Check out the Museum’s entomology research lab with Associate Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Dr. Nicole Gunter and find out how the Museum protects this huge collection of some of our smallest specimens. Worksheet available for grades 5-6.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
How do we know Lucy, the famous Australopithecus afarensis specimen and one of our hominin ancestors, walked upright? Experimental archaeologist Mark Kollecker answers this question as he walks us through the Museum’s Human Origins Gallery. Worksheet available for grades 5-12.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Harvey Webster, Chief Wildlife Officer for the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, shares information about the turkey vulture. Worksheets available for grades PreK-K and 1-2.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Assistant Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Roberta Muehlheim shows us some of her favorite skeletons in this fascinating collection and talks about her important research in conserving amphibian populations in Ohio. Worksheet available for grades 5-6.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Amazing Educational Resources is a nonprofit program that was initially created to facilitate free sharing of resources among teachers. The platform has since grown to an all-inclusive hub for educational materials. Amazing Educational Resources facilitates access to and sharing of free high -quality resources among teachers, parents and students. Motivated by the passion to develop an accessible educational resources sharing hub, Nick Hoover, a professional with 14 years teaching experience, founded Amazing Educational Resources Facebook page. The platform has since grown from a Facebook page to a public website harboring over 1,000 resources and an online calendar of events with webinars, lessons, and classes. Amazing Educational Resources believes there is power in sharing and value in the opinion of teachers and parents. We offer access to quality educational materials, facilitate live discussions about resources in the Facebook group, and hope to make the process of finding high quality resources a little bit easier. We are focused on simplifying the process of accessing high quality resources for both teachers, parents, and students. We are geared towards providing a reliable platform for teachers and parents to coordinate their efforts in providing quality information and materials to guarantee the best education. A platform that is accessible and affordable to students of all backgrounds.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture Notes, Lesson Plan, Student Guide
Atlatls are spear-throwing devices that were used all around the world before bows and arrows were invented. Experimental archaeologist Mark Kollecker shows us how to spear a cardboard deer with this ancient tool. Worksheet available for grades 3-6.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Roberta Muell, Assistant Curator of Vertabrate Zoology at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, talks about the facinating facts and importance of amphibians.
Material Type: Lecture
This Scientist Saturday, join host Lee Hall and Dr. Denise Su, the Museum’s Chief Academic Engagement Officer, Gertrude Haskell Britton Endowed Chair of Education, and Curator of Paleobotany & Paleoecology, in a fascinating specimen spotlight. Delve into the scientific study of ancient plants and learn about specimens found in calcified lumps known as “coal balls.” You’ll discover how these lumps—consisting mostly of plant matter preserved in calcium carbonate—allow us to understand fossil plants on a cellular level. Worksheets available for grades 7-8 and 9-12.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
On April 24, 1984, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History successfully hatched its first captive-bred eaglet. The years leading up to this milestone saw declining numbers of Bald Eagles in the wild—a consequence of the use of the pesticide DDT, as well as unregulated hunting. But our efforts helped to preserve this majestic species, which is now abundant throughout the state of Ohio and beyond. In this week’s Creature Feature, learn about Bald Eagles from Harvey Webster, the Museum’s Chief Wildlife Officer & Museum Ambassador. Worksheets available for grades PreK-K and 1-2.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Calling all parents! Kids are full of tough-to-answer questions. Maybe you've gotten this line of inquiry: "Why do we walk the way we do? How do four-legged animals walk the way they do? How did people of the past—like Lucy—walk?" Get one step ahead (pun intended!) by watching this Museum Monday video. See demonstrations of the different ways bodies are structured to accommodate locomotion, then share this fun activity with curious minds.
Material Type: Lecture
In episode two of Wildlife Wednesday, we meet up with Michelle Leighty, Manager of Wildlife Resources, who takes us behind the scenes of our raptor barn. Between administering medication to a Turkey Vulture and conducting a routine weight check with our Screech Owl, there’s no shortage of work when it comes to caring for the Museum’s birds.
Material Type: Lecture
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History’s ornithology collection of approximately 35,000 research specimens covers more than a century of ornithological exploration around the world, with an emphasis on species native to Ohio. Each specimen is meticulously prepared for use in scientific analysis. In this specimen spotlight, learn about all the information we can glean from just one specimen with host Lee Hall and William A. and Nancy R. Klamm Endowed Chair and Curator of Ornithology Dr. Andy Jones. Worksheets available for grades 7-8 and 9-12.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
If you’ve seen Bitty and Bob at the Museum, you know bobcats are incredible animals. They can leap as far as 12 feet and have a keen sense of smell. In this week’s edition of Wildlife Wednesdays, learn even more fast facts about these felines with wildlife specialist Nikki McClellan. Worksheets available for grades PreK-K and 1-2.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Curator & John Otis Hower Chair of Archaeology Dr. Brian Redmond discusses evidence of rare ceremonial activities at an archaeological site in Northern Ohio dated around 300 B.C. Learn more about the first peoples of Ohio with Dr. Redmond’s special encore presentation after the video debuts. Worksheets available for grades 4-5 and 7-9.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
Museum craftsmen Carl and David explain how they create casts of Australopithecus afarensis fossils to display in the Museum. Worksheet available for grades 3-4.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
In this week’s edition of Scientist Saturdays, we’ll chatter about those hunks of enamel we use to chow down on our food. That’s right—we’re talking teeth! Last week, you learned about the clues hidden in ancient teeth. Now, join the Museum’s Curator of Human Health & Evolutionary Medicine, Dr. Nicole Burt, as she shares what you can learn from your own pearly whites. Worksheets available for grades 7-8 and 9-12.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
In this Museum Mondays episode from the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Dr. Denise Su, Chief Academic Engagement Officer, Gertrude Haskell Britton Endowed Chair of Education, and Curator of Paleobotany & Paleoecology, tours the Human Origins Gallery, discussing the environment in which Lucy likely lived. Features a video and downloadable worksheet.
Material Type: Activity/Lab
Go behind-the-scenes at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History to learn about and explore life support systems found at CMNH
Material Type: Lecture
Celebrate October, Ohio’s Archaeology Month, as Dr. Brian Redmond shares artifacts found by the Museum’s field research teams.
Material Type: Lecture
Did you know sea lampreys aren’t native to Lake Erie? As invasive predators, they’re actually damaging Great Lakes fish and amphibian populations, including mudpuppies. Join host Lee Hall and Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Dr. Tim Matson for this specimen spotlight. Hear about Dr. Matson's long-term ecological research study examining the relationship between sea lampreys and mudpuppies. Worksheets available for grades 7-8 and 9-12.
Material Type: Activity/Lab, Lecture
