
Grades: K-5
Time Required: 45 minutes
Cost: $75/class. Up to four classes per day
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(Earth Science, Life Science, General Science)
Fossils are the remains of living organisms that lived long ago. Using observation and critical thinking skills, students can become paleontologists, learning how fossils can tell us about extinct life forms. Students will examine extinct great white shark teeth, horse and camel teeth and crocodilian skulls.
Grades: 4 and up
Time Required: 45 minutes
Cost: $75/class
DNA Extractions
(Life Science, General Science)
All organisms on Earth have the same “instruction manual” that tells them how to go about being alive. DNA is a remarkable molecule, and it is remarkably easy to extract from cells. Students will gather their own cheek cells, break open the cellular membranes to expose the nuclei, then break open the nuclei to extract their own DNA. A great way to explore basic cell structure and introduce students to the concept of DNA.
Grades: 4 and up
Cost: $100/class
Time required: 45 minutes
Archeology Trunk Program
Our trunk-based Archeology Program consists of six activities designed to get your students thinking like archeologists. Using real artifacts from Florida's Paleoindian, Archaic and Ceramics periods, your students will discover artifacts and map their location, make detailed observations of artifacts and hypothesize about their use, categorize pottery shard types, create and re-assemble broken pottery, and investigate the artifacts in five layers of strata holding clues about Florida's past.
Archeology Trunks come with everything you'll need for your class, except for 4 inch clay flower pots needed for one of the activities, which you purchase.
Trunks are free for Manatee County School District fourth grade classes participating in our SCI-4 Archeology Program. Other grades may rent the trunk for a modest $15 fee. Teachers are responsible for picking the trunk up at the museum and returning it within two weeks. While the trunk is at your school, there is no limit to the number of classes that may use it. A brief overview of the activities will be provided for the teacher picking up the trunk.
