Whether exploring the past with the mighty mammoth or delving into the future of our planet's ecosystems, the museum offers a wide variety of exciting, inquiry-based learning adventures for K-12 classes and youth groups.

All programs are taught by trained museum educators and are aligned with state and national standards. Pre-registration is required. Each program is specifically tailored to your students' grade and ability levels, and includes a hands-on activity in the classroom and an exhibit tour. 

 

2023-24 School Year
Registration is open now for visits through the end of the school year.

 

Subscribe to our digital newsletter for K-12 educators.

 

PROGRAM INFORMATION

 

Programs for Kindergarten through Grade 2
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  • Camas Oven (60-90 minutes) 
    Explore Oregon landscapes and the history of Northwest Native cultures. Build a replica of a camas oven and “cook” camas bulbs - once the most important food staple of the Western Valley. See what other foods are important as you tour the cultural history exhibit, Oregon—Where Past is Present.
  • Fun with Fossils (60-90 minutes) 
    Discover the natural history and geology of Oregon! Be a scientist for a day, handling and classifying items like fossils and volcanic rocks, and see the fossils on display in the Explore Oregon exhibit.
  • Underwater Forests (90 minutes)  
    Sea stars, urchins, sharks, and otters! Immerse yourself in Oregon’s beautiful kelp forest ecosystem and discover the amazing animals that live in these hidden underwater homes. This program includes a tour of the new Underwater Forests—Oregon’s Kelp Ecosystem exhibit.
Programs for Grades 3-5
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  • Oregon Archaeology Detectives (90 minutes)
    Grades 3-5
    Put on your detective hat and uncover clues about Oregon's past. Learn about the Tribes that have lived here since time immemorial. Develop and test your own hypothesis as you tour cultural history exhibit, Oregon—Where Past is Present.
  • Ride the Rock Cycle (90 minutes) 
    Grades 3-5
    Journey through the eons and examine Earth’s dynamic geology. From sandstone to serpentinite, you’ll learn how different rocks fit into the spectacular story of the rock cycle and find out more in the Explore Oregon exhibit.
  • Famous Fossil Find (90 minutes) 
    Grades 3-5
    Be a paleontologist for a day! Identify mysterious creatures by piecing together clues found throughout the Explore Oregon exhibit.
  • Ooey Gooey Ocean Food Web (90 minutes)  
    Grades 3-5
    What does a sea otter eat? How about an urchin? Construct a kelp forest food web after gathering data through hands-on exploration of animal “stomachs”—it will be ooey, gooey fun! This program includes a tour of the new Underwater Forests—Oregon’s Kelp Ecosystem exhibit.
Programs for Grades 6-8
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  • Famous Fossil Find (90 minutes) 
    Grades 6-8
    Be a paleontologist for a day! Identify mysterious creatures by piecing together clues found throughout the Explore Oregon exhibit.
  • Cultural Scene Investigation (90 minutes)
    Grades 6-8
    Examine artifacts and oral histories – and reconstruct a moment in Oregon’s history! Explore the Oregon—Where Past is Present exhibit to help build the scene and learn about Native Americans in Oregon.
  • Zombie Urchin Invasion! (90 minutes)  
    Grades 6-12
    How can we save Oregon’s kelp forests from a purple urchin takeover? Examine how climate change and other factors have altered this important underwater ecosystem and discuss what can be done to stop the zombie invasion. This program includes a tour of the new Underwater Forests—Oregon’s Kelp Ecosystem exhibit.
  • Self-guided programs (45-60 minutes)
    Grades 6-8
    Create your own adventure and explore the museum at your own pace. Please provide one chaperone for every eight students.  
Programs for Grades 9-12
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  • Cultural Scene Investigation (90 minutes)
    Grades 9-12
    Examine artifacts and oral histories – and reconstruct a moment in Oregon’s history! Explore the Oregon—Where Past is Present exhibit to help build the scene and learn about Native Americans in Oregon.
  • Zombie Urchin Invasion! (90 minutes)  
    Grades 6-12
    How can we save Oregon’s kelp forests from a purple urchin takeover? Examine how climate change and other factors have altered this important underwater ecosystem and discuss what can be done to stop the zombie invasion. This program includes a tour of the new Underwater Forests—Oregon’s Kelp Ecosystem exhibit.
  • Self-guided programs (45-60 minutes)
    Grades 9-12
    Create your own adventure and explore the museum at your own pace. Please provide one chaperone for every eight students.  
Scheduling and Planning
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Please submit an education program request form at least two weeks prior to your requested date. Each program is limited to 35 students; groups of 16 or more (depending on age of students) will be split into two smaller groups during the museum visit.

  • Only one program can run at a time, however we can schedule programs back-to-back on the same day.
  • Programs are available Mondays through Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. October through June.
  • Programs include a hands-on activity in the museum classroom, a guided tour of a related exhibit, and self-guided exploration time.
  • We ask that groups have a 1:8 ratio of adult chaperones to youths. Chaperones are free!
  • Masks are welcome though optional in the museum. Learn more about our pandemic safety measures.  
  • Pre- and post-visit materials and lesson plans can be found on the Teaching Resources page.
  • Are you wanting to bring a youth group to the museum during the summer? Check out our summer field trips.   

Cost
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Program costs vary depending on your school: 

  • $2 per student for schools with less than 50 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch
  • $1 per student for schools with 50 to 74 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch
  • Free for schools with 75 to 100 percent of its students eligible for free or reduced lunch

Teachers and chaperones are admitted for free.

Request your program.
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2023-24 School Year
Registration is open now for programs through the end of the school year.

 

Please submit an education program request form at least two weeks prior to your requested date.

 

Are you wanting to bring a youth group to the museum during the summer? Check out our summer field trips 

 

 

SPENDING THE DAY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON?
  • Campus tours: Schedule a walking tour of campus.
  • Campus scavenger hunt: Follow the clues to find interesting and important items on campus (clues and directions can be found on the Teaching Resources page).
  • Lunch: The UO campus has a number of lunch options. Check out the food lineup at Erb Memorial Union, choose from the many casual restaurants surrounding the campus, or bring a lunch to enjoy picnic-style in our Native Plant CourtyardPlease note, food is not allowed inside the museum.

 

Questions? Contact us at mncheducation@uoregon.edu or 541-346-0877.

Interested in checking out the museum before visiting with your students? Email us at mncheducation@uoregon.edu and request a FREE educator pass.

Are you wanting to bring a youth group to the museum during the summer? Check out our summer field trips.   

Visit our Teaching Resources page to learn about our online exhibits, free educator guides, and more. 

 

Stay up to date on educator resources, K-12 programs, and more. Subscribe to our digital newsletter for K-12 educators.

More K-12 Programs.