Guided programs are designed as interactive and hands-on learning experiences based on museum exhibits, where participants use objects, inquiry, and critical thinking skills to discover, wonder, and reflect. Hands-on workshops are designed as sit-down, in-depth learning experiences for elementary students offered in conjunction with guided programs. A guided program or hands-on workshop is a content-rich, stand-alone experience; Pairing a guided program and hands-on workshop together provides a wonderful, two hour in-depth, enjoyable educational experience for students.
Guided Programs
Recommended for everyone:
Stories from the Collection (highlights tour)
The CU Museum has the largest natural history collection in the Rocky Mountain region with nearly five million objects. Learn the stories behind some of the highlights of the collection in this hands-on, interactive tour of the Museum.
Earth Science
Recommended for everyone:
Fossils: Clues to the Past (gallery tour)
Learn how fossil plants and animals reveal clues to the past in this hands-on, interactive tour of the Paleontology Hall.
Recommended for very young students:
Let's Learn about Fossils (guided program)
Explore different types of fossils and prehistoric plants and animals through observing, identifying, and comparing. This program includes time to explore the Museum’s Discovery Corner.
Recommended for elementary-aged students:
Fossils: Clues to the Past (guided program)
What can we learn from fossils? What do they tell us about past life? Learn how fossil plants and animals reveal clues to the past and explore how life has changed over time in this hands-on, station-based guided program.
Fossils: Evidence of Past Life (hands-on workshop)
Explore different types of fossils and investigate how plants and animals become fossilized. Students use paleontology tools to excavate their own fossil to take home.
Social Studies/Anthropology
Recommended for everyone:
Unearthed: Ancient Life in Boulder Valley (exhibit tour)
Learn about the ancient stone tools found in Boulder - known as the Mahaffy Cache - and what science has revealed about them in this hands-on, interactive tour of the Unearthed exhibition.
Recommended for elementary-aged students:
Prehistoric Pottery and Ancient Stone Tools (hands-on workshop)
Examine and classify prehistoric pottery and stone tool design and shapes. Learn the steps of ancient pottery making and flint knapping. Students create their own pot and projectile point to take home.