Free Exploration Field Trip

Groups can schedule a visit to spectrUM's museum during public hours for a self-guided experience at no cost. The exhibits and activities featured in our field trips are curated to inspire a culture of learning and discovery, and are facilitated by trained educators who serve as role models by demonstrating a passion for science and pathways to higher education.

Guided Field Trip

Guided field trips are designed to give students the opportunity to explore our museum independently to make their own discoveries, as well as work with our educators to learn science concepts through guided experiments and activities. While each field trip topic explores different themes, students and educators will model the scientific method and are encouraged to be curious learners. Field trip curricula are designed to meet NGSS, but may be adapted to all ages and abilities.

Groups can book a classroom experience that includes 45 minutes of private, educator-led experiments, and 45 minutes of museum exploration. Classroom activities are designed to support Next Generation Science Standards. 

Cost: $6.50 per student (minimum of $100), need-based scholarships available

Maximum of 60 students per visit

Group leaders choose one of the following themes for their classroom experience:

Electricity: What is electricity and how does it work? Students will build circuits and explore models electricity.

• Formative assessment: Educators and students will use and refer to concepts such as: electron, proton, atom, circuit, magnetism, charge, and electromagnetism.
• Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts to demonstrate understanding throughout activities.

Wildfire: What causes wildfires and how do they impact flora and fauna? Students will explore the chemistry of wildfire and understand its impact.

• Formative assessment: Educators and students will refer to terms and concepts involving the science of wildfires, natural hazards, weather, and climate.
• Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts to demonstrate understanding throughout activities.

Anatomy: What systems does the human body have and how do they work? Students will participate in experiments to learn about organs and the systems of our bodies.

• Formative assessment: Educators and students will refer to terms and concepts involving anatomy and physiology.
• Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion and will build anatomical models using terms and science concepts to demonstrate understanding.

Physics: What forces impact us and our universe? Students will learn physics theories and test forces.

• Formative assessment: Educators and students will refer to physics terms and concepts, such as gravity, inertia, the conservation of angular moment, centripetal force, and/or identify celestial bodies, constellations, and moon phases.
• Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts while building models to demonstrate understanding.

Chemistry: What is a chemical and how do materials interact? Students will learn how to identify and create chemical reactions.

• Formative assessment: Educators and students will refer to chemistry terms and concepts, such as molecule, chemical, atom, proton, electron, neutron, reaction, and states of matter, and use the scientific method during experimentation.
• Summative assessment: Students will lead discussion using terms and science concepts during experiments and upon reflection

Scheduling

Call 406-541-8971 or email caitlin.ervin@umontana.edu to schedule a visit. 

Field Trip Additions

Thanks to our friends at the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium your students can learn all about bugs and meet special bug ambassadors as part of your spectrUM field trip.

$60 program + $15 admin fee: Drop-in Bug Encounter Cart

During your class's open exploration time in the museum, the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium will join you at the Discovery Bench with a line up of Bug Ambassadors to meet and hold. This is an informal opportunity for students to drop in and meet the bugs as they explore the exhibits. 

$100 program + $15 admin fee: Private Bug Survival Skills Field Trip

Your students will learn all about the special adaptations and behaviors arthropods use to survive in the wild through this formal program. Live Bug Ambassadors are an integral part of each program that also features games and activities facilitated by a knowledgeable and enthusiastic educator from the Missoula Butterfly House & Insectarium. 

Sponsorships

First Security Bank is sponsoring free field trips!  

Title I schools in Missoula qualify for free field trips to spectrUM.

*Limited bus funding also available.

For more information, contact Caitlin Ervin or call 728-STEM.