Options for Educators:
Museum Visit
Schedule a museum visit to explore over 250 live animal and plant species, native to Virginia, in their natural settings. Your students can experience hands-on learning in our discovery centers and interactive galleries.
Length of Visit
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours for a tour of the indoor exhibits and outdoor trails.
Fee
$10 per student (September – mid-June)
Classroom teachers and school staff are free. One chaperone is recommended for every 10 students and is admitted free. Additional chaperones are $18 each.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9 am – 4:30 pm, or complete the Reservation Request Form below.
Funded in part by Wason Realty
Exhibits
The exhibits in the Virginia Living Museum correlate with and reinforce Virginia’s Standards of Learning for Science. While taking a tour of the geographic regions of Virginia, students can observe:
- Live animals and plants in their natural habitats
- Plant and animal life cycles, food chains, and food webs
- Animal survival adaptations for finding food and shelter, rearing young, avoiding predators, defensive measures
- Animal migration, camouflage, and hibernation
- Endangered and threatened species
- Vertebrates and invertebrates
- The importance of conserving Virginia’s animal, plant and mineral resources
- Pond, forest, stream, Chesapeake Bay, cypress swamp, mountain cove, cave and more habitats
- Virginia’s prehistoric past: rocks, minerals, fossils
Self-Guided Exhibit Guides
The Virginia Living Museum has developed targeted guides to help students focus during their visit. Teachers will need to come prepared with copies for their students.
| Exhibit Guides | Answer Keys |
| Pre-K | |
| Grades K-1 | Grades K-1 |
| Grades 2-3 | Grades 2-3 |
| Grades 4-5 | Grades 4-5 |
| Middle School | Middle School |
| High School | High School |
Chaperone Guides
The Virginia Living Museum has developed these guides to help teachers and parent chaperones support student learning in the museum exhibits. These guides include a museum map, review of expectations, and guided questions to ask students while exploring the exhibits.
| Kindergarten | Fourth Grade |
| First Grade | Fifth Grade |
| Second Grade | Middle School |
| Third Grade | High School |
Classes
Add a science program, lab, or planetarium program to your museum visit. Options available for ages Pre-K through high school.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm or complete the reservation form below.
Thanks to Sentara for supporting our K-12 educational programs!
Labs Grades 6-12
These in-depth inquiry-based sessions have students actively conducting experiments, collecting data, and analyzing results.
Length of Session: 1.5 hours
Number of Students: 30 maximum
Fee: $14.50 per student (includes self guided visit of exhibits)
Classroom teachers and school staff are free. One chaperone is recommended for every 10 students and is admitted free. Additional chaperones are $18 each.
*Minimum requirement to book programs: 15 students September – February and 30 students March – June
Funded in part by VuBAY FOUNDATION.
Middle School Labs (Grades 6-8)
Chesapeake Bay Ecology
Science SOLs: 6.1, 6.8, LS.1, LS.5, LS.6, LS.8, LS.9, PS.1
Challenge your students in our station-based lab to improve data collection skills, critical thinking, and understanding real-world issues as they impact our Bay. This program provides a well-rounded view on the ecology of the Bay while inspiring a sense of stewardship to protect our environment.
Plant Power
Science SOLs: 6.1, LS.1, LS.4, PS.1
Dissect a flower to discover its various parts while learning what role they play in pollination. Discuss the importance of pollination, how pollinators help, and ways we can protect and promote pollinators for healthy gardens.
Rockin’ Our Earth
Science SOLs: 5.1, 5.8, 6.1, 6.9, LS. 1, LS. 8, PS. 1
Explore the rock cycle and examine special properties of minerals through a series of experiments and learn why rocks and minerals are important to everyday life.
High School Labs (Grades 9-12)
Fish Dissection
Science SOLs: BIO.1, BIO.3, ES.1, ENV.1, Anatomy and Physiology I, III
Practice using and applying medical terminology during a fish dissection. Similarities and differences of human and fish anatomy will be compared and contrasted throughout the lab.
Canoes & Conservation
Science SOLs: BIO.1-2, BIO.8, ES.1, ES.8, ENV.1, ENV.5, ENV.9-10
Gain experience conducting field tests to learn more about freshwater ecosystems. Make observations about Deer Park Lake, collect mud samples, take a close look at plankton, and try your hand at catching macroinvertebrates in dip nets.
Space Science Programs Grades K-12
Our Space Science Programs are out of this world! Inside the digital Abbitt Planetarium theater, students will make important connections to essential space science SOLs as they explore the solar system, travel to distant galaxies, and marvel at the mysterious celestial objects in our own night sky. Other sessions focus on hands-on, minds-on classroom experiences that will expand your students’ understanding of space science.
Length of Session: 45 minutes
Number of Students: 71 maximum for planetarium/30 maximum for classroom
Fee: $12.50 per student (includes self guided tour of exhibits)
Classroom teachers and school staff are free. One chaperone is recommended for every 10 students and is admitted free. Additional chaperones are $18 each.
*Minimum requirement to book programs: 15 students September – February and 30 students March – June
Funded in part by Langley Federal Credit Union.
Planetarium Programs
Virginia Skies (Grades K-12)
Science SOLs: Vary based on topics requested
Students view the planetarium’s night sky while a staff astronomer discusses seasonal constellations, visible planets and other celestial happenings around the time of your visit.
Day and Night (Grades K-1)
Science SOLs: K.8, K.9, K.10, 1.6, 1.7
Discover the importance of Earth’s shadow as a staff astronomer takes you on a journey from Day to Night.
Reason for the Seasons (Grade 4)
Science SOLs: 4.5, 4.6
Witness the power of the tilt of the Earth as one of our staff astronomers helps you explore the reasons for the seasons.
Worlds in Motion (Grades 4-6)
Science SOLs: 4.5, 4.6, 6.2
Explore why objects move across the skies of Earth, why Pluto is no longer a major planet, how fast you are moving when you’re sitting still and other amazing topics…all connected by these worlds in motion.
Classroom Programs
What’s the Weather? (Grades 2-4)
Science SOLs: 2.6, 3.7, 4.4
Discover the connections between the processes of the water cycle and weather phenomena that we experience every day.
Sun, Earth & Moon (Grades 4-6)
Science SOLs: 4.5, 4.6, 6.3
Discover the connections between the Sun, Earth and Moon as we explore the cycles of the lunar phases and the tides.
Science Programs Grades K-5
Through the use of live ambassador animals, museum specimens, and hands-on activities, students become actively involved in these experiences. Science Programs are designed to effectively introduce, reinforce, or review science concepts in a way that makes them exciting and memorable.
Length of Session: PreK – 20 minutes; K – 30 minutes; Grade 1 and up – 45 minutes
Number of Students: 30 maximum
Fee: $12.50 per student (includes self-guided tour of exhibits)
Classroom teachers and school staff are free. One chaperone is recommended for every 10 students and is admitted free. Additional chaperones are $18 each.
*Minimum requirement to book programs: 15 students September – February and 30 students March – June
Funded in part by Ferguson.
Wonderful Wildlife (PreK-5th)
Building Blocks 1, 5; Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Meet a variety of wildlife and discover their role in the ecosystem.
Web of Life (K-5th)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Let’s start at the bottom of the food chain. Together we’ll work to make a food web and discuss differing animal diets. .
Thinking Like a Scientist (K-5th)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.5, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Develop science skills like observing, predicting, classifying, interpreting, and measuring to better understand your natural world.
Adaptations for Survival (K-5th)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1
Uncover how wild animals survive through hands-on activities that demonstrate their physical and behavioral adaptations.
Protecting our Resources (5th)
Science SOLs: 5.1, 5.9
Explore renewable and non-renewable energy sources and discover why conserving energy is important.
School Safaris
Journey out into the field for an unforgettable hands-on learning experience.
Length of Session: 6 to 12+ hours (varies with topic)
Number of Students: Varies depending on program type
Fee: $35 per student ($700 minimum per program)
Fuel surcharge may apply. ALL safari bookings will be required to provide their own transportation to the site.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations office at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm or complete the online request form.
Funded in part by BayPort Credit Union.
Paleontology – Grades 6-12
Science SOLs: LS.1, LS.7, LS.8, LS.11, ES.1, ES.7, ES.9, ES.10, BIO.1, BIO.7, BIO.8, ENV.1, ENV.2, ENV.3, ENV.4, ENV.6, ESII.1, ESII.3, ESII.4, ESII.5, ESII.6, ESII.7, ESII.8, Ocean.1, Ocean.4
Venture into the field to uncover the fossils of aquatic organisms present in Virginia 3-5 million years ago. Learn how fossils are formed and compare these ancient creatures to their modern day relatives as we discuss why they are still significant today.
Freshwater Aquatics – Grades 7-12
Science SOLs: LS.1, LS.5, LS.6, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.11, ES.1, ES.6, ES.8, BIO.1, BIO.2, BIO.7, BIO.8, ENV.1, ENV.2, ENV.3, ENV.5, ENV.6, ENV.8, ENV.9, ENV.10, ESII.1, ESII.8, ECO.1, ECO.2, ECO.3, ECO.4, ECO.5, ECO.6, BIOII.1, BIOII.6, BIOII.7
Cruise through a beautiful swamp ecosystem in a canoe. Conduct experiments to understand how the physical and chemical aspects of water quality impact this freshwater environment. Learn about the specialized adaptations plants and animals use to survive in this unique habitat.
Estuarine Ecology, a “Meaningful Watershed Educational Experience” Program – Grades 7-12
Science SOLs: LS.1, LS.5, LS.6, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.11, ES.1, ES.10, ES.12, BIO.1, BIO.2, BIO.7, BIO.8, ENV.1, ENV.2, ENV.3, ENV.5, ENV.6, ENV.8, ENV.9, ENV.10, ENV.11, ESII.1, ESII.8, Ocean.1, Ocean.2, Ocean.9, Ocean.11, Ocean.12, Ocean.13, ECO.1, ECO.2, ECO.3, ECO.4, ECO.5, ECO.6, BIOII.1, BIOII.6, BIOII.7
Explore the shores and water of the Chesapeake Bay as you collect water quality data and learn about the role of different living and nonliving factors in the ecology of the Bay. Collect evidence of marine life and explore ways we can better protect these amazing creatures.
Cave Ecology – Grades 7-12
Science SOLs: LS.1, LS.5, LS.7, LS.8, LS.9, LS.11, ES.1, ES.4, ES.5, ES.7, ES.8, ES.9, BIO.1, BIO.8, ENV.1, ENV.2, ENV.3, ENV.4, ENV.5, ENV.6, ENV.9, ENV.10, ESII.1, ESII.3, ESII.4, ESII.8, ECO.1, ECO.3
Cave Ecology – Traverse the rocky trail through Fountain Cave in Grottoes, Virginia using only headlights to guide your way. On this adventure through a geologically old cave, you will learn about cave formations and cave ecology.
(Note: This is a strenuous trip. Participants must be able to walk easily without assistance on uneven ground including some steep slopes and be able to navigate in low light conditions.)
Outreach Programs for Students
Have the Virginia Living Museum Visit You!
Outreach programs are fun and engaging presentations for classrooms, libraries, organizations, church groups, and retirement centers. A Virginia Living Museum educator will introduce your group to a variety of science topics through the use of live ambassador animals, museum artifacts, and active participation in an exciting ‘hands-on’ format. Programs are specifically designed to function as both an introduction to SOL topics and as reinforcement of previously taught science concepts.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm or complete the reservation request form.
Length of Program: PreK – 20 minutes; K – 30 minutes; Grade 1 and up – 45 minutes
Program Fee: $250 first program; $220 consecutive programs
Travel fee may apply.
Funded in part by TowneBank.
Curious Critters (PreK-5th; max 30 participants)
Building Blocks 1, 5; Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Meet a variety of animal critters and discover their role in the ecosystem.
Food Chain Connections (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Let’s start at the bottom of the food chain. Together we’ll work to make a food web and discuss why different animals eat different things.
Let’s Be A Scientist (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.5, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.5, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1
Develop science skills like observing, predicting, classifying, interpreting, and measuring to better understand the natural world.
Wild Adaptations (K-5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: K.1, K.6, K.7, 1.1, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.5, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1
Uncover how wild animals survive through hands-on activities that demonstrate their physical and behavioral adaptations.
Protecting our Resources (5th; max 30 participants)
Science SOLs: 5.1, 5.9
Explore renewable and non-renewable energy sources and discover why conserving energy is important.
Amazing Animals (Grade 3-12; max 90 participants)
Science SOLs: 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 6.1, LS.6, LS.7, LS.11, BIO.6
Meet a variety of live animals and explore biofacts to learn how animals locate food, escape predators, and survive in the wild.
Assembly Program Fee: $350 first program; $295 consecutive programs
Mini Museum for Events & Festivals
Now you can bring the Virginia Living Museum to your next event. Well, maybe not the whole Museum, but a VLM educator, a table full of engaging hands-on Museum specimens, and even a live ambassador animal is certainly the next best thing! Tell us about your event and we’ll be happy to design an amazing “mini museum” just for you and your group.
Fee: $250 first hour; $200 consecutive hour. Add on a 20-minute live ambassador animal encounter during the mini museum – up to three animals, $50 per animal.
Mother Nature’s Road Show
Enhance your activities for children, families, scouts, and senior citizens with a visit from the Virginia Living Museum. We will come to your library, day care facility, retirement community, church, or camp to add live animals and involve your clients in an educational and fun program.
Length of Program: 40 minutes; 20 minutes for PreK
Fee: $250 first program; $220 consecutive programs
Nature Detectives (For Toddlers and Preschoolers)
Little scientists will be introduced to nature through a hands-on sensory adventure. Participants will grow a love and appreciation for the outdoors as they explore the sounds, textures, and colors of nature and meet a live ambassador animal.
Caring for Critters (School-aged and up)
Discover the diverse needs of different animals and learn how humans impact animal habitats. Participants will learn how we care for our museum’s animals and how to be a better neighbor to our wild friends.
Discovery Boxes
The Virginia Living Museum’s Discovery Boxes are “museum-in-a-trunk” traveling curriculum modules that teachers use in their own classrooms. They are designed to stimulate critical thinking and educate through excitement by involving students in active, hands-on learning. The wide variety of objects and resources make Discovery Boxes effective learning tools for any grade level and allows teachers to customize these materials to fit their curriculum and SOL requirements.
Each topic is developed thematically and contains natural history specimens and artifacts from the Museum’s collections for hands-on use by students, as well as activities, student and teacher resource information, and much more. A teacher resource packet in each box provides background information on each specimen and suggested activities for implementation into the curriculum.
Fee: $150 per week ($100 for the next consecutive week); Travel fee required for rentals outside the Tidewater region
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations office at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm, email your request to Reservations or complete our online request form.
Funded in part by Newport News Shipbuilding.
Amazing Astronomy
Real meteorites, tektite, earth rocks, and minerals identical to those found on the Moon and Mars, spectrometers, lenses, mirrors, a Rive Ray box, AV materials, posters, scale model of the solar system, distance to the nearest star tape, comet balls, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides, resource information and more.
K.1, K.3, K.8-11, 1.1-3, 1.6, 2.1, 2.3, 3.1, 4.1, 4.5-6, 5.1
Be a Tree
Collections of leaves, wood, seeds and flowers; real taxidermied mounts of bat, bird, insects and other tree-associated animals; tree products, bark rubbings and petrified wood; puppets, AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more.
K.1, K.3, K.6-7, K.9-11, 1.1, 1.4, 1.7-8, 2.1, 2.4, 2.7-8, 3.1, 3.6, 4.1-2, 5.1
Digging Dinosaurs
Real dinosaur bones, teeth and other fossils; Casts of dinosaur skin, eggs and skulls; dinosaur hatchling sculpture, scale models and puppets; AV materials, posters, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more!
K.1, K.3, K.6-7, K.10, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4-5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.8, 4.1, 4.3, 5.1, 5.8
Incredible Insects
Insect mounts, collections, eggs and architecture; fossil insects and scale models, insect products, beekeeper hat and gloves and insect eye viewer; student microscope, AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more!
K.1, K.3, K.6-7, K.10, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1
Natural History of Early Virginia
Natural items used by Virginia’s Native Americans and Jamestown settlers for survival, trade, food, jewelry, music and toys. Includes puppets, corn grinding mortar and pestle with corn to grind, artifacts, animal furs, bone/antler tools, feathers, jewelry, Native American crafts, skulls with skull key, AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides, resource information and more.
K.1, K.3, K.6-7, K.10-11, 1.1, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.4, 3.8, 4.1-3, 4.8, 5.1
Shark Secrets
Real shark jaws, shark vertebrae, shark skin and fossil shark teeth; shark embryo and eggs, shark products, stingray mount, posters, puppets, student microscope, AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more!
K.1, K.3, K.6-7,K.10-11, 1.1, 1.5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1
Snakes Alive
Real snake skeleton, skull, taxidermied mount; collection of reptiles and amphibians, snake eggs, embryos, fossils and skins, reptile products, puppets and posters; AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more!
K.1, K.3, K.6-7, K.10, 1.1, 1.5, 2.1, 2.4, 3.1, 3.4, 4.1, 5.1
Tropical Rainforest
Museum specimens of insects, crystals, leaves and piranha; skins and feathers of endangered tropical bird species, rainforest products, scale models and puppets; posters, AV materials, children’s books, reference materials, activity guides and more!
K.1, K.3, K.6-8, K.10-11, 1.1, 1.4-5, 1.7-8, 2.1, 2.5, 2.7-8, 3.1, 3.4-6, 3.8, 4.1-4, 5.1
Under the Bay
Museum mounts of fish, squid, skate, and algae; collections of shells, crabs, corals, and sea stars; scale models, posters, puppets; children’s books, reference materials, and activity guides; student microscope, AV materials and more!
K.1, K.3-4, K.6-7, K.10-1, 1.1, 1.4-5, 1.8, 2.1, 2.4-5, 3.1, 3.4-5, 3.8, 4.1-4, 4.7-8, 5.1
Virtual Programs
All programs will be via Zoom. If another platform is preferred it must be disclosed at time of booking and is the responsibility of the booking party. A test call is required for all virtual programs.
Length of Session: 30 minutes and Q&A with educator
Fee: $150
To register, complete our online request form. For more information, call our Reservations office at 757-534-7410 Monday-Friday, 9am – 4:30pm.
Special thanks to Bayport for sponsoring our virtual education efforts.
Backyard Conservation (PreK-12th)
Why are the animals in our own backyard so important? Observe some of our ambassador animals as we discuss how they came to live at the Virginia Living Museum, the important role their species plays in the ecosystem, and ways we can help protect their wild counterparts.
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