Discovery Place and the Charlotte Nature Museum

Discovery Place offers hands-on activities in all areas of science for students at both the Discovery Halls and Charlotte Nature Museum.

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• NASAKIDS Provides information on our solar system and space exploration for elementary school students.
• Visible Earth Earth images, mostly satellite. Most are satellite images, and some, such as the Environmental Impact images, are very effective in demonstrating human impact upon the environment.
• Learning Together An interactive, international website that uses multimedia activities to teach kids about anatomy, geography, and the presidents.
• Lesson plan: Saving the environment through picture books This lesson looks at environmental issues and man's relationship to the environment over time using main ideas and supporting details. The content comes from two picture books: Brother Eagle, Sister Sky and A River Ran Wild.
• Lesson plan: Comparative anatomy: A continuum In groups, students will design a presentation that will trace the development of an organ system through the major phyla of the animal kingdom looking for the relationships between structure and function by documenting adaptations.
• Lesson plan: History of astronomy scavenger hunt A unit on astronomy inevitably and rightfully begins with a look at the history of astronomy. This activity provides students with an opportunity to learn the basic facts of the history of astronomy by using the internet.

Related pages

• Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Educational Center: This 4-H Educational Center provides year-round programming, including team-building and environmental education to students in 2nd through 6th grades.
• Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center: Offers a selection of informative, interactive and experientially-based programs in outdoor and environmental education.
• Morrow Mountain State Park: Students will learn about the geological processes which formed the Uwharrie Mountains when they visit Morrow Mountain State Park.

Related topics

• Learn more about Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, amphibians, anatomy, animals, astronomy, biology and life science, birds, body systems, chemistry, earth science, genetics, geology, habitat, indigneous plants, insects, mammals, meteorology, natural history, oceanography, physics, reptiles, science, science museum, and technology and innovation.

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There is much to see and do at Discovery Place in Charlotte, North Carolina. It includes Discovery Halls, the Charlotte Nature Museum, and the Charlotte Observer IMAX Dome Theatre.

In Discovery Halls there is Kid’s Place for younger students. It has hands-on activities in the areas of health, nature, the senses, and dinosaurs. There is also a puppet theater with musical shows that teach science related topics. For older students, there is the Geo Center with rocks and minerals, Our Living Planet where weather topics are explored, an aquarium, a technology center, and much more.

There are educational opportunities for both students and teachers. The museum offers educator’s guides in areas that correspond to the North Carolina science curriculum. Field trips may be arranged for school groups by calling 704-372-6261 or sending an email to education@discoveryplace.org. If you can’t come to the museum, the museum will come to your classroom. Science Reach is a "science center on wheels" that brings exciting, hands-on science programs to your site.

The Charlotte Nature Museum is an urban science center that exhibits the animals and plants of the Piedmont including an ever-changing Butterfly Garden. The museum is located adjacent to Freedom Park. To schedule a group visit, contact the Communications Department at 704-372-6261, ext. 300 or 1-800-935-0553.

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