Teacher-Led Programs

Students gather on the bleachers.

NPS

 

The teacher-led programs below are either conducted at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks, Alaska or by a teacher independently in their classroom. These curriculum-based materials are intented to support lessons teachers already implement in their classrooms. If you would like to bring your class to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, complete the education reservation request form below.

 

Teacher-Led Programs

Explore the Exhibits

The exhibits at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center provide many opportunities to meet Alaska state education standards for your class or student. Whether you are studying science, history or culture there is something to encourage learning around every corner. Check out our exhibit descriptions as well as the list of state standards that could be addressed by each exhibit space. 

Resources to Support Your Visit

Pre-K-4th Grade: I Spy Scavenger Hunt: 

• Overview: Students will engage with our exhibits by searching for specific items on our I Spy exhibit guide. This exhibit guide is composed of photos for younger students. 
• Program Time: 20-40 minutes 

4th Grade-7th Grade: Rhymes and Riddles Scavenger Hunt 

• Overview: Students will find the items in our exhibits that match given rhyming descriptions.
• Program Time: 20-40 minutes 

6th Grade-8th Grade: I Spy Scavenger Hunt 

• Overview: Students will engage with our exhibits by searching for specific items on our I Spy exhibit guide. This exhibit guide is composed of written-response questions for older students.  
• Program Time: 20-40 minutes 

8th Grade-12th Grade: National Park Service Careers 

• Overview: Students will learn about different careers with the National Park Service and find examples of each career in our exhibits.
• Program Time: 20-40 minutes 

9th Grade-12th Grade: How We Live- People and The Land 

• Overview: Students will focus on subsistence in Alaska using this exhibit guide.
• Program Time: 30-60 minutes 
• Special Notes: This program has a post-visit activity extension. 

View a Film

At the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, you and your students can watch an educational film. To request a film showing for your students, complete the education reservation request form below. 

Kindergarten-3rd Grade: Alaska's Three Bears

• Description: Shannon Cartwright and Shelley Gill’s beloved picture book converted to
  the big screen
• Film Time: 20 minutes

Kindergarten-3rd Grade: Alaska's Coolest Animals and the Biggest Bears 

• Description: Spectacular footage of 50 Alaska animals narrated by a young boy
• Film Time: 60 minutes

Kindergarten-6th Grade: Monty the Moose: Amazing Alaska Animals 

• Description: Journey to the tundra of Alaska with your cartoon tour guide, Monty, and
  his assistant, Patrick the Puffin.
• Film Time: 50 minutes

Kindergarten-6th Grade: Monty the Moose: Tundra Tales 

• Description: Journey to the tundra of Alaska with your cartoon tour guide, Monty, and
  his assistant, Patrick the Puffin.
• Film Time: 40 minutes

Kindergarten-6th Grade: Monty the Moose: Wacky Alaska Winter 

• Description: Monty the Moose and Patrick Puffin introduce you to some of the special
  animals and people that live in Alaska year-round and find out about what
  they do all winter long.
• Film Time: 40 minutes

5th Grade-12th Grade: Winter Patrol: Denali by Dogsled 

• Description: Explore Denali National Park and Preserve by dogsled with the park’s two-legged
  and four-legged rangers.
• Film Time: 30 minutes

7th Grade-12th Grade: Gravel to Gold 

• Description: Learn about the extraordinary challenges and fascinating experiences of early 20^th century gold miners in what is today Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve.
• Film Time: 30 minutes

7th Grade-12th Grade: Gates of the Arctic

• Description: Visit one of the most remote and beautiful national parks in the country and learn about what makes it so special.
• Film Time: 30 minutes 

 

Education Library Loans

Alaska Public Lands Information Center loans out materials to support teachers in their classroom. Our education library consists of books, lesson plans, and educational kits. For a full list of our loan items or to borrow our items, please contact our education team. Typically, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center pays shipping one-way and the school pays for return shipping.  

Educational Kits: 

Mammals:

• Skulls
• Pelts
• Latex mammal tracks 
• Latex scat samples
• Alaska themed puppets

 

Birds: 

• Skulls
• Feathers
• Wings
• Bird seed
• Latex bird tracks
• Stuffed animal birds
• Bird tubes
• Owl pellet mount and prey mount

 

Plants: 

• Plant latex leaf samples 
• Real leaf samples
• Wood samples
• Spruce cone samples

 

Gold Panning: 

• Gold pans
• Gold rush kit
• Box of dirt 
• Box of panning bags
• Box of mineral examples 

 

Fish/Sealife: 

• Salmon egg development mount 
• Latex fish and rollers
• Sea shells
• Stuffed animal fish/sealife
• Salmon puzzle 

Science Tools

We offer a variety of science tools, including compasses, mini microscopes, magnifying glasses, and hand nets. For a full list of the science tools we offer, contact our education team. 

 

Request a Visit to the Morris Thompson Center

Enter the requested information in the collapsing panels below to request a field trip to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. 

NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/30/2025

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

School / Organization Name (required)

Name of Requester/Contact Person (required)

Title / Position (required)

Contact Email Address (required)

Contact Phone Number (required)
123-456-7890 extension if any

Mailing Address (required)

City (required)

State (required)

Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas Armed Forces - Americas Armed Forces - Europe Armed Forces - Pacific California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

ZIP (required)
Five digit ZIP code [99999]

Next Step

Group Details - Park Visit/ Field Trip

Name of Primary Contact Visiting if Different Than Above (optional)

Title / Position of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Email Address of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)

Phone Number of Primary Contact if Different Than Above (optional)
Format: 123-456-7890

Program Name or Subject Requested/Self-Guided

Grade Level(s) of Students (required)

Number of Staff / Chaperones (required)

Number of Students (required)

Preferred Date of Visit (required)
format mmddyyyy

My preferred date has been confirmed by the park (required)

Yes No

Preferred Program Start Time (required)

Alternative Date(s) (required)
Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

Anticipated Departure Time (required)

Mode of Transportation (required)

Disclaimer:

A park representative will follow-up to confirm group details once this request has been received and reviewed.

Submit my Education Reservation Request

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NPS Form 10-1750 (Rev. 04/2021)
National Park Service

OMB Control No. 1024-0228
Expiration Date 11/31/2025

Notices

Privacy Act Statement

Authority: Public Law 114-289 National Park Service Centennial Act and 54 U.S.C. 100701 Protection, interpretation, and research in System.

Purpose: To administer education programs for education audiences including but not limited to school groups, scouting groups, extracurricular groups, and home school groups.

Routine Uses: To effectively manage requests for education received by the NPS, the Education Reservation Request Form is used to collect basic education reservation information to facilitate operational aspects of scheduling groups for park education programs, including in-park education programs, ranger in classroom programs, and/or online distance learning programs.

Disclosure: Voluntary, however, failure to provide the requested information may impede the ability to grant your education reservation request.

Paperwork Reduction Act Statement

We are collecting this information subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501) to provide park managers and educators the information needed to schedule and conduct education program activities. All applicable parts of the form must be completed in order for your request to be considered. You are not required to respond to this or any other Federal agency-sponsored information collection unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. OMB has approved this collection of information and assigned control number 1024-0288.

Estimated Burden Statement

Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Information Collection Clearance Officer, National Park Service, 1201 Oakridge Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Do not send your completed form to this address.