Discovery Guides Museum discovery guides provide ways for school groups, families, home school groups, university groups, adults and others to explore the museum together. For suggestions on how to use these guides with your group see the Discovery Guide Chaperone Guide. Please note: our 5th floor exhibit gallery is closed this fall repairs, so Discovery Guide items in this space cannot be accessed.
Guides are available in three forms:
Scavenger Hunts explore a variety of exhibits throughout the museum, and include questions to help support observation and recording skills. Answer keys are available at Visitor Services.
Museum Checklists are more open-ended, do not involve written responses, and are generally not tied to specific exhibits.
Science Scoops are a lighthearted series for exploring the museum using various artistic formats, such as poems.
Guides are available for download (below) to print and copy in advance (recommended for large groups), and are available at the Explore kiosk near the museum front desk.
Checklists
Use the checklist to explore the museum as you move through the galleries.
Science Scoops
Explore the museum using poems and images.
Scavenger Hunts
Museum Mysteries
Explore the museum using this scavenger hunt, which takes students to all four floors of the museum. Closely examine exhibits to answer questions about glowing minerals, monkeys in the rainforest and insects in Bugtown. Level: K-5th grade; Families
Museum Quest
In this scavenger hunt, examine exhibits to answer questions about Triceratops, insect mouthparts and snakes. Level: 6th-8th grade; Families
Museum Challenge
In this scavenger hunt, closely examine exhibits to answer questions about endangered animals, flying vertebrates, and venomous snakes. Level: High school and up; Familiies
Museum Explorer
Touch a fossil, see minerals that glow, and investigate animal feet. Level: 2nd-5th grade; Families
Museum Adventure
Compare and count creatures, walk like a dinosaur and more. Level: K-1st grade; Families
Museum Discovery
Explore shared characters, adaptations and other evolutionary ideas with this scavenger hunt. Level: 6th-8th grade; Families
Your Natural History
The natural history of the human body reflects billions of years of evolutionary history. Come explore some of the characteristics that we share with other organisms as a result of our common ancestry. Level: High school and up; Families
Sexy Science
Explore our exhibits in a new way to investigate the suggestive side of science. Available on request at front desk or email biodiversity.ku.edu. Level: For adults 18 and up
Sexier Science
Enjoyed Sexy Science? Explore natural history’s suggestive side further in this extended sequel. Available on request at front desk or email biodiversity.ku.edu. Level: For adults 18 and up
Mosasaur Munchies
Learn more about Tylosaurus, one of our state fossils and a marvellously magnificient mosasaur. Level: Families
Pterosaur Trail
Learn more about Pteranodon, one of our state fossils in this terrific top-notch trail. Level: Families
Puttering around Potter Lake
Explore the life in and around Potter Lake, just a short walk west of the KU Natural History Museum. Level: 1st-5th grade; Families
Looking around the Lake
Explore life in and around Potter Lake, just a short walk west of the KU Natural History Museum. Level: 6th-8th grade; Families
Cabinets of Curiosity
The odd, the strange and the unusual were prized objects for many early collectors. Use this guide to explore some of the “oddities” on display at the museum. Level: 5th grade and up; Families
KU Campus Science Scavenger Hunt
Explore science around the University of Kansas campus. Level: all ages
