Making the Most of your Museum Visit

Before Your Visit:

• Request information from the field trip site. Here at the Natural history Museum you can request study guides, maps and chaperone guides. There is also a lot of great information on our website at www.nhm.org.
  
  
• Teachers should visit the museum before their field trip. All teachers are admitted to the Natural History Museum for free. Simply present your school identification at the admission desk or print out our Teacher's Pass.
  
  
• Have a plan. Prepare an assignment for the students to do or a task to complete while at the museum. Linking the visit to your classroom curriculum is great way to make your field trip more than just a day away from the classroom. To see which California State Education Standards relate to our halls, galleries or exhibits, please visit our Permanent Halls and Standards Guide.
  
  
• Always have a sufficient number of chaperones. A one to ten ratio is required, but you are welcome to bring extra chaperones. All adult chaperones with school groups are admitted free. The Museum also offers a printable Chaperone's Guide.
  
  
• The Natural History Museum is large; do not try to see it all in one visit. Instead, focus on four to five halls per visit. Also, keep in mind the age of the students when planning your visit. Younger students generally have a shorter attention span and cannot absorb as much information as older students.
  
  
• Let the students have a role in planning for the visit. Give them a preview of what they will see by talking about the museum or sharing pictures, slides or objects with them in class before your visit. This will also help reduce the novelty effect and keep them focused during the visit. The Museum's Member's Loan Program is a wonderful resource for educators and families.
  

While You're Here:

• Ask thoughtful questions. Ask students open-ended questions or questions that are personally relevant to them. These techniques will foster critical thinking and may lead to greater retention and understanding of information.
  
  
• Supply students with clipboards, paper and drawing pencils and encourage them to sketch something they like. By doing this, the students will learn to look more closely at things and get a deeper understanding of structure, texture and detail. (Remember, never use museum exhibits, walls or display cases as writing surfaces.)
  
  
• Assign each student (or small group of students) a diorama or specimen and ask them to tell the rest of the class about it.
  
  
• Allow students to explore what interests them (always with a chaperone) within a hall or other confined area. Self-initiated learning often leads to a more enjoyable and productive learning experience.
  

After Your Visit:

• Debrief and recap what your students learned during the field trip. Positive reinforcement often leads to better understanding and learning.
  
  
• Encourage your students to explore further through the internet, libraries or a return visit to the museum with their families.