Exhibit Information for Teachers

The exhibit entrance at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center.

NPS | Josh Spice

 

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

 

Alaska State Education Standards and the Exhibits

Use the collapsing panels below to read a brief overview of our exhibits and to learn which Alaska state education standards could be addressed by each exhibit. 

Summer, Autumn, and Winter Exhibits

Summer Exhibit:

Enter the exhibit hall and step into summer in the village of Tanana, where Morris Thompson was born, raised, and laid to rest. The mural on the wall depicts the view from the village of Tanana where there are many sights and sounds that are indictive of the summer in the Interior.  There are multiple animals and plants to spot as well as an authentic fish smoke house.

Autumn Exhibit: 

Here you will find a view of a vivid autumn day. Spruce trees thin as you emerge onto the tundra, and animals rush to prepare for winter by caching food, gorging themselves before hibernation, or migrating to warmer climates. As daylight diminishes, the people of the Interior also spend the short season planning for the months ahead.  There are many animals, seeds, and berries that represent fall in this exhibit as well as a replica hunting camp, like one that might be found in many places in rural Interior Alaska. 

Winter Exhibit: 

Step into the Public Use Cabin to experience a dazzling winter night, as northern lights dance outside the window.  Notice a few animals outside the windows and a mushing sled packed for a trip.

Alaska State Education Standards: 
Below are the Alaska state education standards for the Summer, Winter, and Autumn exhibits.

History

• AH. PPE 1 Comparing and contrasting geographic regions of Alaska. [DOK 2] (G. B4, B8)

Science

• K-LS1-1. Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.
• 2-LS4-1. Make observations of plants and animals to compare the diversity of life in different habitats.
• 3-LS4-3. Construct an argument with evidence that in a particular habitat some organisms can survive well, some survive less well, and some cannot survive at all.
• 5-LS2-1. Develop and describe a model that describes the movement of matter among plants, animals, decomposers, and the environment.
• MS-LS2-2. Construct an explanation that predicts patterns of interactions among organisms across multiple ecosystems.
• HS-LS2-6. Evaluate claims, evidence, and reasoning that the complex interactions in ecosystems maintain relatively consistent numbers and types of organisms in stable conditions, but changing conditions may result in a new ecosystem.

Cultural Exhibits

‘How We Make a Living’ Exhibit
Explore some of the discoveries and technological advances made by industry, University of Alaska scientists, and the military that help many residents make a living here.  Watch a short video about the construction of the pipeline and explore some of the mining history of the region.  You will also find two different Alaska maps one showing public lands and another showing Native Corporation boundaries.  

‘Celebration of Communities’ Exhibit 
The variety of arts, crafts, and tools on display pay tribute to the many communities that make up Interior Alaska.

‘Elders’ Hall’ Exhibit
This octagon-shaped room in the corner of the exhibit gallery is modeled after those present in many Native village gathering halls, where community members draw together to celebrate and share traditions.

Alaska State Standards for ‘How we make a living’, ‘Communities’, and ‘Elders’ Hall’
History

• AH. ICGP 11 exploring federal policies and legislation (e.g., Alaska Citizenship Act, Tlingit- Haida Jurisdictional Act, Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Alaska Reorganization Act, ANCSA) that recognized Native rights. [DOK 1] (H. B2)
• AH. PPE 7 using texts/ sources to explain the political, social, cultural, economic, geographic, and historic characteristics of the student’s community or region. [DOK 3] (H. B1b, C. E2, E8)
• AH. ICGP 3 explaining and analyzing tribal and western concepts of land ownership and how acting upon those concepts contributes to changes in land use, control, and ownership (e.g., ANCSA, ANILCA). [DOK 4] (H. C7, C8)
• AH. CC 7 comparing and contrasting the perspectives of sport, commercial, and subsistence users on policies regarding fish and game management. [DOK 2] (G. E4, F5)

Culture

• B. 1. acquire insights from other cultures without diminishing the integrity of their own.
• D. 4. gather oral and written history information from the local community and provide an appropriate interpretation of its cultural meaning and significance.
• E. 2. understand the ecology and geography of the bioregion they inhabit.
• E. 7. determine how cultural values and beliefs influence the interaction of people from different cultural backgrounds.

 

Request a Field Trip to the Morris Thompson Center

Learn more about our exhibit guides and the films in our theatre.

To request a student field trip to the Morris Thompson Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, enter the requested information in the collapsing panels below. Be sure to specify which exhibit guide and/or film you would like to use on your students' visit. 

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

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

Learning Accommodations

Does anyone in your group need any accommodations?

Yes No

If yes, describe the accommodation need.

Next Step

School / Organization Contact Information

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123-456-7890 extension if any

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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)

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Enter one or more dates .

Anticipated Arrival Time (required)

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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.