The University of Colorado Boulder Museum of Natural History loans portable Discovery Kits for in-class and home use. Discovery Kits are carry-on sized suitcases and contain authentic museum specimens, casts, and models. The kits can be used as a free-standing study unit or as pre- and/or post-visit activities when combined with a trip to the museum. Kits are available for a rental fee of $10/week. Please contact the Education Office at 303-492-4458 to schedule a rental and pick-up time. We can also ship the Discovery Kits to your school.

Please visit our website for more detailed descriptions and photographs of contents. We rent out the following Discovery Kits:

Life Science:

Bats – Learn about the fascinating bat and the roles it plays in the ecosystem.

Insects – Explore the structure, life cycle, and adaptations of insects.

Raptors – Study North American birds of prey, including hawks, owls and eagles.

Owls – Investigate North American owls and their prey.

Colorado Mammals – Examine skulls, skins, and tracks from some of Colorado’s common mammals.

Common Plants of Colorado – Study common plants found in different ecosystems in Colorado.

Earth Science:

Dinosaurs – Learn about the “terrible lizards” of the past.

Fossils of the West – Investigate different types of fossil plants and animals.

Colorado Air Quality/Air Quality InQuiry (AQ-IQ) – Monitor, test, and learn about the air quality around your school.

Anthropology:

Ancestral Pueblo of Colorado – Explore artifacts and the lifeways of the ancient Pueblo peoples.

Ancient Life in the Boulder Valley – Explore touchable replicas of stone tools found in Boulder that date to near the end of the last Ice Age.

Native Peoples – Learn about the Navajo – a native people of the U. S. – and the Paiwan – a native people of Taiwan, ROC – through two Discovery Kits featuring hands-on objects, interactive media, and teacher guides.

Critter Cases:

Individual mounted specimens of Colorado birds and mammals. Great for art projects or any study that requires looking at animals up close. The rental fee for Critter Cases is $2 per case per week. Please visit the website for a list of the specimens available.

Classroom Kits

New hands-on outreach materials featuring real and cast specimens and artifacts, tools, and in-class lesson plans specifically designed to address the Colorado Academic Standards. These kits are available for rent or purchase and include training for teachers in their districts on how to best use the kits in their classrooms.

Classroom Kits are available for:
• Fossils
• Colorado Archaeology

Please call (303) 492-4458 if you are interested in learning more about this project, and how you can receive a kit and training for your school.

• CU Museum Discovery Kits

  Additional Info

  Discovery Kits are carry-on-sized suitcases and contain authentic museum specimens, casts, and models. The kits can be used as a free-standing study unit or as a pre- and/or post-visit activity when paired with a visit to the museum. Kits are available for a rental fee of $10/week. Please contact the Education Office at 303-492-4458 or 303-492-1666 to schedule a rental and pick-up time.

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  Location

  in colorado

  Boulder

  Dates

  Ongoing

  Public or Private

  Private Program (by request only or for a specific audience or group)

  Program Fee

  Yes

  Distribution Location

  Within Colorado