North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

As a part of my summer vacation, Patrick and I decided to take a trip to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (this is what teachers do in the summer). We parked in a two hour parking spot, but little did we know, there was a lot more than two hours worth of "stuff" to see inside the museum.

I didn't really know what to expect because I don't remember visiting the museum as a kid. But as soon as we walked in the door, I knew it was going to be another great find to add to my list of field trip sites.

Here's a quick run down of the exhibits we explored.

The coast of North Carolina is featured on the first floor. Bioramas, as the museum labels them, are located throughout the museum. The ones on this level feature different birds, fish, and turtles of the coast. There's also information about weather and hurricanes and how those two things affect the appearance of the beaches in North Carolina. The information desk, museum store, and auditorium are also housed on the first floor of the museum. Behind the information desk, you'll find interesting items found in and around North Carolina - information about the state bird, soil from NC, and other animals and plants can all be found in this area of the museum.

As we ascended up to the second floor, we began to see different whales and other creatures of the sea, while also beginning to see exhibits pertaining to the mountains. The whales were fascinating. The best part about the museum is the fact that everything is so open. You can see different elements on the first floor from the second floor, which continues as you climb. The underbelly of the whales can be seen from the first floor, but they are much more impressive when you're standing on the second level, almost on top of them. You can also find an abundance of information about each whale on this level as well.

Once you circle around to the other side of the second floor, the mountains are on display. We saw more fish, turtles, and snakes on this level. There are so many bioramas with tons of information too - I felt like a little kid reading everything and discovering the different animals that live in various places in North Carolina. There are also rocks and minerals, information on mining, and plate tectonics on this level to help students understand how mountains are formed.

The third floor exhibits help students make further connections between the mountains and the sea. There is a great map on this level that shows students the different regions of our state - coastal plain, piedmont, and mountains. Walking through the second and third floor helped me see and understand how unique the state of North Carolina really is. Students can also learn about dinosaurs and fossils (prehistoric North Carolina). The coolest part about the third floor is the exhibit that features the Acrocanthosaurus, which is the most complete specimen of it's kind ever found (and it's in Raleigh). The exhibit is called "Terror of the South." In this area of the museum, students can compare and contrast different dinosaurs from this area.

I also liked the "Tropical Connections" exhibit. This exhibit is especially helpful for students in 5th grade because it's all about ecosystems. There's an interactive globe and other live animals to show students the differences between the various ecosystems on display. The mountain cove rounds out the third floor - there's a water fall, live fish and turtles, and an abundance of information specific to the mountains of North Carolina.

I was especially looking forward to the fourth floor because of the butterfly house. We walked through the arthropod zoo first, which features insects and bugs and the role they play in the life cycle. This exhibit was aesthetically pleasing, making you want to take a closer look at some of the (in my opinion) nastiest creatures on earth, including cockroaches, spiders, and mosquitoes. But like I said before, I was mostly looking forward to visiting the butterfly house, which sits in the middle of the fourth floor. It's a small enclosure where you can experience the tropics without ever leaving downtown Raleigh. There were live butterflies flying all around us, but we also got a closer look at a tarantula, a snake, and a sloth. The temperature was pretty steamy too (true to the tropics).

As a result of this visit and experience, this museum quickly jumps to the top of my field trip list for the Raleigh area (not surprising because it's the number one field trip destination in North Carolina). Students can learn about the regions of North Carolina in detail, ecosystems, interact with live animals, and also do many different hands on activities. The website has an abundance of information for the teacher to use prior to the visit, but also for use during and after the visit as well. It's important to do your homework in order to ensure that this visit successfully reinforces concepts taught in the classroom. I'm definitely looking forward to taking my first class to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. And even if you aren't a teacher, you should still visit the museum. It's always good to know about the area in and around where you live. The best part - it doesn't cost you anything!