sugar land knowledge hunt€¦ · web viewdon’t forget to download extension activities for hmns...

PERMANENT EXHIBIT HALLSKNOWLEDGE HUNT

Sugar Land Knowledge Hunt

Dear Educator,

Thank you for downloading the free, online curriculum available at HMNS! We’re thrilled to see that you are including the world-renowned Houston Museum of Natural Science in your educational toolkit.Here at HMNS our mission has always been to provide exemplary educational opportunities for the community. Providing educators like you with free, fully editable curriculum is just one of many ways we are fulfilling that mission.Thank you again, and we hope you enjoy your field trip to HMNS at Sugar Land!

Best,The HMNS Staff

How to use this guide:1. Feel free to edit the questions as needed to suit your student group.

2. This Knowledge Hunt is specifically for the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land. To access curriculum for other Museum locations, please visit our website at hmns.org/curriculum.

3. The Knowledge Hunt begins on the first floor of the Museum and moves upward. Staff posted around the Museum will be happy to assist you in finding any of the locations or objects mentioned.

4. Please ensure that one chaperone is with every group of ten students at all times as they complete these activities.

5. Don’t forget to download extension activities for HMNS at Sugar Land!

Please direct any and all questions to [email protected]

5/17/2023Developed by theHoustonMuseumofnaturalscience. All rights reserved

Generously supported by Phillips 66

mailto:[email protected]


TEKS ObjectivesScienceEach of the following Science TEKS Objectives are met as students explore the various exhibit halls and complete the Knowledge Hunt:

Kindergarten: K.2(A,D,E), K.3(A,B,C), K.5(A), K.6(A,B,C), K.7(D), K.9(A,B,C)1st Grade: 1.2(A,B,D,E),1.3(A,B,C), 1.5(A), 1.6(A,B), 1.9(A,B)2nd Grade: 2.2(A,B,E,F), 2.3(A,B,C), 2.5(A), 2.8(A,B), 2.9(A,B), 2.10(B)3rd Grade: 3.3(C), 3.8(A,B,C,D), 3.9(A,B), 3.10(B), 3.11(A,C)4 th Grade: 4.3(C,D), 4.6(A), 4.8(A,B,C,), 4.10(B)5 th Grade: 5.3(C,D), 5.6(C), 5.9(A,B,C,D), 5.11(A,B)6 th Grade: 6.3(C,D), 6.5(A), 6.8(C), 6.10(B), 6.11(A,C), 6.12(A,C), 6.13(A)7 th Grade: 7.2(A,C,D), 7.3(C,D), 7.5(B), 7.10(A,B,C), 7.12(A,B,C,D)8 th Grade: 8.3(C,D), 8.6(C), 8.11(A, B), 8.13(A,B),8. 14(B)




Dinosaurs!(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: carnivore, herbivore

Crocodile (Steneosaurus bollensis)What do you think this crocodile ate? What leads you to this conclusion?

Struthiomimus“Obviously built to travel at high speeds…” Give two characteristics that support this statement. 1.2.

Dining with a DinosaurObserve the large t-rex on display. Scientists know that it is a carnivore because its teeth are sharp and can be used to slice into the meat they are eating. Why do you think an herbivore’s teeth are dull and blunt?




Hall of Earth Science(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: amethyst, beryl, topaz, gypsum, copper, facet, physical characteristic, tangram, mineral

AmethystWhy is the amethyst purple?

GypsumAs opposed to beryl and topaz, gypsum is one of the ______ of all minerals.

Line up shoulder to shoulder (about 15 students) to approximate the height of the gypsum cavern in Mexico.

Older students: If the gypsum cavern in Mexico were shaped like a large regular 3D rectangle, what would its volume be? Express your answer in feet assuming that 1 yard = 3 feet exactly. (v = bh)

What did early carpenters use gypsum for? Why?

Find the sample of gypsum on display. Why do you think “fishtail” is part of its name?

CopperUsing the context clues, define the word “disseminate”.

For what purpose did the Papago Indians use the native copper-rich minerals?

Beryl Why was the name aquamarine chosen for this gem variety?




TopazWhen was topaz named Texas’ official gemstone?

Find the topaz sample on display and choose one facet to draw. Estimate its length and width in centimeters. Older students: find the area of the facet. Show your work. (a = lw)




Microscope Lab(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: magnification, sample, microscope, lens

*Recommended: Half of group does Microscope Lab activity while the other half does the Mineral Mine (next page). At the end of the activity, the groups should switch places.

Choose one of the prepared slides or rock samples. Describe the sample as you can see it without a microscope. Next, choose the appropriate microscope and describe your sample again.

material color(s) texture drawing

without microscope

with microscope

How does using a microscope make a difference in the way you see your object?




Mineral Mine(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: fluorescence, phosphorescence, physical characteristic, mineral

There are several ways that minerals can emit light in addition to the light that is emitted from exposure to daylight or the light from normal light bulbs. Some of these ways involve special lamps that emit non-visible ultraviolet light (at least not visible to humans). Light from these ultraviolet lamps reacts with the chemicals of a mineral and causes the mineral to glow; this is called “fluorescence”. If the mineral continues to glow after the light has been removed, this is called “phosphorescence”.® (Property of Amethyst Galleries, Inc., http://mineral.galleries.com/ )

Based on the above information, what type of minerals are on display in this exhibit?

Choose a partner. One person will wait outside of the room while the other goes in. Partner 1: Choose a rock to describe. Write a detailed description of the rock when the black light is on. Use as many physical characteristics of your chosen rock as you can; however, you may not list its location, what case it is in, or what it is next to. You will have two minutes to complete your task.

Description:

After two minutes, hand your description to your partner waiting outside and time how long it takes them to find your rock. Partner 2 must describe the location, what case it is in, and what it is next to.

Time: _______Answer:

Switch jobs.



http://mineral.galleries.com/

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/property/pleochro.htm#phos


Hall of Life Science(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: petrified wood, specimens, cavities, terrestrial, aquatic, vertebrae

Petrified WoodComplete the information in the chart below to help you compare the different petrified wood specimens.

Name Color Size State of OriginWhite Oak

Spruce

Hard Pine

Palm

Cycad Sp.

Tempskya Fern

Sweetgum

Look at the spruce to the left and explain why it has two cavities.

What is unique about the Palm family?




SkullsList three animals under each title below.

Lives on Land Lives in Water1. 1.

2. 2.

3. 3.

Giraffe VertebraeHow is a giraffe’s neck similar to yours?

Nile Crocodile vs. Indian GavialUse the Venn diagram below to compare and contrast the Nile Crocodile and the Indian Gavial.




Alligator Snapping Turtle and the Loggerhead Sea TurtleLook at the two different skulls of these animals. Draw a picture of their skulls, paying special attention to their mouths.

Alligator Snapping Turtle Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Killer WhaleWhat does a killer whale have in common with a bottlenose dolphin?




Frogs and Toads(1st Floor)

Vocabulary: tadpoles, camouflage, habitats, ecosystem, adaptation, food chain, diet, life cycle

Fire-bellied Toad (Asia)How does a Fired-Bellied Toad defend itself?

African Bullfrog (Africa)How is the African Bullfrog like a caterpillar?

Define “aestivates”.

Milk Frog (South America)How does the Milk Frog get its name?

Vietnamese Mossy Frog (Asia)How does the Vietnamese Mossy Frog camouflage itself?

Marine Toads (South America)How are the Marine Toads’ habitats unique?

Golden Mantella (Africa)What kind of weather is necessary for the Golden Mantella tadpoles to grow and develop?

See Them. Hear Them. Save Them.Name two things you can do to help frogs in your area.1.

2.




Discovery Works(2nd Floor)

Vocabulary: force, mass, parabolic, oscillation, magnetism

Begin on the Whisper Dish Side of the Discovery Works exhibit, moving toward the other side of the walkway toward the Planetarium Dome.

Disappearing RodsWhy do the rods on the left seem to disappear in the oil?

First Class Lever (Push down)Which is easier, when the block is closest or furthest away from the fulcrum? Why?

Second Class LeverWhich block is harder to lift? In your own words, explain how a second class lever works.

Centripetal ForceWhy do the disks move to the middle of the ring when the crank is turned quickly?

Whisper DishWhat do you think a parabolic shape looks like? Draw it below.




Spinning WheelsSpin all three wheels before you read the text panel and answer the following questions. Which wheel spins the longest?

Why do you think the wheel took so long to stop?

Which wheel is easiest to stop with your hands? Why?

Read the text panel about the spinning wheels. Were your answers above correct? Why or why not?

Bernoulli BlowerWhat did Bernoulli discover? What is keeping the ball in mid-air?

Seeing SoundsHow do the wave patterns in the pellets change when the pitch is changed?

Sound VibrationsHow does the pattern in the sand change when the pitch is changed from high to low? Draw a picture to explain your answer.




Dancing LaserFill in the boxes below to label the steps needed to create a dancing laser.

Hand Crank GeneratorChose a set of light bulbs by pressing the “on” button, and then turn the crank to light up the bulbs. Try this for each set of bulbs. Next, read the text panel and explain in your own words why extra bulbs in a set are more difficult to light up.

Levitating MagnetsWhy do you think some magnets seem to be “floating”?

Magnetic PendulumWhy is the motion of this pendulum called “chaotic”?

Torsional WavesDefine torsional wave.

Induction RingWhat causes the ring to rise to the top of the iron core?

Fiber OpticsHow does the light reach the sign?



Sound waves turned to electricity

Dancing Laser


Hall of Paleontology(2nd Floor)

Vocabulary: carnivore, herbivore, fossils, preserved, fossilization, paleontological site, geologist, paleontologist, paleobotanist, geochemist,

Begin at the far end of the Paleontology Hall (at the beginning of time), down the ramp and to the left of the virtual aquarium.

The Hidden BoomWhy do you think soft body fossils are almost impossible to find?

The “Ocean Tank”Take a moment to study the text panel next to the “tank” showing the scenes from the ocean floor millions of years ago. The text panel details the various creatures living in the sea at this time. After you have studied the creatures listed move over to the center of the “tank” and view it for two minutes. How many creatures did you see? Pay close attention to creatures appearing from the ocean’s floor.

Cambrian 542 – 488 MYA (Million Years Ago)What was the “Cambrian Explosion”?

Why were fossils easily preserved during this time period?




Ordovician 488 – 443 MYALook at the various trilobites on display. Make note of where their eyes are located. Why do you think some trilobite eyes adapted over time from looking down to eventually looking out from long stalks?

Using the Venn diagram below, compare and contrast trilobite P1.1689 and trilobite P1.1690.

Choose a trilobite along the back wall to draw below. Be sure to include its eyes.




Siluvrian 443 – 416 MYAWhat type of land fossils appeared in the Silurian period?

Devonian 416 – 359 MYAWhat covered the continent during this time period?

What type of fish became more common during the Devonian?

Carboniferous 359 – 299 MYAWhy did insects flourish during the carboniferous period?

How large were cockroaches?

*Note for older students: If 2.54 cm = 1 inch how big were the cockroaches in inches?

Permian 299 – 251 MYADescribe Pangaea and its features.

Look at the Amphibian specimens in the case. Notice their eye socket placement on their heads. What does this tell us about where these animals lived in the ocean?

Triassic 251 – 200 MYACoelophysisAnswer the following question based on the text panel quote below:

“Within the large Ghost Ranch sample, in addition to juveniles, two forms have been identified, a large ‘robust’ form and a smaller ‘gracile’ form.”

What do you think this means about how this group of animals lived?




Name two characteristics coelophysis shared with modern birds.

Jurassic 200 – 145 MYAStegosaurusThis dinosaur was not known for its brain size. How did it protect itself?

Why did stegosaurus avoid soft squishy landscapes?

Cretaceous 145 – 65 MYAParasaurolophusWhy were duckbilled dinosaurs noisy?

TriceratopsWhat does Triceratops mean?

What were its three horns and massive boney frill used for?

AnkylosaurusHow did ankylosaurus solve the problem of its need to eat a large amount of plants to survive while protecting itself from meat loving animals such as T-rex?

Paleogene 65 – 23 MYAEremotheriumList two ways the modern sloth is different from the eremotherium.1.2.

Where have scientist found fossils of the giant sloth?

Late Oligocene-Early Pleistocene 28-0.7 MYAMegalodon




Why do you think we find so many fossilized shark teeth but not full shark skeletons?

What type of animal might have been eaten by the megalodon?

Pleistocene 700,000 years agoHolmesinaWhere did the specimen of the Holmesina on display come from?

What types of foods did these giant armadillos eat?




Hall of Space Science(2nd Floor)

Vocabulary: meteorite, meteoroid, meteor, light years, emits, nebula, atmosphere

The Visible UniverseHow do we detect objects at the edge of the visible universe?

The Satellite GalaxiesWhat is happening to the dwarf galaxies close to the Milky Way?

The Orion SpurWhat type of galaxy does the Milky Way belong to?

The Nearest Stars1 light year = ~6 trillion milesHow far away are the Alpha Centauri, Sirius, and Vega stars in miles? Use the formula above and show your work.

Alpha Centauri:

Sirius:

Vega:

Planet wallLook at the representations of the planets in our solar system on the back wall. Estimate the number of “Earths” that it would take to stretch across Jupiter.

The Allende MeteoriteHow much older is this meteorite than the Earth?




Iron MeteoritesWhat causes this iron meteorites’ rounded “thumbprints”?

The First Meteorite Discovered by Ground Penetrating RadarLook at the meteorite in the case. Estimate how heavy you think it might be. Read the text panel to discover if you guessed correctly. Why do you think it weighs this much?

Who might have observed this meteorite falling to Earth? What evidence leads you to this conclusion?

Older Than EarthWhere did the meteorite hit the Earth?

What is special about this particular meteorite?

What was the size of the original meteorite?

*Note: For older students. If the meteorite originally hit the Earth traveling 50,000 kilometers per hour, convert that speed into miles per hour if 1mi/h = 1.6 km/h. Please show your work below.

Touching a Rock from MarsHow did scientists know this rock is from Mars?

On what continent is Zagami, Nigeria?

What fraction of meteorites discovered are from Mars? Express it in its simplest form.




The Carina NebulaWhat is happening to Eta Carinae?

What does each color, listed below, signify in each nebula?Blue:

Red:

Green:

The Butterfly NebulaWhy can’t we see the central star of the Butterfly Nebula?

The Crab NebulaWhat emits the blue light at the center of the nebula?



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