The Bias Inside Us Educator Toolkit

Posted on by Finn Smith in Any Age, Social Studies, The Bias Inside Us

The Bias Inside Us Educator Toolkit is a free educational resource, which contains a set of posters, and an educators guide used for facilitating conversation, and is intended to be used in conjunction with The Bias Inside Us exhibit.

This resource will help facilitate conversations on the real-world impacts of bias. It contains discussion questions to spark dialogue, links to interactive activities on the online exhibition, and articles expanding on the research of bias.

Click through the link below for access to the toolkit:

TBIU Educator Guide

Additional information about The Bias Inside Us can be found on the online exhibition website.

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Hi-Five Tetris Lesson Plan

Posted on by Finn Smith in Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, Any Age, Life Science, Physical Science, Skin: Living Armor

As we have worked on developing programming to help our visitors engage with our special exhibition, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, we have also adapted those programs into classroom-style lessons that classroom teachers, home school teachers, or any educator can use to expand their students’ learning before and after visiting the museum. 

In this lesson, we are getting curious about why and how our skin conducts electricity, and how it compares to other conductors. Your students will play a video game controlled by hi-fives, then test different conductors to make their own controller!

Use the links below to access the lesson plan and any accompanying files or printouts: 

Hi-Five Tetris Curriculum

Conductivity Worksheet 1 (Younger Students)

Conductivity Worksheet 2 (Older Students)

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A closeup detail of Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte". There is a gloved hand holding a laboratory micropipette superimposed over the image.

Pipette Pointillism Lesson Plan

Posted on by Finn Smith in Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, Any Age, Life Science, Skin: Living Armor, Visual Arts

As we have worked on developing programming to help our visitors engage with our special exhibition, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, we have also adapted those programs into classroom-style lessons that classroom teachers, home school teachers, or any educator can use to expand their students’ learning before and after visiting the museum. 

In this lesson, we are getting curious about the tools biologists use when they study skin. Your students will learn how to use micropipettes by filling in a pointillist paint-by-numbers, dispensing one drop of paint into each square of a grid. This lesson also teaches about pointillism and its connections to microbiology: just as our bodies are made up of organs which are made up of tissues which are made up of cells which are made up of organelles, pointillist paintings invite you to look closer at the components making up each figure.

Use the links below to access the lesson plan and any accompanying files or printouts: 

Pipette Pointillism Curriculum

Pipette Pointillism Presentation

Micropipette User Guide

Pointillism Grid Seurat Numbers

Pointillism Grid Seurat Colors

Pointillism Grid Blank

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A person is looking through the eyepiece of a microscope at a paper they are drawing on.

Micro Drawing Lesson Plan

Posted on by Finn Smith in Ages 9-12, Any Age, Life Science, Skin: Living Armor, Visual Arts

As we have worked on developing programming to help our visitors engage with our special exhibition, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, we have also adapted those programs into classroom-style lessons that classroom teachers, home school teachers, or any educator can use to expand their students’ learning before and after visiting the museum. 

In this lesson, we are getting curious about the tools biologists use when they study skin. Your students will learn how to use a microscope to make a tiny piece of art, then create a tiny class gallery!

Use the links below to access the lesson plan and any accompanying files or printouts: 

MicroDrawing Curriculum

Microscopy Intro Handout

Microscopy Intro Slides

Micro Gallery Frame

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A no food or drink sign featuring an icon of a hamburger and drink which has been crossed out with a red circle and slash. A paper lizard has been colored to blend in with the top of the arc of the circle.

Camouflage Menagerie Lesson Plan

Posted on by Finn Smith in Ages 6-8, Ages 9-12, Any Age, Life Science, Skin: Living Armor

As we have worked on developing programming to help our visitors engage with our special exhibition, Skin: Living Armor, Evolving Identity, we have also adapted those programs into classroom-style lessons that classroom teachers, home school teachers, or any educator can use to expand their students’ learning before and after visiting the museum.

In this lesson, we are getting curious about how animals use their skin to avoid predators. Your students will explore the advantages and disadvantages of having skin that is designed to camouflage with a specific environment by coloring in paper animals and hiding them in plain sight around your space!

Use the links below to access the lesson plan and any accompanying files or printouts:

Camo Menagerie Curriculum

Camo Menagerie Templates

Hide and Seek Slideshow

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Museum celebrates 1 million visitors

Celebrating 1 Million Visitors with a Free Day!

Posted on by Laura Valdez in 10th Anniversary, Any Age

Join us on Saturday, January 7th as we celebrate 1 million visitors at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery! That’s right, the museum has welcomed 1 MILLION people of all ages since opening its doors on November 10, 2012.

That’s a lot of discovery!!

Admission is free all day long, thanks to generous support from the City of Fort Collins Environmental Services Department – Sustainability Services Area. Interact with the team on the 7th and learn more about climate, waste reduction, and air quality!

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., visitors can enter their name for a grand prize to be drawn at NOON on the 7th:

Grand Prize includes:

  • Free lifetime membership
  • 30 guest passes
  • Behind the scenes tour
  • Prize package from The Museum Store!

(Winner must be present to win)

As a reminder, please plan for limited parking!

This weekend also marks visitors’ last chance to experience the special Earth Matters traveling exhibition, an immersive, bilingual experience that explores climate and the changing world around us. Dive even more deeply into these locally relevant themes by participating in activities and experiences planned by City of Fort Collins Sustainability Services on the 7th or registering for a Earth Matters Poetry Workshop on the 8th hosted by local poet Jodie Hollander and State Historian and CSU Professor Jared Orsi.

We are so excited to celebrate this special milestone as part of our year-long 10th Anniversary Celebrations. Plan your visit to Fort Collins Museum of Discovery on the 7th to share in the fun with everyone!

Click to read the recent Coloradoan article about this wonderful milestone!

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Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa’s coming to FCMoD!

Posted on by Laura Valdez in Any Age, Programs

Create special holiday memories at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery on Saturday, December 17th! There’s fun planned for everyone, no matter your age!

Enjoy taking photos with Santa Claus, holiday-themed activities, balloon creations, and more. Photos will be on a first come, first-serve basis from 10 am – 1 pm, so we hope you’ll join us! Please bring your smartphone device or camera for photos (FCMoD staff available to take pictures).

This special event is free with museum admission purchase. And don’t forget, members are always free!

NOTE: This may be a high volume event!

Schedule of Events:

10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Photos with Santa Claus in the Main Gallery

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Ornament Crafting with FCMoD

10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Balloon Creations with Alpaca Globo

Special Events for Museum Members! 

10:00 AM- 1:00 PM: Members receive* FREE hot chocolate available in the Museum Café

1:00 PM – 1:45 PM: Members-only viewing of “Let It Snow” in the OtterBox Digital Dome Theater

While you’re at the museum, don’t forget to explore our latest traveling exhibition Earth Matters: Rethink the Future or check out the newest addition in our Animal Encounters Zone (hint: they’re very green and very froggy).

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Sonic spotlight final showcase

Sonic Spotlight Finals Set for December 8th!

Posted on by Laura Valdez in Any Age, FCMoD Squad, Music, Music Experience, Sonic Spotlight

The second and final showcase, the SPOTLIGHT ROUND, will feature the three winning artists from the Sonic Round: Fiona Sofia, Hospital Socks, and HYGEIA. This in-person, live music showcase at Washington’s on Thursday, December 8, 2022 will premiere music videos from each finalist created during the program plus live performances, interviews, and surprises in an exciting night of fresh sounds. Also featuring sets from year 2 semi-finalist Forrest Nelson and Listener’s Choice winner: Clementine!

A panel of music industry judges will be present during this event and will announce which finalist is the winner of Sonic Spotlight 2022.

Find out much more at www.sonicspotlight.org.

FIND TICKETS

This music showcase and competition brought to you by Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, 105.5 The Colorado Sound, and Bohemian Foundation supports our all-ages music scene by giving emerging artists the opportunity to showcase original music on a large platform, connect with peers and industry professionals, win prizes, and level up their music.

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Extended Hours for Fall Break Fun!

Posted on by Laura Valdez in Any Age, Archive & Collections, Discovery For All, Earth Matters, Museum Store, Schedules and Hours Of Operation

FCMoD is open EXTRA days during Fall Break this year, and we can’t wait! If you’re looking for things to do in Fort Collins, plan your visit to FCMoD and enjoy fun for everyone! We’re open every day during the week of Thanksgiving from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Thursday, November 24th.

Here are some tips for your upcoming visit:

Earth Matters Special Exhibition – Build an insect hotel! Ride a bike to power a city! These are just a few ways that Earth Matters inspires visitors to rethink the world around them. Immerse yourself in thought-provoking scientific topics about our changing planet such as biodiversity, rising global temperatures, and issues around carbon emissions. Explore this STEM-based, family-friendly exhibit now through Sunday, January 8th. Don’t forget, members receive free admission to the exhibit!

Pop-Up Floor Programming – Join us in the main gallery for programs that rock as hard as you do! From Foley art to the science of sound, there’s something for everyone! Programs are included in general admission and free for members. Check out the schedule in our museum calendar!

Meet the Animals – On Saturday, November 26th, join us in Animal Encounters and discover some amazing creatures we share this planet with. Animals of all kinds from creepy crawlies, wet and slimy, to soft and furry. Don’t miss an opportunity to make a new animal friend! Free for members and included in general admission ticket.

OtterBox Digital Dome – A visit to the museum isn’t complete without a visit to the Dome! Featuring a gigantic 39-foot diameter dome screen, adventurers of all ages will be wowed by the Dome’s state-of-the-art digital projection systems and booming surround sound.

Now showing in the Dome: CAPCOM GO! The Apollo Story, Dream to Fly, Explore, Prince 360, One World, One Sky: Big Birds’ Adventure, Let it Snow! (starting 11/25)

Special Spanish-language shows: Un Cielo, Un Mundo. La Aventura de Big Bird y CAPCOM Go: La Historia del Programa Apolo

Check out the schedule here!

Archive and Collections (Free Zone) – Dive into local history by visiting FCMoD’s robust Archive and Collections! Free and open to the public, visitors can either take advantage of walk-in hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10-1, or schedule an appointment Tuesday – Friday, from 10-4. Can’t make it in? Check out the online archive here, which grows daily!

The Museum Store (Free Zone) – Shop small this holiday season! All purchases at The Museum Store support FCMoD’s mission to create meaningful opportunities to learn, reflect, and have fun. From jewelry crafted by local artists, to books for children and adults, to toys and other curiosities, there is something for everyone at The Museum Store!

The Museum Café (Free Zone) – From pastries and coffee to jump start your day, to a variety of casual lunch bites, The Museum Café is here to fuel your discovery!

Membership – Membership is the best way to experience all that FCMoD has to offer! Not only do you receive free general admission for a year, but you also enjoy exclusive discounts, events invitations, and more! Plus, membership makes the perfect holiday gift. (Check your email on Monday, November 28th for a very special offer!)

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10th Anniversary Graphic

Fort Collins Museum of Discovery Turns 10!

Posted on by Laura Valdez in 10th Anniversary, Any Age, Discovery For All

On November 10, 2012, Fort Collins Museum of Discovery opened its doors for the very first time. Fast forward 10 years and nearly 1 million visitors later, and WOW have we had fun! We’re proud of what these ten years have meant to FCMoD and the community, so we’ve planned a year of celebrations that kicks off with a very special 10th Birthday Party on Saturday, November 12.

Join us for a FREE, fun-filled day of celebrations!
Saturday, November 12, 2022
10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Free Entry
Free admission presented by Elevations Credit Union

  • Face painting from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • A fun photo booth to take memories home with you from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Live music from 12 – 4 p.m. with Miranda Fling, Mariachi Voces Mexicanas, Teddy Creal, and Corinthian
  • Special Animal Experiences and more from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Solar scope viewings with the Northern Colorado Astronomical Society
  • Movies and films in The OtterBox Digital Dome throughout the day
  • Special giveaways to the first 300 visitors!
  • And more to be announced!

Ten years of science exploration. Ten years of discovering history. Ten years of curiosity and learning. Ten years of creating memories… And we’re only just beginning! A special and heartfelt thank you to YOU for your continued love and support for the museum over the years. We can’t wait to see you this year during our many celebrations!

Sign up for our newsletter to receive special 10th anniversary updates, directly in your inbox.

FCMoD’s 10th Anniversary Celebrations are generously supported by:

Additional support provided by:
Bohemian Foundation
Fiona’s Catering
Nordson Corporate Foundation

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