Virtual School Group Experiences
The Anchorage Museum Education Department offers a range of online resources and virtual experiences to support classroom and at-home learning. All virtual field trips to the Anchorage Museum are free to educators, students, and chaperones, funded entirely by the generous support of the Atwood Foundation, GCI, and Chevron. Select your experience from the list below and begin the process of securing a date to visit virtually by filling out our virtual field trip form. Virtual field trips must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance, and a minimum of 10 students must attend.
Virtual fields trips are only available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00AM-2:00PM.
2021-22 VIRTUAL OFFERINGS
Select one of the following experiences by registering online. For all virtual field trips, students should have paper and a writing utensil as a museum-educator will ask questions and offer prompts throughout the experience.
Have questions? Visit our FAQ page or contact the Education Department Coordinator at fieldtrips@anchoragemuseum.org or (907) 929-9280.
FACILITATED PROGRAMMING
· Art of the North (PreK-12)
· Climate Change (2-12)
· Cold (K-12)
· Northern Waters (PreK-12)
· Soundscapes (K-12)
· Space and Place (K-12)
ART OF THE NORTH
Through a museum-educator guided, virtual experience of the Art of the North galleries, examine how artists have represented Alaska and the North through time. Cultivate creative and critical thinking skills while discussing and sketching how art captures ideas of the North. Respond to age-appropriate writing prompts about the artwork.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades PreK-12
Art of the North gallery experience supports Alaska Content Standards: ARTS.A 1, ARTS.B 1, ARTS.B 2, ARTS.C 4; GEOG.B 7, HIST.A 5, HIST.A 8
CLIMATE CHANGE
Through a museum-educator guided, virtual experience of museum galleries, take a closer look at our changing climate, learn about its impacts on Alaska, and consider ways that humans and animals adapt to new challenges. Build problem-solving skills and develop approaches to scientific thinking through discussions and guided activities that connect to the virtual experience.
Grades 2-4: Fisheries
Students will examine artwork to discuss how salmon are intertwined with Alaska’s people and ecosystems, learn about salmon’s life cycles, and consider challenges salmon face.
Grades 5-8: Permafrost
Students will learn about the engineering challenges of building on permafrost by examining the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and sketch their own design for infrastructure in a changing northern landscape.
Grades 9-12: Sea Ice
Students will observe museum artwork to learn about sea ice ecosystems and practice map reading skills to investigate the connections between walruses and sea ice.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades 2-12
Gallery Experience supports NGSS Standards: 2-4 NGSS: 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS4-4, 3-LS1-1, 3-LS4-2, 4-LS1-1, 4-LS1-2, 5-8 NGSS: 3-5-ETS1-1, 3-5-ETS1-2, 3-5-ETS1-3, 5-ESS2-1, 5-ESS3-1, MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-LS1-6, MS-LS2-5, MS-ESS3-3, MS-ESS3-4, 9-12 NGSS: HS-LS2-6, HS-LS2-7, HS-LS2-8, HS-LS4-6, HS-ESS2-2, HS-ESS2-5, HS-ESS2-4, HS-ESS3-5, HS-ESS3-1, HS-ESS3-6
COLD
Through a museum-educator guided, virtual experience, learn about impacts of cold on human innovation and animal adaptations. Examine primary sources showing some of the inventive, resourceful ways Alaska Native peoples survive and thrive in cold environments. Investigate how special adaptations allow animals to live in Alaska’s unpredictable and cold landscapes. Respond to age-appropriate writing and sketching prompts about the objects.
Grades K-2:
Students will examine how people and animals travel across the land in snowy environments.
Grades 3-6:
Students will discover clothing and animal adaptations that keep people and animals warm in frigid environments.
Grades 7-12:
Students will discover clothing and animal adaptations that keep people and animals dry in and around water environments.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades K-12
Gallery Experience supports NGSS Standards: K-LS1-1, K-ESS2-2, K-ESS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-3, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-2, 4-LS1-1, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS1-5, HS-LS4-2, HS-LS4-4
NORTHERN WATERS
Through a museum-educator guided, virtual experience, learn about Alaska’s waters and the importance of water for animals and people. Investigate the museum’s marine tank and the tidepool creatures that call it home. Examine objects in the Alaska Exhibition demonstrating innovative technologies Alaska Native peoples create to navigate the waters of Alaska. Respond to age-appropriate writing prompts about the objects.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades K-12
Northern Waters gallery experience supports Alaska Content Standards: AH.PPE 1, AH.PPE 2, GEOG.B1, HIST.A 8, Arts.A 1, Arts.C 5
Alaska Marine Life supports NGSS: K-ESS3-1, 2-LS4-1, 2-ESS2-3, 3-LS3-2, 4-LS1-1, 5-LS1-2, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2, MS-LS1-4, MS-LS2-1, MS-LS2-4
SOUNDSCAPES
Listen up and discover the exciting field of soundscape ecology. Engage in an interactive virtual experience that explores how sounds can be used to learn about the environment. Students deepen their understanding of soundscapes and build creative and innovative thinking skills through guided questions and activities.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades K-12
Soundscapes supports NGSS: K-ESS3-1, 1-PS4-1, 2-LS4-1, 3-LS4-4, 4-PS4-1, MS-PS4-1, MS-LS2-2, HS-PS4-1, HS-LS2-6
SPACE AND PLACE
Through a museum-educator guided, virtual experience, learn about our place in the universe. Study the interactions between the earth, moon and sun and fly around other planets and moons in our solar system to discover our celestial neighborhood.
Look out further to explore deep sky objects that help explain the lifecycle of stars and uncover the hidden paths of exoplanets.
Request Virtual Field Trip Here
Duration: 60 minutes
Available for grades K-12
Space and Place experience supports NGSS: 1-PS4-2, 1-ESS1-1, 1-ESS1-2, 2-ESS2-3, 5-PS2-1, 5-ESS1-1, MS-PS2-4, MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3, HS-ESS1-1, HS-ESS1-4, HS-ESS2
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there a cost to participate?
For the 2020-21 school year, all virtual field trips are generously support by the Atwood Foundation, GCI, and Chevron. To schedule a field trip, please submit a field trip request.
Is there a maximum number of kids who can participate?
A minimum of 10 students is required for virtual programming. If requesting more than 30 students, please contact the Education Department Coordinator at (907)-929-9280
How Do I Book A Field Trip:
Please complete the Field Trip Request form to begin the registration process.
CAN I MAKE CHANGES TO MY FIELD TRIP’S DATE AND TIME?
To cancel or alter a field trip, please contact the museum at least five business days prior to a scheduled field trip.
CAN A STUDENT OR CHAPERONE JOIN LATER DURING A FIELD TRIP?
No, once a virtual field trip experience has begun, we ask that no additional students or chaperones join in order to mitigate disruptions. It is important that the entire field trip party is present, on time, at the beginning of every virtual experience. However, we understand that technology difficulties may arise, if that occurs, please contact the Education Department Coordinator immediately.
I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!
Educators may contact the museum at fieldtrips@anchoragemuseum.org or at (907) 929-9280 with questions or for assistance with registration requests.
THANK you TO OUR SPONSORS
The Anchorage Museum is grateful to our generous sponsors for supporting our mission and making virtual field trips in the 2020-21 school year possible for students and educators across Alaska.
