Our fields trips are available at the museum, in your class, or virtually. Please note that not all programs can be done in your class or virtually, see descriptions for more details.
Fields trips at the Museum are offered Monday to Friday (morning and afternoon) from September to June. These are 90 minutes in length, allowing for 60 minutes of structured discussion and activities and 30 minutes for exploration time in the galleries.
Programs done in your classroom or virtually run for 60-80 minutes and consist of either activities or discussions following the structured program.
My First Visit to the Museum
Grades: Preschool – 2
Available As: Museum, Virtually Only
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; Science & Technology; The Arts
Introduce your students to the Thunder Bay Museum and discover the meaning of words like “museum”, “gallery”, “exhibit”, and “artifact”. Find out why museums are an important part of our community ,practice museum etiquette, play a drama game, touch and feel items in our collection, and create a craft to take home.
Dinosaurs!
Grades: Preschool – 2
Available As: Classroom Only
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; Science & Technology; The Arts
Travel back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the Earth! In this classroom only program, students will learn all about what makes a dinosaur, a dinosaur, fossils, and those extinct. Students will have an opportunity to handle Museum related artifacts and create a dinosaur craft!
My Thunder Bay
Grades: Grade 1-3
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; Science & Technology; The Arts
Introduce your students to the Thunder Bay. Students will learn where it is on a map, how we got its name, and a brief history about our city. Students will also learn about different landmarks found around town, as well as symbols that make up Thunder Bay.
Early Settler Children
Grades: 1-3
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; Science & Technology; The Arts
What were children like in pioneer times and what did they do? Students will watch a short film, take part in a discussion about past chores, leisure activities, and schooling, and discuss how those compare to today. They will also have the opportunity to examine related artifacts and make a pioneer toy to take home.
Christmas Around the World
Available: Nov 13-Dec 20
Grades: Preschool – 4
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies, The Arts
Feliz Navidad! Kala Christouyenna! Hauska Jolua! Merry Christmas!
Embrace the season and discover winter and Christmas traditions from various countries all over the world in this fun hands-on program. Students will be shown traditions from around the world, partake in a discussion, examine artifacts from our collection, and make a Christmas craft to take home.
Silver Islet
Grades: 5-8
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; Science & Technology; History; Canadian Studies
At one time the world’s largest and richest silver mine, Silver Islet, had quite a past! Through group discussions, a video presentation, a critical thinking activity, and an examination of related museum artifacts, students will uncover the legend of the mine, its rise and fall, what life was like during the mine’s heyday, and the feasibility of reopening Silver Islet in the future.
We Remember: Canada at War
Grades: 4-8
Available As: Museum, Classroom
Curriculum Connections: Social Studies; History; Language; The Arts
In this program, students will gain a brief overview of Canada’s contribution to the First and Second World Wars, discuss the importance of the act of remembrance and different ways Canadians honour the service and sacrifices of our veterans, and learn about Thunder Bay’s unique connection to the poppy. After the discussion, students will have the opportunity to examine artifacts from our military collection, and view our permanent military exhibit Stand On Guard
We Remember: Canada at War
Grades: 9-12
Available As: Museum, Classroom
Curriculum Connections: History; English; The Arts
During this program, students will listen to an interview by a veteran and former P.O.W. from Port Arthur and evaluate oral histories a source of information about the First and Second World Wars. Students will also have an opportunity to handle and examine military artifacts from our collection, and view our permanent military exhibit Stand on Guard.
Then & Now
Grades: 7-12
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Do you know what an Edison player is? Or what early phones looked like? What about a camera that was made out of cardboard? In this program, students will learn about artifacts that were used before the turn of the century and how they have changed since then.
Medical History
Grades: 7-12
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
Medical knowledge and technology has changed over the years. In this program, students will find out what medicines, tools, and types of clothing that were used years ago. This program ties in great with our Early Epidemics teacher resource file.
Businesses of Thunder Bay
Grades: 7-12
Available As: Museum, Classroom, Virtually
This topic is all about Thunder Bay! Thunder Bay started off as two cities, Port Arthur and Fort William and they amalgamated on January 1, 1970. Since Thunder Bay has wide and diverse history, this program will highlight some of the businesses and buildings that have been around or are still around.
Museum Tour & Behind the Scenes (for classes 25 and under)
Grades: 9-12
Available As: Museum Only
**Subject to staff availability**
In this program, students will receive an in-depth tour of our first and third floors followed by a special look at what happens behind the scenes in our collection space and ask our Curators questions!
Immigration
Coming Soon!
