Outreach Kits

Explore light waves, prisms, energy, and the electromagnetic spectrum! Students can study light by building spectroscopes, conducting experiments, learning about telescopes, and investigating the mathematics behind light and other kinds of electromagnetic energy. Learn more.

What is the moon made of, and how was it formed? Why do we see different kinds of moons throughout the year? What is a crater, and why are craters different sizes? This kit’s lessons and materials help students investigate these questions with skits, experiments, books, images, and demonstrations. Learn more.

Also included in the kit is Blackfeet Skies: An Educational Guide Based on Blackfeet Sky Knowledge from Montana’s Office of Public Instruction. This educational guide can be used with Blackfeet astronomy videos.

Investigate different scientific topics associated with space travel and the International Space Station! Lessons explore microgravity, human nutrition, energy reflection and absorption, and the different behaviors of living organisms in outer space. The kit includes many interactive and engaging activities designed to enhance students’ knowledge of technology, physics, and life science on Earth and in space. Learn more.

Introduce students to the physics of rockets and space travel! The kit and its lessons provide the guidance and materials for conducting hands-on experiments that demonstrate Newton’s Laws of Motion. Students can also learn about different types of rockets and their practical use in contemporary space travel. The kit includes experiments with stomp rockets, rocket cars, and balloon rockets, as well as opportunities for students to design and construct their own rockets. Learn more.

Dig in and explore paleontology, biology, and geology through hands-on fun! The kit includes two interactive lessons that provide students with the context necessary for studying dinosaurs by introducing them to the geologic timeline and key events in Earth’s history. Students will also study the differences between avian and non-avian dinosaurs, make observations about the size and measurements of different dinosaurs, and draw comparisons between the habitats and biological characteristics of modern animals and dinosaurs. This kit is great for grades PreK-2. Learn more.

Museum of the Rockies’ fossil collection and research are world-renowned. This kit engages students in an in-depth look at different types of fossils, both real and cast, and encourages them to make inferences based on observations and evidence. What is a fossil? How can you tell the difference between a fossil and other mineral specimens? Lessons introduce students to the ethics behind fossil collecting and contain instructions for a fossil research project. Note: Kit includes fossil molds to make your own fossil casts, but plaster will need to be supplied by the educator. Learn more.

In 2016, Carter County Museum (CCM) and its sister museum, Museum of the Rockies, embarked on a collaborative educational project known as MAIA: Mobile Science Lab.

This classroom lab explores the mathematical and biologic concepts of growth curves while connecting students with Montana’s agricultural economy and rich fossil history. A lesson developed by the science and math departments at Carter County High School (CCHS) and recently piloted at CCHS in Ekalaka, Montana, engages students in measuring femurs of cattle, chicken, deer, and the dinosaur Maiasaura. MOR and CCM provided access to materials and content oversight.

This traveling outreach program combines the osteology collections of CCM, one of the world’s best-studied dinosaur growth series from MOR, and partnership with Carter County High School. The result is an engaging learning experience that connects Montana rural students to mathematical concepts, agriculture, and natural science.

Download our letter to teachers here: MAIA Letter to Teachers
For more information, check out our press release: MAIA Press Release
The teacher’s guide and student workbook are available upon request.

The trunk is available for use to Montana high schools upon request. The first priority for MAIA will be given to teachers and schools in southeastern Montana. To reserve the trunk or for further questions, contact Sabre Moore at smoore@cartercountymuseum.org.

Montana isn’t called “the treasure state” for nothing! Montana is rich in geologic history, Explore sedimentary, igneous, metamorphic, and igneous rocks with real rocks and sparkling minerals from the state of Montana. Kit includes an ultraviolet light to explore fluorescence and descriptions of each sample. Kit includes agate, sapphires, gold, and more!

Bison have been an integral part of the great plains since the last Ice Age and still roam in herds across Yellowstone National Park today. This kit uses real, ethically sourced parts of a bison and a robust curriculum to support science learning and the essential understandings of IEFA. The curriculum was developed by Shane Doyle, Ed.D and created in partnership with Southwest Montana School Services and with funding from Montana's Office of Public Instruction and MOR. View the Curriculum.

Build your students’ knowledge of the IEFA Essential Understandings with this fun, engaging, and active collection of traditional games. The kit includes all materials necessary for playing traditional native games, as well as thorough curriculum guides that explain the games and their cultural significance. Learn more.

What is a geyser and why do they erupt? Explore why and how geysers form and other and the explosive reason behind the other fascinating geothermal features in Yellowstone National Park. Lessons incorporate writing, history, hands-on fun, and traditional American Indian stories. Learn more.

What is a forest? Explore the components of a forest ecosystem while exploring the different kinds of animals that live in the forests of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Featuring real skulls and pelts of various animals, as well as rubber tracks, books, and more! Lessons focus on food webs, animal adaptations, and forest fires. Learn more.

What is a prairie? Explore the components of a prairie ecosystem using specimens found in the prairies of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This kit includes real skulls and pelts of various animals, as well as rubber animal tracks, books, and more! Lessons focus on food webs and animal adaptations. Learn more.

What is a wetland? Explore the many diverse components of an ecosystem and the different kinds of animals that live in the riparian and wetland areas of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This kit includes real skulls and pelts of various animals including birds and mammals, as well as rubber tracks, books, and more! Lessons focus on food webs and animal adaptations. Learn more.