Awaken your students’ curiosity and encourage critical thinking at the Museum of the Rockies through unique and exciting experiences. Touch a Triceratops in the Dinosaurs under the Big Sky exhibit, step back into the late 1800’s at the Living History Farm or watch the night sky come alive in the Taylor Planetarium. Begin a love of learning that will last a lifetime.
Reservations
School groups from across the state of Montana are admitted free of charge to the Museum of the Rockies (with an advanced reservation) thanks to generous donations from individuals and corporations. For every eight students (in grades K-12), one adult chaperone is admitted free of charge as well. Preschool groups will be given one free adult with every five students. Partial reimbursement for travel costs is available for Montana school groups. Inquire when you register for a field trip.
MOR offers a variety of field trip options including
guided tours,
self-guided tours,
classes and
planetarium shows. Help your students get the most out of their visit to MOR by reviewing our
Tips for Teachers.
To make a reservation please call us at 406-994-5257 or submit a reservation request form. You may also download the
Group Reservation Form and email it to visitmor@montana.edu or fax it to 406-994-26823.
Reservations must be made at least three weeks in advance. All teachers and chaperones are required to read our
Field Trip Guide in advance of visiting the museum.
Guided Tour
A one-hour docent (volunteer educator) tour of any of the Museum’s exhibits (excluding the Children’s Discovery Center and some changing exhibits) with a reservation. Make your
reservation at least three weeks prior to your visit.
Self-Guided Tour
Angie Hewitt Weikert, Education Director of Early and Elementary Programs, conducted internal research project in 2010 as a capstone project for the completion of a Master of Science in Science Education. This project, “The Effects of Self Tours on School Groups in the Dinosaurs under the Big Sky Science Exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies,” revealed the importance of using activities to enhance learning during self tour times. MOR has extensive
resources available to assist with self-guided tours.
Abstract:
School groups that visited the Dinosaurs under the Big Sky exhibit at the Museum of the Rockies between January and May of 2010 were studied to evaluate the effects of self tours on school groups. School groups were divided into three categories including those self touring using an activity, those self touring without an activity, and those receiving a guided tour with a docent. This project generated evidence that students participating in self tours have an increased understanding of major exhibit concepts and are more engaged when touring with an activity.
Project at a glance:
- Download the presentation with summaries of data, tables, and graphs
- Download the virtual poster
- Read the paper in its entirety
Planetarium Shows
Private viewings of the following shows in the Taylor Planetarium are available to groups that make a reservation three or more weeks prior to their visit.
The Taylor Planetarium will be closed for renovations from September 4, 2012 through the spring of 2013. Planetarium shows will not be available during this time.
Mystery of the Missing Season (Preschool-Grade 3)
- Join young Angelo stargaze in his backyard as he helps a pair of visitors from the planet. Dipnot figure out why their world does not have seasons, while ours does.
- Length: 35 minutes
- Educator Guide
Star Signs (Adaptable to Any Age)
- What’s up? What’s new? What’s current? What’s coming? Find out in this live-narrated look at the current seasonal sky and the latest news in astronomy and space.
- Length: 50 minutes
- Educator Guide
Dinosaur Chronicles (Grades 2 and Up)
- An original Taylor Planetarium production, this program reviews the lives of dinosaurs-including what the earth was like when they were alive, what killed them, and what the world might have been like if they hadn’t become extinct.
- Length: 45 minutes
- Educator Guide
Cowboy Astronomer (Grades 2 and Up)
- Experience a unique view of the sky and what we’re learning about it from the viewpoint of a modern-day cowboy. Narrated by cowboy poet and humorist Baxter Black.
- Length: 35 minutes
Planetbound (Grades 4 and Up)
- Take a wild and wacky tour of our solar system with colorful characters looking for places that could support life. A fast-paced fun trip to nearby planets!
- Length: 25 minutes
How to Build a Planet (Grades 6 and Up)
- This planetarium program complements the permanent exhibit, Landforms/Lifeforms. In this program, the audience explores the forces that shaped the Earth and life. Earth as a planet is compared to neighboring planets Venus and Mars from the eyes of astronomers and space scientists.
- Length: 45 minutes
- Educator Guide
Timestalkers (Grades 6 and Up)
- What does time have to do with the sky? A detective and his sultry client take a romp through time to learn the astronomical basis of timekeeping. Fast-paced fun!
- Length: 30 minutes
- Educator Guide
Here Comes the Sun (Grades 6 and Up)
- Explore the science and the lore of the most important star in the universe to us - the Sun! The show features the work of MSU researchers. An original production of the Taylor Planetarium.
- Length: 45 minutes
- Educator Guide
Hubble Vision (Grades 6 and Up)
- Since its launch in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope has provided incredible images in unprecedented detail, from nearby objects in the solar system to the most distant galaxies at the limits of the observable Universe. Taking the best and most exciting Hubble images, this show weaves a tale of cosmic exploration and discovery. Included is information on the most recent Hubble shuttle mission.
- Length: 35 minutes
Tips for Teachers
Benefit from over fifty years of field trip evaluations and teacher feedback at the Museum of the Rockies. Help your students get the most out of their visit to MOR though these tips from teachers, for teachers.
Do you have a tip you want us to include? Please email
visitmor@montana.edu.
Planning Your Visit
- Call MOR early! Our school group visit availability can fill up fast – especially in May.
- Have multiple possible visit dates that work for your group (including other teachers and your transportation provider) before contacting MOR to schedule a visit.
- Know your group size (including the number of adults and students) before contacting MOR to schedule a visit.
Before Your Visit
- Know the focus of your visit and do lessons related to the theme of your visit to prepare your students for the content presented at MOR.
- Visit the Museum to develop an understanding of how your group will best use the Museum during your field trip. (Admission for teachers preparing for an upcoming visit is free of charge with advanced notice. Please contact us at 406-994-5257 or visitmor@montana.edu to arrange for free admission.)
- Read through MOR’s School Field Trip Guide. This comprehensive document provides in-depth information on how to prepare your students for their visit.
- Discuss behavior expectations and your schedule with your students prior to your visit.
- Make copies of worksheets and gather pencils and clipboards for self-tour activities.
- Contact your chaperones and provide them with guidelines for their role on the field trip. Use the School Field Trip Guide to help you.
At the Museum
- Call MOR if you are running late!
- Remind students and chaperones of the day’s expectations.
- Make sure all chaperones are actively engaged and encouraging student learning.
After Your Visit
- Complete an evaluation of your visit so MOR can continue to improve our school group program.
- Complete post-visit activities related to the theme of your visit.
- Visit Bring MOR to You to continue learning about MOR topics in your classroom!
Resources for MOR Learning
In a 2010 internal study, MOR educators found that students on self-guided tours are more engaged and learn more than when touring with an activity. Maximize your students’ learning by using MOR’s extensive library of in-museum learning resources.