Introduce pre-K through third-grade students to science and social studies through play and exploration.
Give your students a head start
Engage early learners with resources about plants and animals, including dinosaurs. Our lesson plans help you prepare your next classroom unit, and our in-museum activities can enhance your field trip to the museum.
Explore the museum with your students
Guide your class in their journey through the museum.
What Do Animals Eat? | Exploring the Field Guide
Investigate the relationship between an animal and its environment by identifying possible food sources in each habitat.Pre-K Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Observe and record weather to build a common understanding of observable weather conditions in the fall in Chicago. Then make recommendations about how SUE should prepare to play outside.Diversity of Life | Exploring the Field Guide
Observe animal dioramas to compare and contrast organisms and explore the diversity of life.
Early Learner Resources
Showing 36 resources
3D Model: Cryolophosaurus Skull | Dinosaur Toolkit
Use this 3D model to see how scientists reconstruct animals like Cryolophosaurus from the fossil record.
3D Model: Glacialisaurus Foot | Dinosaur Toolkit
Learn how the first giant dinosaurs like Glacialisaurus moved by exploring this 3D model.
3D Model: Tyrannosaurus rex | Dinosaur Toolkit
Interact with this 3D model to find out what we can learn about SUE the T. rex's life by looking at its fossils, then test your knowledge
Adventures in the Herbarium: Pixels and Petals
The importance and impact of Field Museum’s African flowering plant specimens are highlighted in two podcasts. These podcasts were written, recorded, and edited by two college interns who worked alongside experts and collections specimens. Pixels and Petals highlights the digital imaging process and the impact of herbarium specimens.
Animal Survival Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Act as consultants to the City of Chicago and assess their relocation plan for urban coyotes.
Basket Making Demonstration with Lorene Sisquoc
Watch Lorene Sisquoc teaching and weaving a basket at the Field Museum opening of Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories.
Basket Making Discussion & Demo: Lorene Sisquoc and Kelly Church
Listen to and watch Lorene Sisquoc and Kelly Church discuss basket weaving and oral traditions.
Bird Calls and Songs | PlayLab at Home
Listen to different songs or calls made by local Illinois birds.
Chef Jessica Pamonicutt Discusses Cooking and Fry Bread
Listen to and watch Chef Jessica discuss her career as a chef and fry bread.
Diversity of Life | Exploring the Field Guide
Observe animal dioramas to compare and contrast organisms and explore the diversity of life.
Herbarium Sheets | PlayLab at Home
Learn about scientists who study plants and create your own herbarium sheet.
Jason Wesaw Speaks About his Art
Listen to and watch Native Truths artist Jason Wesaw, a member of the Potawatomi Nation. His art practice spans many mediums including ceramics, textiles and works on paper.
Karen Ann Hoffman- Native People are Still Here
Listen to Karen talk about the impact the exhibit has on reminding everyone that Native people are still here.
Karen Ann Hoffman on Claiming Space
Listen to Karen talk about the importance and impact of Native work taking up space.
Kindergarten Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Listen to the book Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and draw comparisons between weather forecasting and responses in Chicago and the fictional town of Chewandswallow.
Making Fry Bread with Chef Jessica Pamonicutt
Watch Chef Jessica share how she makes fry bread.
Mapping and Monarchs Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Learn how to analyze and interpret maps by studying monarch butterfly migration.
Monarchs Legend Story and Coloring Book
Read The Legend of the Parákata or color your own version of the story!
Native Truths: Come Alive By Nicole Emmons
Watch the unique animation created for and about the Field Museum's Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories exhibit by animator Nicole Emmons.
Native Truths Teacher Reference Guide
Educators encourage critical thinking into current issues and modern cultures of today’s Native communities with these helpful resources.
Our Voices, Our Stories
Listen to Native artists answer the question: Why is it important for us to tell our stories?
Pollination Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Interact with various models to explore the structures of plants and animals related to the process of pollination.
Pre-K Weather Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Observe and record weather to build a common understanding of observable weather conditions in the fall in Chicago. Then make recommendations about how SUE should prepare to play outside.
Structure Function Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Design a shoe appropriate for the icy, wet, and cold conditions of Antarctica using different types of bird feet as inspiration.
The Great Bear Hunt, narrated by Karen Ann Hoffman
Storyteller Karen Ann Hoffman, Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, tells the story of the Great Bear Hunt as she knows the tradition.
The Night Sky Unit | Early Elementary Science Partnership
Use night sky patterns found in folktales from around the world to explore observable patterns of the moon and stars.
What Do Animals Eat? | Exploring the Field Guide
Investigate the relationship between an animal and its environment by identifying possible food sources in each habitat.
What do you Hear? | PlayLab at Home
Find a listening spot to hear the world around you and make a sound map.
Why is it Important for Us to Tell Our Stories? - Brian Vallo
Listen to and watch collaborator artist Brian Vallo respond to the question: Why must we tell our own stories?
Why is it Important for Us to Tell Our Stories? - Debra Yepa-Peppan
Listen to Debra answer the question: Why is it important for us to tell our stories?
Why is it Important for us to Tell Our Stories? - Kelly Church
Listen to and watch artist Kelly Church respond to the question: Why must we tell our own stories?
Why is it Important for Us to Tell Our Stories? - Lorene Sisquoc
Listen to and watch artist Lorene Sisquoc respond to the question: Why must we tell our own stories?
Why is it so Important for Us to Tell Our Stories? - Karen Ann Hoffman
Listen to Karen answer the question: Why is it important for us to tell our stories?
Why Must We Tell Our Own Stories? - Ronnie Preston
Listen to and watch collaborator Ronnie Preston respond to the question: Why must we tell our own stories?
Acknowledgments
School learning experiences are supported by ITW.
