RENT A PORTABLE MUSEUM

Complement your Science, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Art curricula with our thematically organized portable cases and hands-on curriculum kits, which include authentic objects, teacher guides with activities, and supplementary resources. Most of the topics and objects can be interpreted for any age, but grades closest to the curriculum alignment are indicated.

CULTURAL CASES & CURRICULUM KITS

Adornments from Head to Toe

What does your jewelry say about you? By looking at 22 rings, necklaces, anklets, and amulets, students learn about the role of jewelry and personal adornment around the world. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Grades K-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Adornments from Head to Toe Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Butterflies

Imagination takes flight with this case, thanks to the more than 30 butterfly specimens inside. This case focuses on the butterfly's beauty, body structure, and lifecycle. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, a DVD, and a butterfly lifecycle poster and model. Grades Pre-K to 4

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Butterflies Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Bags, Boxes, Bowls, and Beyond

Containers may conceal something inside, but they also reveal a lot about the people who make and use them. This case introduces students to a variety of containers from around the world. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Grades K-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Bags, Boxes, Bowls, and Beyond Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Dolls of World Culture

The dolls in this case aren't toys--they're cultural ambassadors! Students explore the cultures of Mexico, Jamaica, Africa, and other regions, while enjoying the opportunities for creativity and cross-cultural studies the dolls invite. The case includes dolls, teacher's guide, books, audio CD, and inflatable globe. Grades K-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Dolls of World Culture Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Fossils

What was the world like millions of years ago? With this case, students play paleontologist and examine a real dinosaur footprint, a piece of petrified wood, a trilobite, and other fossils. The case includes authentic fossils, teacher's guide, books, and a geologic time chart. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Fossils Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Human Skeleton

Using bones and a skull, students learn about the structure of the human body. The case includes real and reproduction bones, a teacher's guide, books, a life-size skeleton poster, miniature skeleton model, and X-rays. Grades K-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Human Skeleton Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Insects

Introduce your students to some incredible insects! Using 28 plastomounts containing actual insects, students investigate insect body structures and lifecycles. The teacher's guide, a DVD, and a pair of "bug goggles" complete the case. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Insects Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Inside India

A doll in a sari, a yo-yo, a toe ring, finger cymbals, and other authentic artifacts introduce students to the traditions of India. The case include objects, teacher's guide, map, audio CD, and books. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Inside India Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Musical Instruments of Africa

Bring the sounds of Africa to your classroom! Students may play the angle harp, kettledrum, rattles, bell and thumb piano. Activities may include constructing instruments and learning to sing along to traditional African songs. The teacher's guide, books, and audio CD complete the case. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Musical Instruments of Africa Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Masks

Students explore masks from Guatemala, Indonesia, Papua New Guines, West Africa, and the Northwest Coast. They make masks and learn about their meanings and uses around the world. The case includes masks, teacher's guide, books, and videocassette. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Masks Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Mexican Folk Art

With this case students discover the vibrant culture and traditional crafts of Mexico. Students handle handcrafted objects such as a ceramic owl, woven bag, and maracas. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, books, audio CD, and videocassette. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Mexican Folk Art Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

New York 100 Years Ago

From school and work to domestic chores and leisure pursuits, the 20 objects in this case give students an idea of what life was like in New York around 1900. The case includes artifacts, teacher's guide, books, and photographs. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the New York 100 Years Ago Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Predators and Prey

By examining a rattlesnake skull, turtle shell, porcupine quills, and grizzly bear claws, students discover the unique adaptations and behaviors animals use to stay alive in the wild. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, and project tools. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Predators and Prey Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Reptiles

Students handle genuine reptile skins, bones, and specimens to learn about reptile body structures, lifecycles, and behaviors. The case includes the teacher's guide, books, and a DVD featuring the birth of the Museum's basilisks. Grades 2-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Reptiles Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives

Along with learning about geology by studying 31 rock and mineral samples, students have a chance to compare them with a variety of objects made from those materials. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, and books. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Telling Stories Through Objects

By pairing a Hopi kachina, an Indonesian shadow puppet, and other objects with tales related to specific cultures, this case prompts students to think a bout the stories objects tell, and to tell stories themselves. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Telling Stories Through Objects Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Urban Naturalist: Exploring the New York Environment

By examining a squirrel, a bird, insects, and leaves collected right here in Brooklyn, students learn how to look for evidence of nature in the big city. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, binoculars, and a birdsong identifier. Grades K-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Urban Naturalist: Exploring the New York Environment Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Volcanoes!

Your students will be erupting with excitement! Volcanic rocks, cinders, dust, ash, and other specimens help students learn about geology and understand what happens when a volcano erupts. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, and a DVD. Grades 3-5

Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Volcanoes! Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Global Shoes

Students explore how shoes are clues to where we live and how we work and play, and celebrate special events in our lives. This kit contains shoes to try on, a teacher's guide, videocassette, photos, and hands-on materials. Grades 2-5

Evi'dents

Students unravel the mysteries of animal teeth by observing mammal skulls and dissecting owl pellets. Students play detective to uncover how different animals eat. This kit includes a teacher's guide with activities and project tools. Grades 2-5

Pattern Wizardry

Students discover how spirals, tessellations, and linear and branching patterns help us to make sense of the world. The case contains natural science objects, such as seashells, and culture objects such as woven textiles. A teacher's guide with activities completes the case. Grades 2-5

Antlers, Horns, and Teeth

Did you know an animal can use its antlers, horns, and teeth as tools or weapons? Students have the chance to explore and compare a shark's tooth, deer antlers, impala horns, and an elephant tusk, among others. A teacher's guide and books complete the case. Grades 3-5

Land Birds of New York City

This case encourages students to look to the skies for local birds, including a woodpecker, warbler, starling, and a robin. They can learn to build a birdhouse and listen to birdcalls. The case includes a teacher's guide, books, and audiocassette. Grades K-5

Shells and Sea Life

Ideal for classifying and researching ocean life, this case contains an abalone, spider conch, channeled whelk, octopus (in plastic), and fifteen other sea treasures. It includes a teacher's guide and books. Grades 4-5

Crystals

Students are fascinated by the exotic shapes and colors of the 20 crystal specimens in this case. The teacher's guide provides activities for students, such as how to grow crystals in the classroom. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, and books. Grades 4-5

Northeast Woodlands Native Americans

Students look into the lives of New York's original residents. They compare wampum and projectile points to the materials from which they were made, and a stone pendant to its silver successor. The case includes a teacher's guide and books. Grades 3-5

The Central Inuit

By examining bone snow goggles, a bone knife, a costumed doll, and other artifacts, students learn how the Central Inuit people have adapted to life in their Arctic environment. The case includes a teacher's guide and books. Grades 3-5