Virtual Field Trips

Evolution: Life Through Time

Grades 1-3

Journey through four billion years of life on Earth to learn how the first organisms changed our world and how evolution connects all living things while exploring the museum’s Evolution: Life Through Time exhibit. This engaging virtual program combines short videos, games and guided questions.

Key Concepts: fossils, evolution, extinction

Evolution: Life Through Time 

Grades 7-8

Journey through four billion years of life on Earth to learn how the first organisms changed our world and how evolution connects all living things while exploring the museum’s Evolution: Life Through Time exhibit.  The program highlights U-M research on mammoths, mastodons, and ancient whale relatives, and will conclude with action steps to preserve current biodiversity. This engaging virtual program combines short videos, games and guided questions. 

*This program was developed in collaboration with AAPS teachers. 

Key Concepts: fossils, evolution, extinction, geologic time, natural selection

How Water Shapes the Land

Grades 2-4

Students discover how flowing water causes erosion and sedimentation, shaping and creating various landforms. They explore how human activities influence erosion and learn about various methods of erosion control. This engaging virtual program combines short videos of the museum’s 10-foot stream simulation table, footage of rivers and streams, drawing activities and guided questions.

Key Concepts: landforms, erosion, human impact, rivers

Exploring Michigan

Grades 3-5

Millions of years ago, our state was covered by an ancient ocean. After multiple geological formations, Michigan is now home to inland lakes, rivers, shores, forests, and other natural habitats. This program discovers the rich geological formations and diverse ecosystems in the Exploring Michigan exhibit with videos, games, and guided questions. 

Key Concepts: ecosystems, biodiversity, Michigan geologic history, human impact

Cells and DNA

Grades 6-8

Cells spend a lot of time and energy managing and storing DNA. This program explores what cells do with their DNA. This engaging virtual program combines interactive images, games, hands-on activities with household materials, and videos with researchers who work on cells and DNA.

Key Concepts: Cell structure, Organelles, DNA function

How to Become a Fossil

Grades 2-7

In this demonstration, you’ll explore how fossils are created. What parts of an animal become fossilized? How old are the earliest fossils? Students will discover how things fossilize and how fossil casts are made in the museum! 

Hands-On Activity: Students will develop a physical representation of a mineral replacement fossil. 

Key Concepts: fossils, extinction, biodiversity

Life Cycles

Grades K-2

Discover the stages in the life cycle and metamorphosis of a variety of different animals! Students get to see how these animals change throughout their lifetimes by seeing their instructor dress up. 

Hands-On Activity: Students will complete a life cycle matching game and observe insects in their own backyard, schoolyard or nearby park while collecting loose parts to build a model of the butterfly life cycle. 

Key Concepts: life cycles, structures and functions

What is a Virus?

Grades 3-5

What are viruses? Are they alive? In this program, participants will learn about the tit-for-tat relationship between viruses and living organisms. This story is as old as life itself. 

Key Concepts: defining life, basic cell functions

Night Sky (Grades K-12)

• Grades 1-5 (Recorded)

Begin with motion of the sky and learn why the stars move during the night. Investigate the four primary directions:  North, South, East, and West. Take a closer look at constellations, learn a few legends, and discover that some bright objects are really planets. Finally, leave the Earth and fly out to take a closer look at the planets.

Solar System (Grades 2-5)

• Grades 2-5 (Recorded)

Where do planets come from? Where did the dust come from?  We observe star death, and the resulting clouds—and find that planets take shape there. Take a tour of the solar system by zooming to each planet in detail. See how the Sun looks smaller and smaller as we move further out into space. Planetary information includes: distance from the Sun, associated moons, length of a “year,” rings, and asteroids. And by the time we reach the outer edge of the solar system, we will see Pluto. We will also explore the current night sky for any visible planets. 

Motions (Grades 3-5)

• Grades 3-5 (Recorded)

This show covers various motions of the sky including rotation, revolution, phases of the Moon and changing seasons. Students will learn that, because of the tilted axis of the Earth while it orbits the Sun, the Sun seems to move up and down and back and forth during the year.  We will end with a few minutes to examine the current sky.