Educator guides are developed to support academic standards, and focus on important topics, skills, and activities for students of different age and classroom ranges. Each guide is Based on the New York State Elementary Science Core Curriculum and the New York City New Standards™.

What Will I Find In the Educator Guide?

Each Guide contains the following content:

• Grade Level Curriculum Connections
• Grade Level National Standards
• Grade Level Recommended Exhibit List
• Learning Continuum Structure
• Continuum Activities
• Laboratory Activities
• Book List

Where Can I Find Educator Guides on this Site?

Each Exhibition area has Educator Guides. The guides are available as PDF downloads that you can print and distribute:

• Connections Guides >
• Hidden Kingdoms Guides >
• Marvelous Molecules Guides >
• Mathematica Guides >
• Rocket Park Guides >
• Science Playground Guides >
• Search for Life Guides >
• Seeing the Light Guides >
• Sports Challenge Guides >

What Grade Levels Are Covered in the Guides?

The Guides are grouped by K-2, 3-5, and 6-8.

What is a Learning Continuum?

A learning continuum is a proven model for integrating a field trip visit with a classroom-based learning unit. Instead of isolating a field trip as a class event, students prepare for the field trip and understand its purpose before hand. The field trip itself becomes an integral part of investigation. Afterwards, students use the information they learned on the field trip for further understanding. The guides are structured as a learning continuum. The basic structure is as follows:

• Begin the investigation at School
• Investigate further at the New York Hall of Science
• Finish investigation back at School

What Is a Continuum Activity?

The continuum actvities within the guides are designed to help educators integrate a field trip using the learning continuum model. The activities have the following structure:

• Introduce a topic and prepare students for a visit
• Engage in an activity while on the field trip
• Follow-up after the field trip

What Are the Pre and Post Visit Activities?

The laboratory activities within each guide can be used before or after a visit. They are customized activities for each exhibiton area and vary in depth and time to implement. We encourage educators to integrate the field trip via the learning continuum model rather than select isolated activities and go on a field trip.

Is the Scientific Inquiry Method Used in the Guides?

We chose an investigation approach for our guides because most people are familiar with popular crime and detective show investigations on TV: a mystery unfolds, questions are asked, evidence is gathered, conclusions are drawn. This process is similar to what scientists go through with the inquiry method. Your students may become science police, detectives, agents or nothing at all. The choice is up to you.