field trip to a science museum

• Climate Change
• Engineering

Plan a Field Trip

Explore, imagine, delight. Organize a Museum visit to enrich learning with exciting new exhibits and programs! By reserving a field trip, visitors agree to comply with the Museum’s full code of conduct .

School field trip reservations for the 2023 –   24 school year are now open!

Make a Reservation

Please review the helpful guide below for details around organizing a field trip.

Programs fill to capacity and there is a limit to daily school group admissions. Reservations must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Please note: school field trips and programs are not offered during Massachusetts holidays and school vacation periods.

Call Science Central at 617-723-2500 to make a reservation. We are available 7 days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Field Trip Reservation Fees

The Museum has limited funding available for students who qualify for field trip assistance. Please inquire about this if there is a need.

Multiple visits: If you return with the same students, you receive 50% off Exhibit Halls admission. When making reservations, inform Science Central that you will be visiting more than once with your students.

Field Trip Rates are not available during MA school vacation weeks.

**The $5.00 Exhibit Halls admission during the months of September, October, and January is available for schools with a population of economically disadvantaged students at or above 25%.

Theater Shows

Fees vary for reserved field trip add-on programs. Receive a discount if you reserve a show along with Exhibit Halls Admission. All prices shown are per-person.

School rates are available to accredited public and private pre-K – 12 schools that deliver compulsory education (primary purpose is required by law), except during Massachusetts school holidays and vacation periods.

School rates are also available for schools with extended days (all children enrolled in the school are involved in extended school hours) or schools in session through the summer months. After-school groups or out-of-school programs are not eligible for the school group rates.

Cost Planning, Savings and Scholarships

Payment for your field trip is required upon arrival and must cover the full number of students, chaperones, and teachers in your reservation.

Accepted Payment Types

Purchase orders: Arrange at least five days in advance with Science Central. Any amount above the approved purchase order amount must be paid in person via cash, school check, or credit card.

Cash: Large bills are appreciated.

Checks: Must be made out to Museum of Science. No personal checks. Bring check with you the day of your visit — please do not mail.

Credit cards: MC, VISA, Discover, or AMEX

Payments not accepted for field trip participants

• family memberships
• overnight patches
• free passes
• discount coupons

Eligible schools can take advantage of special pricing for field trips available during these months. Exhibit Halls admission for students and chaperones is $5 per person. This discount is available for schools with a population of economically disadvantaged students above 25%.

Pair your discounted Exhibit Halls admission with an IMAX film for just $4 more. To find out if your school qualifies for any scholarships: 617-723-2500.

If you plan to return to the Museum with the same students, they may receive 50% off Exhibit Halls admission for the second visit. When making reservations, please inform Science Central that you will be visiting more than once with your group.

Reduced Exhibit Halls admission is available for qualifying schools. Please note that funding is limited and is distributed first come, first served.

Important: If your group size changes after you make your reservation, you must notify us by 4:00 pm on the day before your visit. Contact Science Central by phone: 617-723-2500, or email: [email protected].

There are no refunds for dropped numbers on the day of your visit. Additional participants above 5 per 100 will be charged regular Exhibit Halls admission. There are no same-day refunds if you reduce your number of participants by more than 5 per 100. Any additions are subject to availability and are not guaranteed entrance to IMAX films or other shows/programs.

Please notify Science Central in the event of a cancellation: 617-723-2500, [email protected].

• One chaperone per 10 students is required for grade levels pre-K – 8.
• One chaperone per 15 students is required for grade levels 9 – 12.
• Chaperones must stay with students at all times and are responsible for the safety of the students and the exhibits they visit.
• Chaperones must be at least 21 years old.
• Educators and chaperones should act as facilitators, encouraging inquiry, and assisting students in navigating Museum Exhibit Halls and programs safely and appropriately.
• Stay with pre-assigned chaperone-sized group at all times, regardless of the students' ages.
• Adhere to the code of conduct established by school systems and community centers. Behavior that is not acceptable at schools and community centers is not acceptable at the Museum of Science. Please note: the Museum is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
• Sit together with students in venues such as the Mugar Omni Theater, Planetarium, 4-D Theater, and the Theater of Electricity.

Booking Details

There is no bus parking on Museum grounds except for drop-off and pickup. Buses may park at the Boston Autoport in Charlestown.

Chaperones and teachers may park cars in the Museum garage and will receive a $10 flat rate. In order to receive this discount, you must turn in your chaperone badge at the Information Desk at the end of your visit. Please note that credit or debit cards are the only form of payment accepted for garage transaction.

Field trip participants may either purchase lunches in the Riverview Café or bring bag lunches. NOTE: Due to space limitations in the café, you must reserve a 30-minute time slot for lunch when making your field trip reservation.

Pre-order meals are available for $7.25 per person.

Offered in the Riverview Café. Reserved seating, no hassles, and speedy service. Spend time enjoying your lunch instead of waiting in line.

We offer a choice of:

• Black Forest Ham and American Cheese on Sliced White Bread
• Roast Turkey and Cheddar Sub
• Chicken Caesar Salad
• Hummus and Fresh Cut Veggie Box
• Black Angus ¼ Cheeseburger
• Individual Brick Oven 3 Cheese Pizza

Available in any monetary amount. Purchase them through Science Central, 617-723-2500.

If you plan to eat your bag lunch in the Riverview Café, please note that seating is currently limited. You must reserve a lunch space and mealtime when you make your field trip reservation. Bins will be provided for the storage of your group’s coats, bags, backpacks, and lunches upon arrival. Please advise students not to bring or store valuable items; the Museum cannot assume responsibility for lost or damaged items.

Home School Information

Home school groups of at least nine visitors can make reservations over the phone and gain access to discounted school group pricing for teachers, chaperones, and students.

We encourage you to collaborate to form larger groups and set up a reservation. Call Science Central at 617-723-2500. Groups of fewer than nine should go to the Box Office where normal admission rates apply.

Frequent home school visitors will find Museum membership to be a better value than standard box office pricing. We offer several levels of membership, all of which include a variety of benefits such as IMAX and Planetarium passes, discounted parking, and admission to other science museums.

Learn about membership levels and benefits

Many public libraries throughout Massachusetts provide Museum of Science passes that allow up to four people per day to visit the Museum's Exhibit Halls at a significantly reduced rate.

These passes can be used for your home school visit. Contact your local library to find out if they participate and how to reserve your pass.

Drop-In Activities

Students can get hands-on science experience with our Drop-In Activities. Investigate human biology at the Biogen Foundation Exploration Hub or create like an engineer with Design Challenges in our Engineering Design Workshop!

To help us better accommodate your group during your field trip, please contact us to discuss planning a drop-in activity into your trip schedule.

For the Biogen Foundation Exploration Hub please email [email protected] . For Design Challenges please email [email protected] .

Placeholder for content by topic

Ready to Book Your Field Trip?

Site Navigation

Plan a field trip.

The Smithsonian offers a wide range of opportunities for learning outside of the classroom. Visit a website below to plan a group visit. Many provide self-guided tours and additional educational resources to support your visit. 

African American History and Culture Museum

African Art Museum

Air and Space Museum

Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center

American Art Museum

American History Museum

American Indian Museum

American Indian Museum Heye Center, New York

Anacostia Community Museum

Asian Art Museum (Freer and Sackler)

Cooper Hewitt Museum, New York

Hirshhorn Museum

National Zoo

Natural History Museum

Portrait Gallery

Postal Museum

Smithsonian's Discovery Theater

Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, Maryland

Smithsonian Gardens

• For Caregivers
• Art & Design Resources
• Science & Nature Resources
• Social Studies & Civics Resources
• Professional Development
• Events for Educators
• Field Trips
• For Students
• For Academics
• For Lifelong Learners

The most successful field trips find their roots back in the classroom with the teacher. Here are seven tips from the National Postal Museum to ensure your students get the best out of their visit.

Field Trips

Did you know a field trip to SMO can be as low as $9?

That's right! Qualifying schools, daycares and other youth-serving groups can book field trips for as low as $9/student when booked in advance and as part of a group. Our Guest Relations Team has planning your day down to a science - including helping you make lunch plans! You have enough on your plate - let us handle the details.

Your trip to the museum includes:

FREE admission for chaperones (1 chaperone for every 10 students)

$9 per extra chaperone

FREE live science and planetarium shows. (The planetarium closes beginning April 21.)

Hundreds of exhibits designed to educate and inspire students of all ages

Box lunches starting at $6 when booked in advance

Field Trip Rates (PK-12)

$9 per student/chaperone One FREE chaperone for every 10 students 

No hidden charges! SMO's field trip rate is all-inclusive — the museum's permanent exhibits, Science Live shows, and Kirkpatrick Planetarium experiences — at one price.

Enjoy the Show! Seating for Science Live and the Kirkpatrick Planetarium is on a first-come, first-served basis. We are unable to reserve blocks of seats for groups. Seating is limited - so we recommend arriving a few minutes prior to show time.

Pre-K through 12th Grade: Field trip rates are reserved for students in Pre-K through grade 12 and are available only when booked in advance by qualifying schools and organizations with groups of 10 students or more. Chaperones are honored guests (thank you for bringing the students!!) and must be over 21.

Speaking of Chaperones ...for the safety of students visiting the museum, Science Museum Oklahoma requires a minimum of one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Chaperones should stay with students at all times. Grab a latte from Starbucks and join your students for some fun!

All prices are per person.  

Ready to schedule a field trip?

We can't wait to see you! Our goal is to make your day stress-free. For more information or to register, please call us at  (405) 602-3760 or email [email protected] .

For faster booking, complete our school group registration form. Our Guest Relations team will contact you to confirm your details, answer any questions and reserve your date!

Field Trip Registration

Let's do lunch!  We have box lunches starting at just $6 when ordered in advance or cafe vouchers so kids can choose whatever they want! Place your order today at the link below!

LUNCH ORDERS

Teachers, we have a resources page just for you!

Whether you're looking for a way to extend learning beyond the classroom, looking for ways to bring the museum to your school or just looking for that extra activity to make this year sizzle - a day at SMO will have everyone from kindergarteners to teenagers asking, "Are we there yet?" 

P.S. Did we mention we have a Starbucks? And air conditioning?

Click Here for our teacher resources page

For the latest updates about special offers for educators, join SMO's Teacher Email List!

We realize that some students or chaperones may not be photographed for safety and other reasons. As a public space, entering our building does consent to being photographed. Therefore, we provide wristbands to help readily identify people who do not wish to be photographed. While we cannot control the conduct of our guests, we will make every attempt to avoid our staff or contractors from capturing and sharing the image of any person wearing a wristband. Please contact our Guest Relations team at (405) 602-3760 or email  [email protected] if you require wristbands for your students or chaperones.

OERB Scholarships

Science Museum Oklahoma partners with the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board as part of OERB HomeRoom .

To be eligible to apply for field trip funding, teachers must attend an OERB workshop and teach the required OERB curriculum in their classroom. After an educator’s class completes the curriculum, teachers can submit an application for a free field to Science Museum Oklahoma.

Each free museum field trip includes:

• Free admission for classroom teachers and students to the museum.
• OERB show and either Kirkpatrick Planetarium or Science Live show.
• Partial to full travel reimbursement for schools or school districts paid for by OERB.  

For more information, visit OERBHomeRoom.com or email [email protected] .

Arrival, Bus Parking, Backpacks and Lunches

• During peak season, a museum representative will lead students into the museum from your bus. Students will be taken to a grouping zone.
• Main teacher or point of contact should check in at Guest Relations.
• For faster check-in, download and complete the Express Check-In form before arrival:

FIELD TRIP EXPRESS CHECK-IN FORM

Students may not bring backpacks into the museum while on field trips. Please leave backpacks at school, on your bus, or in vehicles.

Bus Parking

• Bus parking is located on the west side of the museum, along Martin Luther King Ave.
• Overflow bus parking is at Remington Park Entrance 3. Entrance 3 is located across from the McDonald's on Martin Luther King Ave.
• A space will be reserved in the lunchroom for your group at a designated time if requested at booking.
• All lunches must be bagged and labeled.
• Lunches should be stored in the lunchroom in your group's designated area - it will be labeled with your school name and lunchtime.
• Carts are provided in the lobby to transport lunches. Please return carts to the lobby once lunches are unloaded.
• The lunchroom is in the southwest corner of the building.

Bus Parking Location

Payment and Refunds

• Business checks will be reimbursed for amounts over $50.
• If paying with a P.O. an invoice will be emailed to you after your visit.
• Sponsors paying individually will pay full admission rate.
• Memberships and/or coupons are not valid with field trip rates.

Cancellations

• A 48-hour notice is required for cancellations.
• Please call or email the museum's Reservations office to cancel your visit at 405-602-3760 or [email protected] .

Kirkpatrick Planetarium and Science Live Shows

• Kirkpatrick Planetarium and Science Live shows are included with your field trip group rate. Seating is in a first-come, first-served basis.
• Shows often fill to capacity — please encourage your group to arrive before showtime to secure a seat!

Kirkpatrick Planetarium schedule

Science Live schedule

Teacher Resources

Museum Quest Scavenger Hunt (PDF)

Museum Quest Answer Key (PDF)

Photography Policy and Basic Rules

Basic rules.

• Please review our Visitors Policy and Code of Conduct .
• One adult chaperone is required for every 10 students.
• Students must stay with chaperones for entire length of visit.
• Students may not bring backpacks into the museum during field trips.
• Walk! For the safety of all of our guests, please do not allow children to run in the museum.

Photography Policy

Please review our complete Photography policy.

By entering the museum, you grant permission to the museum or our approved sponsor/third party to use your name, voice, image or likeness in connection with any image, video, other transmission or reproduction promoting the museum. Accomodations are available for guests who do not want to be or cannot be photographed for privacy reasons. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to a member of our Guest Relations team. 

We use cookies to enhance user experience, ads and website performance. By interacting with our site you are giving consent to set cookies. For more information, visit our privacy policy page .

Field Trips

From Pre-K to High School, the Nature Museum is the perfect field trip destination.

As Chicago’s gateway to nature and science, our educators, scientists, and staff provide a fun and educational experience like no other.

Please note, groups of 10 or more people are required to register in advance when visiting the Nature Museum. Groups receive discounted admission to the museum and the opportunity to add on visit enhancements and utilize planning tools when registering at least two weeks in advance. Find the best fit for your class or group by exploring the options below.

field trip request form

8 Reasons to Take a Field Trip

As Chicago’s oldest museum, we know a thing or two about science education! Our staff are experts at developing education programs and exhibitions that stimulate and excite young minds. Book a field trip and you’ll see!

We are Chicago’s urban gateway to nature and science. Our exhibits, specimens, live animals, and conservation initiatives all focus on our region’s unique ecosystems. Inspire your students to seek out, observe and discover the nature all around us.

Take your field trip to the next level by scheduling a hands-on workshop led by an experienced Museum Educator. With 14 different indoor and outdoor workshops developed for a diverse range of learners, you can choose the unique workshop perfect for your class.

With more than 40 living animal species, the Nature Museum is one of the only museums where your class can get up close and hands-on with turtles, snakes, insects, and more! In addition to our living collections, we have thousands of preserved specimens—from rare extinct species to common plants and animals.

From interpretive nature trails outside the Museum and around North Pond, to more than 30,000 square feet of exhibitions within the Museum, your students will truly be immersed in the nature all around us! In addition to our signature exhibitions, we feature rotating exhibits throughout the year that always keep our museum experience fresh.

Our scientists are hard at work saving turtles, butterflies, snakes, and bees! Learn about our research and conservation efforts with endangered species like the Blanding’s turtle, and see the little hatchlings we are rearing for release in local habitats.

Experience the whirling wonder of the renowned Judy Istock Butterfly Haven ! More than 40 species of exotic high-flying butterflies and stunning birds from around the world await your class in our 2,700 square foot greenhouse. Complete with serene pools of water, flowers, tropical trees, and thousands of fluttering butterflies, the Butterfly Haven is an experience your students will not forget!

All Illinois school groups receive free admission to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum—no catch! Your group will have the opportunity and time to see everything we have to offer, without any special exhibit fees. Plus, we’ll outfit your class with a self-guided tour card that includes guiding questions for each exhibit.

Add a Field Trip Workshop to focus your visit, spark wonder and curiosity in your students, and connect to your students’ classroom science learning.

A Field Trip Workshop is an authentic, hands-on learning experience that leverages unique museum resources to teach locally-relevant science and nature content. Help your students create positive personal connections with local nature by observing and exploring the Nature Museum’s collections. Choose from 14 workshops created for Pre-K through High School groups that are taught by an experienced museum educator and are correlated with the Next Generation Science Standards.

Register for one of these inquiry-based and interactive programs to enhance a field trip experience and enrich learning outside of school. Titles and descriptions of available workshops are listed below. Workshops are 45 minutes and cost $175/workshop unless otherwise noted.

Pre-K & K

Awaken your senses and embark on an outdoor adventure! Join a Nature Museum Educator on an exploration of the Museum grounds. Students will discover the sights, sounds, feels, and smells of nature in the city!

Observe live insects from the Nature Museum’s collections! Students will learn more about the ways that these animals move, eat, and protect themselves from danger. Each student will have the opportunity to compare and contrast several different live insects.

NGSS: LS1, ESS3

Create a seed pocket to take back to your school! Students develop an appreciation for local nature as they learn about planting seeds through interactive activities that highlight how native plants grow and how they are important to animals, including humans.

Grades 1, 2 & 3

Go outside and explore prairie, pond, and wooded habitats on the Nature Museum grounds! Students will practice making careful observations as they examine plants and animals in various outdoors areas. Students will compare and contrast the different elements of each habitat including the plants and animals that live in each.

NGSS: LS1, LS3, LS4

Meet two live animals from the Nature Museum’s collections! Students will observe the animals’ features and movements and use critical thinking skills to compare and contrast the animals’ bodies, behaviors, and habitats.

Watch a classmate transform into a butterfly! Students will become butterfly scientists and learn about the body parts and life cycle of butterflies. They will also create their own butterfly life cycle models to take home and use to teach others what they know.

Find out how seeds travel from one place to another! Students will observe real seeds and do hands-on investigations to compare and contrast the ways that these seeds move.

NGSS: LS1, LS2

Go outside and observe prairie, wetland, and urban woodland ecosystems! Students will increase their knowledge of Illinois ecosystems by observing living and non-living things on the Nature Museum grounds and by evaluating how the parts of each system interact and work together.

NGSS: LS1, LS2, LS4, ESS3

Get an up close look at the red worms that work at the Nature Museum! Students will observe red worm behavior and investigate environmental preferences. Students learn how these worms can recycle food and paper waste and then practice classifying items that can and cannot be fed to red worms.

NGSS: LS1, LS2, ESS3

Observe and compare rare and endangered Midwest butterflies, including metalmarks, checker-spots, and fritillaries! Students will learn about the characteristics of native butterfly habitats and the Nature Museum’s conservation research initiatives. By reviewing basic butterfly biology and exploring the unique needs of local butterflies, students gain an understanding of how people impact Midwestern butterfly populations.

Grades 6-12*

Compare the biodiversity of different outdoor areas on the Nature Museum grounds! Students use sampling, systematic observation, and data collection techniques to gather information about the plants present in each location. By graphing, analyzing, and comparing data, students will determine species richness and biodiversity in the two areas.

NGSS: LS2, LS4

Get outdoors and investigate various urban ecosystems on the Nature Museum’s Nature Trails! Students will observe and record the diversity of living things in two of Illinois’ most dominant natural environments. By considering the changes in these natural areas over time, students will evaluate the roles humans play as a part of these prairie and lawn ecosystems.

NGSS: LS2, ESS3

Examine various bee specimens from the Nature Museum’s collection! Students will analyze data to determine trends in bee populations and the impact on local ecosystems, as well as obtain information on current conservation efforts.

Find out what the invertebrates found in water really say about the water’s quality! Students learn about water quality indicators, tolerant and intolerant species, and citizen science initiatives while identifying preserved macroinvertebrates. Students then use their findings to analyze the health of a water sample.

Cost & Payment

Each school classroom must register for its own workshop.  To ensure the quality of the interactive experience, schools may not combine multiple classrooms into one workshop. Groups with workshops exceeding the maximum number of participants without prior approval will be charged for an additional workshop. Kindergarten – Grade 12 workshops have a maximum of 30 participants, and Pre-K workshops have a maximum of 20 participants.

• $175/45-minute workshop
• $200/90-minute workshop

Payment is due 30 days before the date of the visit or programs will be cancelled.

Questions? Special requests? Email [email protected].

Exclusive Butterfly Release

Make your field trip visit unforgettable by releasing a butterfly with an exclusive butterfly release. For $15 per group, your students will be able to watch as a butterfly that has just emerged from its chrysalis is released into the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven for its first flight!

FIELD TRIP REQUEST FORM

Request a Field Trip

After you’ve submitted a request form, we will process your request within five business days. Once we’ve booked your field trip, we will send you a confirmation via email. Your field trip is not confirmed until you’ve received this email. After five days, if you have not received an email please email [email protected] to check on the status of your request.

Questions? Email us at [email protected]

Planning Resources

Keep reading for tools, tips, and protocols to help you plan and prepare for your Nature Museum field trip.

Use our Field Trip Guide to help prepare your students and create a focused field trip experience. This guide is full of tips and tricks to make the most out of your visit to the Nature Museum. It also includes ideas for activities before your visit, graphic organizers to use on your trip, and suggestions for post-visit activities to connect the field trip back to the learning in the classroom.

CHECK BACK SOON FOR AN UPDATED GUIDE

When your bus arrives, it will pull into the turn-around directly in front of the museum. One of our staff members will greet your bus and provide the museum rules to your group, while the lead teacher from each school enters the museum to check in and receive your group’s tour cards.

In order to ensure that our visitors have the opportunity to explore the museum fully, school groups will be divided by class into lettered groups (A, B, C, etc.). We will provide one tour card to the leader of each lettered group. These custom tour cards provide an outline for your trip and also include specific times and locations for lunches and workshops. Click here for a sample tour card.

Your classes will then be led off the bus and organized into letter groups by class, each with their own tour card. Once organized, your group will be moved inside to drop off lunches and coats. If you have requested a lunch space, each lettered group’s lunch time and location will appear on their tour card. We ask that you bring lunches in small, recyclable brown paper bags. We will bring them to the lunchroom at your assigned lunch time. Please do not call ahead for lunch times.

Once those have been dropped off, a staff member will escort you to your first exhibit or workshop, and your museum exploration will begin!

To see our full list of accessibility resources and amenities, click here.

Buy Your Tickets Today

Experience nature and science up close with a trip to the Nature Museum.

• Outreach Performances & Programs
• Fundraising
• Field trip lesson plans
• Field Trips Grants
• Service Learning
• Hot Springs
• Little Rock
• Los Angeles
• San Francisco
• Statewide / Region
• Daytona Beach
• Fort Lauderdale
• Gainesville
• Jacksonville
• Orlando-Metro
• Palm Beach Metro
• Space Coast
• Tallahassee
• St. Augustine
• St Petersburg-Clearwater
• Atlanta-Metro
• Chicago-Metro
• Springfield
• Central Region
• East Region
• Indianapolis
• North Region
• South Central Region
• South Region
• West Region
• Bowling Green
• Baton Rouge
• New Orleans
• Baltimore-Metro
• The Berkshires
• Boston-Metro
• Cape Cod/Plymouth
• Greater Lowell
• Greater Springfield
• Capital-River Region
• Delta Region
• Gulf Coast Region
• Hills Region
• Pines Region
• Jefferson City
• Kansas City
• Springfield-MO
• Delaware River Region
• Gateway Region NJ
• Greater Atlantic City
• Shore Region
• Skylands Region
• Southern Shore Region
• Capital District Region
• Central New York Region
• Finger Lakes Region
• Hudson Valley Region
• Long Island
• Mohawk Valley Region
• New York City
• North Country Region
• Southern Tier Region
• Western New York Region
• Canton Ohio
• Cincinnati Ohio
• Cleveland Ohio
• Columbus Ohio
• Oklahoma City
• Allegheny Mts. & Valleys
• Gettysburg/York
• Harrisburg-Metro
• Lakes & Erie Regions
• Lancaster-Metro
• Lehigh Valley
• Philadelphia Metro
• Pittsburgh & Laurel Highlands
• The Poconos
• Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
• Chattanooga
• East Tennessee
• Middle Tennessee
• The Smokies
• West Tennessee
• Bryan - College Station
• Corpus Christi
• Dallas/Fort Worth
• Panhandle Plains Region
• San Antonio
• Central Virginia
• Chesapeake Bay Region
• Coastal Virginia -Eastern Shore
• Coastal Virginia-Hampton Roads
• Northern Virginia
• Shenandoah Valley
• Southern Virginia
• Southwest Virginia-Blue Ridge Highlands
• Southwest Virginia-Heart of the Appalachia
• Virginia Mountains
• Martinsburg
• Madison Wisconsin

Science Museum Lesson Plan

Please note, this lesson plan was created by FieldTripDirectory.com as a general guide and is not specific to any particular venue listed on our site.

There are a wide variety of science museums out there. From archaeological artifacts to galactic adventures in museum planetarium domes, there’s something for just about everyone!

Many science museums offer interactive experiences for youth groups such as labs and simulated space missions. Find a science museum with offerings that align with your curriculum goals for a field trip that’ll be worth while.

Put on those lab coats and goggles! Students step into the shoes of scientists. Gear up for an exploration of science and all it has to offer.

BEFORE YOU GO

• Fill out a KWL (K- What do you know?, W- What do you want to know?, L [Follow-up]- What have you learned?) graphic organizer to assess students’ prior knowledge of science
• Create a class definition of ‘science’
• Look at the tools scientists use (beakers, magnifying glass, microscope, etc.)
• Provide a daily quote from a famous scientist
• Explore different fields of science
• Examples: http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/experiments.html

SCIENCE FACTS A-Z

• Chemist: Study of energy, matter, and properties and relationships between chemical elements and compounds.
• Chemists are trained to be laboratory technicians, researchers, teachers, and more.
• Chemistry came from the study of alchemy, an ancient science involving the transmutation of materials such as turning base metals into gold or silver.
• Chemical elements are organized onto the periodic table based on their atomic number. The first element is on the periodic table is Hydrogen.

Archaeology

• Archeologist: Study humans and communities that existed in the past by discovering and analyzing artifacts they left behind.
• When exploring a site, archeologists dig individual square holes in a grid system.
• Written language is about 5,000 years old, so artifacts help understand history, diet, and behavior before that time.
• One problem archeologists face is when sites are “ ”

Earth Science

• Astronomer: Study objects in space including galaxies, solar systems, stars, planets, and moons.
• Astronomy is considered one of the oldest branches of science.
• The famous astronomer, Galileo, invented the telescope .
• Astronomers spend little time with telescopes. Instead, they tend to analyze data and pictures.
• Geologist: Study Earth’s properties and history.
• The Earth is 4.54 billion years old.
• Geology” comes from the Greek words “ge” and “logos” which translate as rocks and knowledge.
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are important mapping tools used by geologists.
• Meteorologist: Study the atmosphere, predict weather forecasts, and research weather patterns and climate change.
• Early civilizations, like the Babylonians, would use the appearance of clouds to predict weather changes.
• Galileo invented an earlier version of the thermometer in 1592.
• 1 billion tons of rainwater falls on Earth each minute.
• Physicist: Study or research matter, energy, and forces.
• Physics is considered an “experimental” science.
• Physicists will work with things as small as atomic particles (not even humans can see it!) to something as big as the entire universe.
• The weight of Earth’s atmosphere is somewhere around 5.5 quadrillion tons!

Engineering

• Computer Scientist: Study and apply information theory and computation to computers.
• Potential jobs for computer scientists include animating, creating websites or apps, designing games, programming, researching algorithms or theory, and software engineering.
• A computer is a machine that takes in, processes, and outputs data.
• The first computer originated from 500 BCE. It was called an abacus , which is made from string and beads. It was typically used to track money.
• Engineer: Apply both scientific and mathematic information to the world by finding solutions to a variety of problems.
• The top four disciplines of engineering include chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
• Engineer is a word that derives from the Latin words for “devise” and “cleverness.”
• Engineers held 1.6 million jobs in the United States in 2015. Electrical engineering employed 313,970 people, more so than any other engineering discipline.

Life Science

• Biologist: Study life, research processes, and understand how organisms interact with their environment.
• Biology branches off into a variety of fields including botany (study of plants), genetics (study of DNA), marine biology (study of ocean plants and animals), microbiology (study of microorganisms), and zoology (study of animals).
• Not all biologists work in laboratories. Some do their research in the field, such as the ocean.
• Some research is used to make products such as drugs and biofuels.
• Psychologist: Study the mind.
• Psychologists’ work involves observing, testing, treating, and counseling patients.
• Some believe psychology is more like “common sense” rather than a branch of science.
• Placebos can provide patients with the same effects as regular treatments.
• Science jobs and careers
• Abacus: (noun) a calculating tool built with multiple wires or grooves along which beads slide across
• Artifact: (noun) an object made by a human being
• Energy: (noun) ability to do work
• Experiment: (noun) a scientific procedure that tests a hypothesis; (verb) perform scientific procedure to determine something or to try out new concepts
• Loot: (verb) steal goods
• Matter: (noun) substance that occupies space
• Placebo: (noun) substance, usually a pill, used in a controlled experiment that serves as fake treatment
• Science: (noun) knowledge about or study of the natural world based on facts learned through experiments and observations
• Theory: (noun) collection of ideas or a set of principles used to explain something
• Collaboration
• Experimentation
• Observation
• Organization
• Presentation
• Problem solving
• Vocabulary development

– Complete KWL graphic organizer

– Write about experiences on the trip and share

– Hold a class science fair

• Examples: https://www.education.com/science-fair/

Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago

Providing unique experiences designed to spark scientific inquiry and creativity since 1933.

Museum hours Open today from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Museum hours Open tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

5700 s. dusable lake shore drive chicago, il 60637.

Plan a visit

Virtual Field Trips

Take a Museum field trip without leaving your classroom.

When you can't come to MSI, take a virtual field trip with us instead. Participate in a facilitated Learning Lab livestream, or take a live virtual tour of some of our most popular exhibits. And check out our free online STEM learning tools for new ways to engage.  

Virtual Field Trip offerings

Live from the heart.

Go live into the operating room to watch heart surgery and learn about careers.

Virtual Crime Lab

Solve a crime with fingerprint analysis, chromatography, white powder analysis and more.

Virtual Mars 2040

Learn how NASA plans to get the first manned mission to Mars by the year 2040.

Virtual MedLab: Diabetes

Learn about vital signs and medical examinations while you analyze data to diagnose and understand diabetes.

Virtual Weather Wise

Explore atmospheric phenomena and learn how scientists predict weather.

General public guests are strongly encouraged to purchase advance tickets.   Reserve Tickets

Members receive free admission to the Museum 364 days a year! Become a Member

Take your Museum journey home with you. Visit the Museum Shop

onsite: at the museum

Field Trip Adventures

Great news! You can book this program online right now.

LEARN MORE ABOUT SCHOLARSHIPS

We proudly recognize  OUR DONORS  for their generous support of the Museum and its education programs.

If a fully planned and guided day sounds like a dream come true, let our Field Trip Adventures do the work by maximizing your fun with activities designed to align with Colorado Academic Standards.  Choose from one of the preplanned, 3.5 hour experiences, and we will provide you with a detailed itinerary. Price: $235 per program of up to 32 students and 4 chaperones. Offered Monday-Friday, September-May.

Do you qualify for a scholarship? Scholarships can help pay for bus fuel and access into Planetarium and temporary exhibits. Learn more at  https://www.dmns.org/learn/scholarships/ .

A Field Trip Adventure includes a facilitated program, exhibit exploration, and lunch break. Details regarding times and locations can be found in a customized itinerary included in your confirmation email. Reservations are required at least 21 days in advance. 

Amazing Animal Adaptations: Orcas

Grades 2 - 5

Now accepting bookings for programs! 

In this fun, interactive adventure, your students will participate in a facilitated program highlighting adaptations of animals in six different habitats, including oceans, using Museum collections and visit the Museum’s special exhibition, Orcas: Our Shared Future .  

Entrance into the Orcas: Our Shared Future  temporary exhibition only included for Field Trip Adventures scheduled between March 15, 2024 and May 24, 2024.

UnEarth Colorado

Now accepting bookings for programs!

Dig up Colorado’s prehistoric past! Use real prehistoric evidence found in fossil analysis to become a junior paleontologist. This immersive experience allows students to interact with authentic prehistoric specimens and gather clues from ancient plants and animals.

Grades 3 - 5

Explore the human body and the parts and function of the circulatory system using hands-on investigations and small-group dissections of real sheep hearts. 

Explore the human body and the parts and function of the respiratory system using hands-on investigations and small-group dissections of real sheep lungs.

Unraveling Mummies: Modern Technology, Dissection, and Ancient Egypt

Grades 6 - 8

In our Unraveling Mummies Field Trip Adventure, students use CT imaging and dissections of a real sheep heart to dig into the culture, anatomy, and mummification & burial practices exercised by ancient Egyptians.

The Bear Necessities

Grades PreK - 1

In this facilitated studio program, your students will be immersed in a Colorado habitat as they become black bears and search for food, water, and shelter. Also, explore the Bears & Sea Mammals diorama halls using an exhibit guide that is designed to connect your class with the exhibition and learn through play in the Discovery Zone.

Dinosaur Detectives

Become a paleontologist in this studio program. Your students will uncover clues from the past in order to imagine what it was like when Colorado’s state dinosaur, Stegosaurus, roamed the land.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Click below for more information.

Field Trip Checklist

Chaperone Tips

School Bus Map

Museum Floor Map

Scavenger Hunts

The customized itinerary contains details of your entire field trip from arrival to departure. The only fixed times are program start times.

This browser is no longer supported. We have detected you are using an older version and less secure version Internet Explorer. Please download Google Chrome , Firefox or if using Windows 10, you may use Microsoft's Edge browser..

This browser is no longer supported. We have detected you are using a less secure browser - Internet Explorer. Please download or use Google Chrome , Firefox or if using Windows 10, you may also use Microsoft's Edge browser.

Today's Hours: 9am - 5pm

• Become a Member
• Lease Exhibits

Field Trips & Group Visits

We provide unforgettable group experiences for your school, church, troop or senior group! Can't come to us? We'll bring discovery to you through our outreach programming. Check out our museum resource guide to explore everything we offer.

Programming for pre-k and up!

School field trips.

Our interactive exhibits, dynamic programming and awe-inspiring science shows will complement the concepts you teach in the classroom. Plus, our programming aligns with Next Generation Science Standards!

Contact Beth Nelsen at 501-537-3073 or [email protected] for questions or to book your field trip.

We’ll bring the discovery to you!

Our outreach programs bring the excitement of science learning to your school! Whether you are educating one small class or the entire school, we offer a wide variety of programs that meet the needs of your students, enhance your curriculum, and align with Next Generation Science Standards.

Choose from assembly-style science shows, in-classroom labs or live animal programming! We also offer after-school enrichment with a new theme each month.

Frequently Asked Group Visit Questions

Are discounts offered for groups?

We offer group rate pricing for groups of 15 or more people from schools or 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. Groups must register at least two weeks in advance to receive the below group pricing:

• $9 per child/student.
• School staff (teachers, aides, and bus drivers) are admitted free!
• To receive our chaperone rate, adults must be included in the group’s payment on the day of the field trip.

Additional group pricing information:

• There is an additional per-person fee for our programs, shows, and labs or other features.
• Groups can reserve rooms for lunches for an additional fee.
• Our summer group admission rate is $9 per person, plus applicable programming fees.

Are chaperones allowed on fieldtrips?

Yes. We require a ratio of one adult to five children for all groups. Chaperones must stay with and supervise their group at all times. To receive the group rate, all children and adults must be paid at once during the group check-in. Adults who have not registered with their group and paid their chaperone fee in advance must pay full admission price.

How soon in advance should field trips/group visits be booked?

In order to receive discounted group pricing, we require groups book at least two weeks in advance.  However, because March-May are high-volume months for groups and availability fills up quickly, we recommend spring group bookings be made in January.

Where do buses and chaperones park?

A bus loading area is located in front of the museum. During drop-off, buses should pull alongside the curb. Museum staff (blue shirts) will greet and escort your group from the buses to the building for orientation. Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your planned arrival time to allow time for check-in, payment, and orientation.

Buses may not remain in the loading zone after students have exited safely. Bus parking may be available in either the post office parking lot on East Fourth Street or at the Clinton Presidential Museum at the eastern end of President Clinton Avenue.

For chaperons in personal vehicles, free street and paid parking (metered or parking deck) are available within easy walking distance of the museum.

Hear from pleased teachers!

Museum of Life and Science

Groups & School Visits

A day of discovery for any group.

A trip to the Museum launches visitors into a universe of nature exploration and science learning. With 84 acres of open-ended science and nature experiences designed to spark imagination, creativity, and new ways of thinking about our world, the Museum is the perfect destination for classes and groups of any size.

Field trips

School groups

September – May The best option if you’re an in-session school (PreK – 12th grade)

Durham Public Schools

Students free: Tues – Thurs: September – May We offer special prices for groups from the Durham Public School District.

Non-school groups

September – May If you’re a non-school group with at least 10 attendees, non-school group rate is $13 per person.

Summer groups

June – August If you’re a group with at least 10 attendees, group rate in the summer is $13 per person.

Group Programs

Coming to the Museum for a field trip? Or need a special program at YOUR location? We’ve got you covered.

STEM Adventures

STEM Adventures is designed to incorporate NC state standards from multiple curricula into fun, interactive activities.

STEP Outside

Are you wondering how to get the most out of outdoor learning for your school? Let the Museum of Life and Science help you create engaging and standards-aligned experiences.

Field Trip & Group Visit Admission Pricing

Students: Free Parents/Educators: 1 teacher FREE per 15 students. Additional teachers: $11 in advance with group, $13 individually.* Chaperones: $11 in advance with group, $13 individually.* School group pricing takes place Tuesday – Thursday from September to May.

Other schools

Students: $11 Parents/Educators: 1 teacher FREE per 15 students. Additional teachers: $11 in advance with group, $13 individually.* Chaperones: $11 in advance with group, $13 individually.*

Non-school groups/Summer groups/Homeschool groups

Individual guests: $13 +tax

Train rides

Train rides for all group visitors are $5.50 per person

* Note the start of your field trip may be delayed 30 minutes or more if chaperones pay separately. Collect in advance and enjoy rapid check-in by including chaperone admission in your single group payment.

Group Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. Submitting a Group Request Form does not guarantee your reservation. Someone from our team will contact you regarding your request as soon as possible. Reservations office hours are Monday – Friday, 9 am – 4 pm

Field trip FAQs

How field trips align with nc essential standards, more questions ready to book.

4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach, FL 33405

Mon - Fri: 9:00am - 5:00pm Sat - Sun 10:00am - 6:00pm

(561) 832-1988

• Become a Member

You are here

The Science Center is open year-round except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Monday - Friday

9:00 am – 5:00 pm 

Saturday - Sunday

10:00 am – 6:00 pm

The Cox Science Center is a part of the ASTC Passport program, which allows free general admission to other ASTC members who travel 90 miles outside their local area of residency or participating museum for which they are a member.  Valid I.D. and membership card from participating museum must be presented upon entrance. For more information, visit:  www.astc.org/passport - Due to the 90-mile exclusionary zone, Cox Science Center members do not receive admission reciprocity to the  Museum of Discovery and Science  and the  Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science and vice versa . 

Science Center Admission Prices:

Discounts cannot be combined or used in addition to other offers. Click here  to see if you qualify

Do you have a group of 15 or more? Call 561-832-1988 to ask about our group rates!  

Planetarium schedule.

$5 per person, per show. Free for CSCA annual members. Tickets must be purchased in addition to general admission. * Shows are subject to change, please call to verify the schedule. *

**Due to our specialty Planetarium show - Mesmerica - our 5 pm Astronaut  show will be canceled on the following dates:

• April 14th, April 28th
• May 4th, 5th, 12th, 18th, 19th

  Live Science Show Schedule: *  Subject to change due to weather or special event. Please inquire with a visitor services associate for updates.

**Beginning January 15th, 2024 STEM Activities will be available at varying times throughout the day. Please check activities and times at the STEAM Cart. 

Field Trip Forecast

Please note: Field trips have been modified in size and procedures in accordance with CDC Guidelines.

We are proud to serve thousands of school groups with our exhibits and programs annually, however, we understand some guests prefer a quieter environment when visiting our museum. Here is a weekly "forecast" to help you navigate our groups:

Forecast for the week of April 29th, 2024:

Forecast for the week of May 6th, 2024:

Most groups leave by 1:30 pm. The field trip forecast is subject to change, without notice.

On-site Food Options

• Join us for our weekly Food Trucks on the Trail   Friday-Sunday. Please be sure to check the link to see what food trucks will be on-site!
• While outside food is allowed to be brought into the Science Center, this is limited to individual meals, snacks, and food for toddlers and small children. Group-sized orders, platters, or food for large parties are strictly prohibited without prior authorization from CSCA staff .
• Picnic tables or the outside patio area may not be reserved without paying a rental fee. All tables are first come, first serve. Tables may not be held or reserved for large groups or parties unless booked through the CSCA staff .
• Food deliveries (i.e. DoorDash, UberEats, Postmates, etc.) must be received at the admissions desk immediately upon arrival. Deliveries will not be accepted or held at the admissions desk and will be turned away.

Prohibited Items

Firearms, ammunition, knives, and weapons of any kind.

Objects or toys that appear to be firearms or weapons.

Animal Policy*

Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

• The tasks may include but are not limited to: guiding, alerting, pulling, assisting, retrieving, or performing other special tasks for someone with a disability. 
• A service animal is  not  a pet. 

Service animals are welcome throughout the Science Center so long as:

• The service animal must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered while in public places unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work or the person’s disability prevents use of these devices.
• The handler maintains control over the service animal so as not to excessively or repeatedly disrupt normal operations.
• Any messes/accidents are cleaned up by the owner

*Animals without a leash MUST be kept in either a carrier, bag, or stroller at all times. Non-service animals are NOT allowed to be leashed or openly carried in the owner's arms and will not be permitted to enter the building.

For questions regarding service animals as covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice, please click here for more information .

As of January 1st, 2021, the Cox Science Center and Aquarium is proud to have achieved the  GBAC STAR™  Facility Accreditation. Under the guidance of GBAC, a Division of ISSA, the worldwide cleaning industry association, we have implemented the most stringent protocols for cleaning, disinfection and infectious disease prevention throughout our facilities. Learn more  here .  

Location & Directions

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is located at - 4801 Dreher Trail North,    West Palm Beach, FL 33405  

Phone: (561) 832-1988

Fax: (561) 370-7725

View Larger Map

From The Florida Turnpike

Take the Southern Blvd. exit east, past I-95 to the Dreher Park entrance on the right. Turn in Dreher Park and follow Dreher Trail to the Cox Science Science Center and Aquarium.

From I-95 Heading South

Exit at Southern Boulevard and head east to the Dreher Park entrance on the right. Turn in Dreher Park and follow Dreher Trail to the Cox Science Science Center and Aquarium.

From I-95 Heading North

Exit at Southern Boulevard and head east to the Dreher Park entrance on the right. Turn in Dreher Park and follow Dreher Trail to the Cox Science Center and Aquarium.

The Science Center is open year-round except for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

9:00am – 5:00pm 

Saturday - Sunday

10:00am – 6:00pm

General Admission

Planetarium shows.

Planetarium rates are in addition to general admission

Conservation Course Mini Golf

Mini Golf rates are included in general admission during Phase 1 reopening

**Members receive a complimentary allotment of golf passes with valid membership.

The Cox Science Center and Aquarium is located at -

4801 Dreher Trail North,    West Palm Beach, FL 33405  

FIELD TRIPS

Book a field trip to the fort worth museum.

The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is dedicated to lifelong learning and anchored by our rich collections. Explore engaging spaces in our Innovation Studios, unearth fossils in DinoDig, watch imaginations come alive in the Fort Worth Children’s Museum, adventure in Cattle Raisers Museum, discover out first-class traveling exhibits and so much more. We would love for your group to come and see all that we have to offer!

Please fill out the Field Trip Request Form to book your visit now!

Please Note: Fieldtrips WILL be offered during the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo. However, they will look different than a regular field trip. Please call for details.

Chemistry Week

DinoDig Exhibit

Live Animals

Innovation Studios Gallery

Field trip pricing.

For every ten children, you may bring one free educator or adult chaperone.

Planetarium shows and Laboratory programs are an additional $2.50 per child / $4 per adult for each. Payment will be required the day of the visit via cash, checks or credit cards.

PLANETARIUM SHOWS

Planetarium shows are 45 minutes long and can fit 75 guests per show. Shows are $2.50 per child / $4 per adult. Show times are 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM.

Our Amazing Solar System | 3rd – 7th | Live at the Noble: Our Solar System is an animated live-narrated show about the planets, asteroid belt, and Kuiper belt.

Texas Sky Tonight | 5th – 12th | Texas Sky Tonight is a live show about the stars, constellations, and mythology that can be found in our night sky over Texas.

Sun Earth Moon | Pre-K – 6th | Sun Earth Moon is a semi-interactive planetarium experience that covers information about the Sun, Earth, and Moon, including different attributes of each body, their relative position to each other, and the fact that they are connected through gravity.

This is Your Captain | Pre-K – 12th | This is Your Captain Speaking is a brief 10-minute introductory into the planets in our solar system.

Forward to the Moon! | 6th-12th |  Forward! To the Moon covers NASA’s newest manned space program, Artemis, which plans on bringing humans back to the moon to stay

5,000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI | 8th-12th |5,000 Eyes: Mapping the Universe with DESI is about the newest survey to map our nearby universe.

One World, One Sky: Big Bird's Adventure | Pre-K - 1st | In this planetarium show featuring beloved characters from Sesame Street, you'll learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun and the Moon.

LABORATORIES

Laboratories are programs with engaging activities that may be added on to your field trip experience. Laboratories are $2.50 per child / $4 per adult. Programs are 30 minutes long and have a capacity of 30 visitors/program. Program times are 10 AM, 11 AM, 12 PM, and 1 PM.

Weathering and Erosion | Students will develop a working understanding of the Earth's processes of weathering and erosion through a unique hands-on learning experience.

Jolts & Volts |  Students will be challenged to create circuits with some familiar - and hopefully some very unfamiliar - materials.

Bird Beaks & Adaptation |  Examine items from the Museum’s collections as students learn about different ways birds have adapted to their environment by looking at different birds, their food sources and their beaks.

Snail Science |  Students will observe live snails, learn about the parts of a snail and conduct a snail food experiment. They will use hand lenses to observe the snails up close.

Confirmation

Please fill out the Field Trip Confirmation Form to confirm your trip to the museum!

FIELD TRIP LUNCHES

Field trip guests may bring sack lunches or pre-order boxed lunches from the museum café.

Sack Lunches

• There is no storage available. We agree to leave all coolers, pails, backpacks and wagons in an approved vehicle both before and after lunch.
• Lunches will be held outside on the front lawn.
• The Café and indoor courtyard are off limits to groups with sack lunches.

Boxed Lunches

• The Stars Café is operated by Chick-fil-A Montgomery Street.
• Lunch Order Requests must be made at least two weeks prior to Field Trip.
• Send completed forms to  [email protected] .
• Boxed lunch payment must be made separately from admission.
• A W9 must be sent in to qualify for tax exemption.

Please fill out the boxed lunch order form here .

FIELD TRIP TRANSPORTATION

• Full size buses will receive free parking at Farrington Field unless otherwise stated.
• Personal vehicles may park anywhere in the Cultural Distract for a fee to be collected by the City of Fort Worth upon departure.

Download the Bus Parking Guide here .

Every student is welcome at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. We are committed to providing the highest quality visit for each and every guest. If you are chaperoning a visit to the Museum, please take a moment to read through our Chaperone Guide!

Accommodations

Mobility + sensory needs.

Every student is welcome at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. We are committed to providing the highest quality visit for each and every guest. We are pleased to inform Teachers that the Museum is ADA Compliant for students with mobility needs. The Museum also offers resources and accommodations for guests with sensory processing needs.

The following items and resources can be accessed throughout the museum:

Sensory Backpacks

For guests with sensory needs we offer check out Sensory Backpacks at no cost that guests may take with them as they explore the Museum. The backpacks include a weighted dinosaur, noise-canceling headphones and a piece of chewlry that may help guests regulate their sensory processing during their visit. In order to check out backpacks, you’ll need to leave a form of ID at the front desk and fill out a small information form. Every backpack is sanitized after use. There are 9 backpacks available on a first come first served basis.

Quiet Areas

Field Trips can be overstimulating for anyone. It’s loud, it’s a new place and routines have been upended. To ensure that every student is able to enjoy their visit, we have a sensory room available inside the Children’s Museum and also keep the Doodler Room inside our Innovation Studios free from groups. These quiet areas allow students a break from the cacophony and the space to self-regulate as needed.

Booking with a Special Needs Group

Please let our Group Sales Team know that your self-contained unit is visiting the Museum and they will happily walk through the best options for arrival times and lunches for your visit. There is no minimum required to book a Field Trip for our Special Needs Groups.

While the information here provides a general overview of accessibility features, we encourage you to contact our Group Sales Team in advance of your visit with any questions or specific needs.

Museum Expectations

Museum expectations.

We understand that young students are in the beginning stages of socialization and discovery. Your role as a chaperone is crucial for an extraordinary learning experience. To ensure this, we ask that all groups encourage the following:

• Be attentive to your students at all times and make sure their enjoyment is not infringing on the enjoyment of others.
• Students should maintain their best classroom behavior while in the museum or theaters.
• Do not allow students to engage in roughhousing, climbing or running. The safety of all our museum guests and the preservation of our exhibits are important.
• Chaperones are required to remain with students of ALL ages at ALL times. Chaperones are responsible for student conduct.
• Please refrain from prolonged usage of any personal electronic devices during your visit as it limits your ability to engage with your students.
• No outside food or drinks are allowed inside the Museum.
• Be curious and engaged! Participate in activities and ask questions. Your student will appreciate your attention.

As a reminder: The Children's Museum is limited to students in 2 nd  grade and under.

Educator Resources

Click the links below to download the educator guides for your next visit to the museum!

Field Trip Resource Guide

Bus Parking Guide

Educator Gallery Guides

How to Look at Art with Kids!

"Black Cowboys: An American Story" Exhibit

Solar Eclipse

Innovation Studios

Energy Hall + Energy Blast

Children's Museum Gallery

DinoLabs + DinoDig

Cowtown Takes Flight Exhibit

Noble Planetarium

Cattle Raisers Museum

Group Sales Department

Phone | 817-255-9414 Email |  [email protected]

• Venue Rentals
• Traveling Exhibitions
• Sue the T-Rex

The Fossil that Changed the World

Meet the Chicago Archaeopteryx

The Chicago Archaeopteryx is a rare fossil that reveals the evolutionary link between dinosaurs and birds.

Exhibition Summary

Included with Basic admission

Closes Jun 9, 2024

Exhibition Highlights

See a real, Jurassic-era Archaeopteryx fossil up-close

Watch Archaeopteryx come to life in a 3D animated projection

Discover the importance of this small but mighty dinosaur

What is an Archaeopteryx?

How do you pronounce Archaeopteryx?

Every bird you’ve ever seen— every pigeon at a bus stop, every penguin at the zoo— is a living, breathing dinosaur. Birds are the only group of dinosaurs that survived the mass extinction caused when an asteroid hit the Earth 66 million years ago. A fossil called Archaeopteryx , with feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth, and a long bony tail, is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird.

Image slideshow

Archaeopteryx was the first known bird.  Unlike birds you see today, however, Archaeopteryx had clawed hands with movable fingers.

Unlike other dinosaurs that used feathers only to keep warm, or, perhaps, for display, Archaeopteryx was feathered, and was able to fly and glide. This trait inspired the name Archaeopteryx , which translates to “ancient wing.” Impressions of feathers are extraordinarily well preserved in the Chicago Archaeopteryx .

This is the Chicago Archaeopteryx —one of only a dozen fossils of this animal ever found.  Scientists will be studying this fossil for years to come.

The Chicago Archaeopteryx has the most complete skull of any Archaeopteryx fossil in the world.  You can see its 52 pointy teeth, remarkably preserved from the Jurassic Period of 150 million years ago.

Scientists use UV light to examine the Chicago Archaeopteryx in more vivid detail.

Screen reader users can skip the following slideshow buttons by using heading navigation. All slides have been displayed above.

Archaeopteryx Timeline

• 201 million years ago
• 150 million years ago
• 66 million years ago

The Jurassic Period begins.

Locations of Archaeopteryx

There are 10 Archaeopteryx on public exhibition. The Chicago specimen is the only one in a major city in the Western Hemisphere.

Meet the Team

Acknowledgments

Acquisition of the Chicago Archaeopteryx was made possible through the generosity of the Walter Family Foundation and a challenge grant from an anonymous donor.

Additional support is provided by:

Diana and David Moore; Jessica and Steve Sarowitz; Nicholas J. Pritzker; Lauer Foundation for Paleontology, Science and Education, Bruce Lauer and René  Lauer; Marshall B. Front Family Charitable Foundation/Laura De Ferrari and Marchall B. Front

Corporate funding provided by

Following the Field’s Dinopalooza celebration on Saturday, June 8, the fossil will be removed from view in preparation for its permanent exhibition in a large immersive display opening in Fall 2024

Fabulously Fun Things to Do in Illinois with Kids

F rom walking in the footsteps of the 16th US president to racing along a thrilling roller coaster to feasting on Chicago-style deep dish pizza and hot dogs, Illinois offers many vacations’ worth of fun things to do with kids.

I raised my kids in Chicago. These are my family’s favorite spots across the state for learning science and history, giggling at penguins and, of course, getting a selfie of the whole family at one of the city’s iconic spots during your family’s getaway to Illinois.

Must-See Chicago Attractions

You have to start any Illinois family vacation in Chicago. The city has so much to offer, from a gorgeous lakefront to thriving neighborhoods to one of the last free zoos in the country to kayaking on the Chicago River to a baseball game at the iconic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs.

These are the Chicago attractions we visited over and over, starting when my kids were still in strollers.

SheBuysTravel Tip:  If you plan to do several Chicago attractions, buy a CityPASS . You’ll have money on admissions and, even better, you’ll be able to skip the long lines of people waiting to buy tickets!

Read More: The best kid-friendly hotels in Chicago .

Lincoln Park Zoo

This small, charming zoo sits in Lincoln Park, close to the lakefront. It’s small enough for little legs to walk and has a sweet petting zoo. My kids’ favorites were always the polar bears. We would head there on the first warm spring day and watch the polar bears diving into their pool from above and below.

Admission to the zoo is free, except for special events like the not-to-be-missed Zoo Lights at the holidays .

Lincoln Park Conservatory

Also free, this small conservatory sits at the northwest corner of Lincoln Park Zoo. It’s a quick walk-through and a nice spot to warm up on a chilly fall or winter day.

My family’s favorite conservatory, however, is the Garfield Park Conservatory, easily reached by the Green Line of the L.

Shedd Aquarium

The cute penguins at the Shedd became internet sensations  during the pandemic when they went on field trips around the aquarium and the city. And the Shedd’s rockhopper and Magellanic penguins are definitely a must-see attraction.

Plan to spend at least two hours exploring the aquarium. If it’s a nice day, bring a picnic lunch to eat on the lawn overlooking Monroe Street harbor and the city’s gorgeous skyline..

Adler Planetarium

Just down the street from the aquarium, the planetarium is another of my kids’ favorites. We loved lying back in our seats to watch the overhead Sky Show and climbing into the Historic Atwood Sphere, the original planetarium.

SheBuysTravel Tip:  The lawn around the Planetarium is the best spot to get a great shot of the skyscrapers of Chicago’s beautiful skyline.

Field Museum of Natural History

Also on the city’s Museum Campus, the Field Museum is my husband’s favorite museum and my kids loved visiting Sue, the T-Rex there.

Museum of Science and Industry

This hands-on science museum in Hyde Park is the largest science museum in the western hemisphere and my favorite Chicago museum — I’ve been going since my first field trip in the third grade! When my son was little, he could spend an hour watching the giant model train set, my daughter loved the fairy castle and hubby never misses a chance to walk through the U-505 World War II German submarine.

If you visit at Christmas, plan to spend some time wandering among the display of Christmas trees showcasing ornaments from around the world.

Visit on a lovely spring, summer or fall day and plan to spend the entire day here. There is plenty to keep the whole family busy — from the Chicago Children’s Museum (one of the best in the country) for the little ones to a speedboat tour for the teens to the terrific Chicago Shakespeare Theatre for the adults. And the whole family can climb aboard the 200-foot Ferris wheel for a slow ride that offers incredible views of the skyline. Go at night for the most dramatic views!

If you’re having too much fun to leave, spend the night at  Sable at Navy Pier Chicago, Curio Collection by Hilton , the only hotel on the pier.

Millennium Park

Best known for the Bean (the place for that must-take family selfie), Millennium Park is so much more. In the summer, look for free concerts and family fun activities and take time to splash in the Crown Fountain then walk across the bridge to Maggie Daley Park where you can ice skate in the winter.

The Art Institute of Chicago

You can walk across the bridge from Millenium Park to this venerable art museum, home to the largest collection of Impressionist art outside of Paris. If you’re bringing the kids, plan for a shorter visit. And check out the museum events calendar  to see what’s happening before you go. The museum also offers accessibility accommodations and has sensory maps to help families find quiet spaces.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If your kids aren’t quite ready for a venerable art museum, at least walk by the Michigan Avenue entrance for a selfie with the Art Institute’s lions. When the Chicago sports teams are winning, they might be decked out in a Chicago Bears jersey or a Cubs hat. At Christmas, they get evergreen wreaths.

Willis Tower Skydeck

The tallest building in Chicago and the second tallest building in North America, this is the home of the Ledge. That is the glass box that juts out from the 103rd floor. If you’re brave encough, you can step out for a family photo.

The Skydeck at Willis Tower — most locals still call it the Sears Tower — is the place to go on a clear day for expansive views of Lake Michigan and the surrounding states — you can see Indiana, Wisconsin, northern Illinois and sometimes even Michigan.

Discovery Center Museum , Rockford

Another terrific children’s museum in Illinois, the Discovery Center Museum is located on the Riverfront Museum Park campus in downtown Rockford, which is also home to the Rockford Art Museum and Burpee Museum of Natural History.

With more than 300 interactive exhibits , this museum was a huge surprise to us. We had planned to spend about an hour and ended up spending more than half the day there!

The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, in Springfield, Ill.

Springfield has more Lincoln sites and artifacts than any other place in the world. The best of the bunch: the fabulous Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, where kids can play dress-up in Mrs. Lincoln’s Attic and imagine themselves reading before a fire just like Abe did growing up in Kentucky and Indiana.

The other half of the museum, which offers a graphic look at the horrors of slavery, can be a bit intense for younger kids, but is a powerful lesson in America’s not-so-happy history for tweens, teens and adults.

While you’re in Springfield, swing by Lincoln’s Tomb. Stop at the huge bust of Lincoln’s head in front of the building and rub his nose for luck (it’s become shiny because so many people do so). Then, inside, you’ll see the solemn, final resting place for the president, his wife Mary, and all but one of his sons.

Lincoln’s New Salem , Petersburg

Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site is a reconstructed pioneer town made to look much as it did when Lincoln arrived in 1831 (with the modern addition of paved paths and ramps that make much of the site wheelchair- and stroller-friendly). Costumed volunteers pose as teachers, weavers, blacksmiths and shopkeepers and demonstrate how such jobs would have been performed in Abe’s time.

This is a fun stop for kids who like history — and for kids who just need some time to run around. There also are a few miles of hiking trails here.

The site is free, with a suggested donation.

Starved Rock State Park , Oglesby

Every spring and fall saw my family taking a day trip to hike in this beautiful state park. Spring brings waterfalls to the sandstone cliffs and the fall brings brilliant reds, yellows and oranges of fall foliage.

Note that while there are plenty of hiking trails and other outdoor activities, rock climbing is not allowed on the fragile sandstone walls of the canyons.

Six Flags Great America , Gurnee

While there are rides for the younger kiddos, this amusement park close to the Wisconsin state line is the go-to spot for thrill-seeking teens. And, on sultry summer days, the whole family will want to climb onboard the Aquaman Splashdown water slide purposely to get soaked.

Six Flags is open seasonally. Check the calendar  before making your plans.

Extend the fun by staying at the Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee . Before you book, read our full review of the indoor waterpark resort.

John Deere Pavilion , Moline

If you have a truck-loving kiddo, plan a stop at this free western Illinois display of giant John Deere tractors. Kids (and lots of adults) climb aboard and pretend to drive these machines. While you’re in the Quad Cities, treat everyone to ice cream at Lagomarcinos’ turn-of-the-century shop in downtown Moline.

SheBuysTravel Tip: If your kids can’t get enough trucks, head two hours northeast from Moline to Peoria and the Caterpillar Visitor Center where the visit begins with a virtual ride in the bed of a massive two-and-a-half story Cat 797F Mining Truck.

The post Fabulously Fun Things to Do in Illinois with Kids appeared first on She Buys Travel .

• Hours and Schedule

Summer Camp Adventures

Keep the learning fun going over the summer!

Summer Camp at the Science Museum

Keep your future scientists, engineers and astronomers engaged and entertained this summer. Science Museum summer camps provide hours of discovery, wonder and hands-on experiences you just can’t get anywhere else!

Not only do we have exciting new themes and enhanced STEM activities planned for 2024, but we’re also expanding our camp offerings. That’s right: this year we’re hosting three more weeks of summer camp than we have in the past to give even more future scientists in our community the opportunity to experience the fun!

Campers are divided into two groups–rising 1–3 and 4–6 graders–so we can tailor activities for each age group. Camps include opportunities to explore Science Museum exhibitions, watch features in The Dome and participate in a variety of interactive science programs.

We’re offering nine weeks of camp from June 17–August 16.

There are five different content themes with four camps being offered twice. Please note: if a camper is signed up to attend all nine weeks of summer camp at the Science Museum, that camper will participate in repeat activities for four weeks.

Be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page for details on camp pricing, hours, after-camp care, health protocols and more.

PLEASE NOTE: Summer camps are popular and fill up very quickly. If the camp you would like to attend is sold out, please click here to be added to the waitlist. If a camp spot opens, we will first email all Science Museum members on the waitlist at the same time. If the spot remains open after 24 hours, we will email the rest of the waitlist. We will do this any time a spot opens in a camp.

Available Summer Camps

Check out our weekly camp themes below. Your curious kiddos can join us for one camp of one of each theme!

We understand you're eager to secure a spot. Registration opens January 29 at 9 a.m. We can't wait to welcome your future scientists to another memorable summer filled with fun, learning and adventure!

Travel to habitats across the globe and learn what it takes for animals to thrive!

Explore the fascinating and awe-inspiring experience of space travel!

This camp is small on dates, but it's big on science favorites!

Dig into messy substances and explore the chemical properties of muck and mire!

Generate ideas, build problem-solving skills and tap into the inner inventor!

Summer Camp Details

Pricing Five-day summer camps cost $300 for members and $350 for non-members. The July 1–3 STEM Surprise camp costs $180 for members and $210 for non-members.

Camp fees include a daily snack, water bottle and all camp activities. Campers will need to bring their own lunch to help energize them for our scientific adventures.

Schedule Five-day summer camps will be held from 9:15 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday–Friday. The July 1–3 STEM Surprise camp is 9:15 a.m.–3 p.m., Monday–Wednesday. Drop off opens at 8:30 a.m.

To help make these extraordinary experiences possible for all schedules, after-camp care is available until 5:30 p.m. for $50 per week, per child. The July 1–3 STEM Surprise after-camp care costs $30 per child. Families must register for after-camp care prior to using this service.

Waitlist Summer camps are popular and fill up very quickly. If the camp you would like to attend is sold out, please click here to be added to the waitlist. Please note: the waitlist form will not open until January 29 at 9 a.m.

If a camp spot opens, we will first email all Science Museum members on the waitlist at the same time. If the spot remains open after 24 hours, we will email the rest of the waitlist. We will do this any time a spot opens in a camp.

Scholarships The application period for scholarships has now closed. Applications were open to current Museum for All member families from January 30 at 9 a.m. – February 13 at midnight. Any entries submitted outside of this period were deleted. Eligible scholarship applications are entered into a lottery drawing. If your application is selected in the drawing, you will be notified by email by February 21 .

If you are awarded a scholarship, a $20 fee, per camper is due to hold your camper's spot in camp. This fee will be refunded on the last day of the camp provided your camper(s) attends the full week. The $20 fee can be paid with a credit card, check or cash. Please note that if you are paying with check or cash, this will need to be both paid and refunded in person.

Our Guest Services team is here to help!

Archaeopteryx — one of Field Museum's greatest acquisitions — emerged from briefcase in Switzerland hotel

The rare fossil of a birdlike creature said to be the missing link between dinosaurs and birds went on display monday..

An artist’s illustration of what Archaeopteryx may have looked like when it inhabited the planet about 150 million years ago. On Monday, the Field Museum unveiled an extremely rare fossil specimen of the birdlike creature.

Courtesy Field Museum

When Pete Makovicky first sets eyes on a new dinosaur fossil, it’s typically after it emerges from the dust and debris of a rock formation.

Until 2019, he’d never seen one come out of a briefcase in a Swiss hotel.

But that’s where the Field Museum’s then-chief dinosaur scientist found himself in the spring that year — accompanied by a small group that had flown in from Chicago to meet a businessman from the Middle East.

Field Museum experts got a first glimpse of the Archaeopteryx fossil, encased in this limestone slab. The museum’s paleontologists would go on to spend hundreds of hours scraping away excess limestone to unearth the rare specimen.

Field Museum

In the privacy of a Zurich conference room, the businessman opened the briefcase, and the Chicago visitors stared bug-eyed at what was inside.

“Really, no other living paleontologist had seen one in the raw state,” said Makovicky, now a professor at the University of Minnesota. “So it was a very sort of exciting moment for me.”

Embedded in a creamy limestone slab, measuring about 6 by 12 inches, lay the contorted fossil of Archaeopteryx (ar-key-AHP-ter-icks) — a birdlike, holy grail creature of sorts, which when first discovered in 1861 helped prove Charles Darwin’s then-controversial theory of evolution.

The Field Museum’s Archaeopteryx specimen after fossil preparers Akiko Shinya and Connie Van Beek spent hundreds of hours removing excess stone and dust.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Even though gritty limestone concealed much of the specimen, Makovicky saw enough of its immaculately preserved ribs, vertebrae and feather impressions to get excited. He ultimately recommended that the Field buy it.

On Monday, the Field unveiled its Archaeopteryx, one of only about a dozen such specimens ever found and the only one housed in a “major natural history museum in the Western Hemisphere,” according to the Field. The fossil specimen arrived in Chicago in 2022.

The fossil will remain at its current location near the entrance to Griffin Halls through June 9. It will return some time in the fall in a permanent installation.

It’s a relatively tiny fossil. Even so, Julian Siggers, the Field’s president and CEO, has called the Archaeopteryx the museum’s “most significant fossil acquisition since Sue, the T. rex.”

A closeup of the skull of a fossil called Archaeopteryx, which was unveiled Monday at Chicago’s Field Museum. With feathers, hollow bones, clawed wings, fifty tiny teeth and a long bony tail, it is the earliest known dinosaur that also qualifies as a bird. The museum becomes one of the few places on the planet to see a real Archaeopteryx fossil.

Ⓒ Delaney Drummond 2023

Archaeopteryx lived about 150 million years ago, a dinosaur with feathers, hollow bones, tiny teeth and clawed wings. Much about its lifestyle remains unknown. Could it fly? Perhaps, but not very well, Field scientists said. And it was small too — the Field’s specimen is about the size of a pigeon.

In the 19th century, some saw Archaeopteryx remains and couldn’t figure out what it was, with some thinking it might be an angel, according to London’s Natural History Museum.

The first specimen was discovered just two years after the publication of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.” A lot of people at the time didn’t believe that animals could evolve. The Archaeopteryx appeared to prove otherwise — that dinosaurs had evolved into birds.

A new exhibit at the Field Museum celebrates the fossil of an Archaeopteryx — touted to be the missing link between dinosaurs and birds.

All of the specimens to date have been found embedded in a limestone quarry in southern Germany. Millions of years ago, the land was quite different — a large, tropical lagoon surrounded by subtropical islands.

A private fossil collector found the Field’s specimen some time before 1990, according to the museum. It then remained in private hands before coming to Chicago.

Makovicky, who continues to work as a Field research associate, says he’s never in his near-30 years of paleontology experienced anything quite like the meeting in Zurich.

“This was the first and only experience for me,” he said. “I usually go out and dig this stuff up.”

The meeting wasn’t quite cloak and dagger, but odd nonetheless, he said.

“At the time, [the seller] didn’t tell us he was the seller,” Makovicky said. “He pretended to be a representative of the seller.”

The seller told the Chicago group that they could take photographs, but the camera’s data card would have to remain with him, Makovicky said.

Museum staff have taken pains to detail how their specimen was obtained. They note that while a 2015 German law prohibits the removal of newly discovered Archaeopteryx fossils from the country, the Field’s specimen was sold and removed 25 years before the law went into effect.

“We are confident that the removal of the fossil from Germany was compliant with laws that were in effect at the time,” Field spokeswoman Bridgette Russell told the Chicago Sun-Times last week.

Of course, the fossil that Makovicky first saw back in 2019 doesn’t look like that today. The Field’s fossil preparators, Akiko Shinya and Connie Van Beek, have spent hundreds of hours in a lab hunched over the specimen, delicately picking and grinding away at the excess sedimentary rock to expose the fossil.

Makovicky, who had been able to sneak a look at the work on the Archaeopteryx since its arrival at the Field, says his former employer is right to be excited about what it has in its collection.

“It turned out to be better than expected,” he said. “The skull is phenomenal, both in its preservation and the fortuitous way it was preserved. It’s providing a lot of new and interesting scientific insights.”

• Field Museum researcher names groundbreaking new fossil after Sir David Attenborough
• Restaurants team with Field Museum to highlight merits of blood as an ingredient
• Field Museum’s newest dinosaur is crowned ‘Sobek’ the Spinosaurus

Arts | Field Museum has a new fossil of an avian…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Music and Concerts
• The Theater Loop
• TV and Streaming

Things To Do

Arts | field museum has a new fossil of an avian dinosaur, unveiled at an event monday.

The fossil was unveiled at an event Monday and will go on display to the public Tuesday, accompanied by a hologram-like projection showing how the Archaeopteryx would have looked in life.

It’s one of two Archaeopteryx specimens in the United States — and only a dozen others have been found. This fossil was discovered in southern Germany before 1990 and arrived at the museum in 2022. For those wondering if the fossil will be given a name, like Sue (maybe Archie?), the Field says it already has one: All Archaeopteryx specimens are named after the city in which they reside, so this one is called the Chicago Archaeopteryx.

This isn’t the first time an Archaeopteryx (pronounced ar-key-AHP-ter-icks, meaning “ancient wing”) has been on display at the Field Museum. In 1997, the museum hosted the first exhibit outside of Europe when there were only six such fossils. Now, however, the Field Museum can claim the fossil as part of its permanent collection, which will set the stage for a “journey of discovery” as the fossil aids research of the evolution of modern bird species, said Jingmai O’Connor, associate curator of fossil reptiles.

“This is without doubt one of the best specimens of an important species that has ever been found,” O’Connor said during Monday’s unveiling. “I am blown away by how much new information the Chicago Archaeopteryx has revealed in just the few months I’ve been able to study it.”

O’Connor said many of the questions to which scientists are seeking answers relate to the origins of bird species of today, such as how they are able to fly.

According to a museum statement, the Archaeopteryx lived about 150 million years ago, during the late Jurassic period, much earlier than the T. rex. Rather than being the ancestor of modern birds, it’s part of a group of species that includes birds. O’Connor says that it could fly, but not very well.

During the event, which was attended by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Ald. Lamont Robinson, 4th, several of the politicians spoke about the importance of the new fossil not only for the development of new research in Chicago but also to inspire a new generation of learners to pursue careers in the sciences or education.

Johnson, a former history teacher who was introduced as “mayor of the best dinosaur city in the world,” said the Archaeopteryx will serve as “an important attraction for young people.”

“That’s how we ultimately build a better, stronger, safer Chicago — through these educational opportunities and investments,” Johnson added.

The sentiment was echoed by Preckwinkle and Robinson, who said they found inspiration in educational opportunities offered in the natural sciences.

“This remarkable fossil that bridges the ancient past with our modern understanding is a symbol of discovery and inspiration,” Robinson said, joking that the fossil was especially exciting to him as both an Indiana Jones and “Jurassic Park” fan.

“Coming here to the museum as a South Side kid and now representing the Field Museum in Chicago City Council, I know firsthand the transformative power of such experiences. That is why I’m committed to ensuring that our youth have ample opportunities to visit this new exhibit and the museum.”

The Archaeopteryx will be on view until the Museum’s Dinopalooza event June 8. It will at that time be removed to prepare for a permanent, immersive exhibition that is due to open in the fall.

More in Arts

Arts | Coming to Chicago museums: SpaceX Dragon at MSI, Georgia O’Keeffe at Art Institute

Arts | Review: When Japan became modern: Meiji-era art and artifacts are now at Smart Museum

Arts | Who is DCASE’s new commissioner? A few questions for Clinée Hedspeth

Politics | Gov. J.B. Pritzker and wife donate key Civil War document to Lincoln presidential library

Trending nationally.

• Mötley Crüe singer Vince Neil falls on his face at New Jersey show
• Man wins $9M in jury awards after getting severely injured at a water park
• Minnesota governor signs ‘Taylor Swift bill’ to protect ticket buyers
• Anna Wintour apologizes for 2024 Met Gala’s theme ‘confusion’
• Elizabeth Holmes’ projected release from prison is moved closer