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May Family Event, Saturday 27 May 2017, Zoology Museum

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As part of the University’s May Festival, University Museums have proposed an event in the Zoology Museum for families on Saturday 27 May 2014. It is titled ‘At Home in the World’ and will offer a range of activities that will explore the relationships between people and the natural environment.

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There will be two sessions (11:00-13:00 and 13:00-15:00), each with a maximum number of 40 people attending. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. The sale of tickets will be managed as part of the May Festival, but arrangements will need to be made to check tickets in the museum. ED553E students will be responsible for devising and delivering activities and running the event, with the support of University Museums staff who will also be responsible for security and safety. It is anticipated that there will be four activities available within each session. It is important that activities in the first session are completed by about 12:30 to allow the museum to be cleared before the second session begins.

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ED553E students are responsible for devising activities, possibly focusing on topics such as life in the Arctic, rainforest and Scotland. Sessions can be held in both the upper and lower galleries of the Zoology Museum and should make use of the University’s museum collection for object investigations and as an inspiration for creative activities. As well as providing access to the collections and the use of tables etc., University Museums aims to provide up to £400 in financial support.

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 University Museums requires:

1. A detailed proposal for the event and its component activities, including a timetable and a description of the roles of all participants

2. A draft budget

3. A list of the items to be used, including a consideration of how they will be used

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RAINFOREST BRAINSTORMING

Deforestation (video or time lapse illustrating idea for children)--what are the human impacts?

Extinction-human impact

        What are some ways you can help save the rainforest?

Who lives in the rainforest today?

How did/does the rainforest impact or influence how people lived/live?--animal pots 

Where is the rainforest?

What animals live there?--more diversity in the rainforest than anywhere else on earth

Why is the rainforest important?

What do we use/get from the rainforest?--palm oil, lumber, paper, OXYGEN

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Scavenger hunt activity-Can you spot these endangered or extinct rainforest plants and animals in the collection scavenger hunt?

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Weaving activity-integrate nature weaving with woven object from the collection (using your local resources--how does this compare to Scotland and raising sheep for wool and weaving manufacturing?)

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Rainstick activity-integrate make your own rainstick craft with other musical instruments from the collection (why was music important?)

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Origami Butterfly activity-integrate symmetry (beauty, math, science) with nature and camouflage and university butterfly collection  

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Make your own Butterfly Mask activity-provides template to explore basics to more elaborate camouflage techniques 

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Make a compass activity-utilize compasses and sundials from collections with make your own compass activity. Talk about direction (NSEW), the sun, and gravity and how early explorers used these methods (What do we use now? --GPS and how does that work?--satellites that orbit the earth in space)

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Possible objects to use from collection:

Butterflies

Plant models?

Clay pots in the shape of animals

Whistle and Nose Flute

Travelers sundial

Compass

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Arctic

Rainforest

Desert

Forrest

Marine

Wetlands

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IDEAS:

• Passport for each visitor to have stamped at their activity or once they've been to all of the habitat

• How will changing climate effect habitats? 

• Draw a wacky animal that you think could exist in a habitat based on best adaptation? 

• BINGO?

• Provide literature selection with each exhibit? Continuity of learning outside of exhibit?

• Bloom's taxonomy--think about when planning your activity

• Photosynthesis