KCUA Resources
For Teachers
FREE FIELD TRIPS
KCUA provides students and educators at underserved, resource-scarce schools with free, holistic STEAM education experiences. KCUA provides a half-day trip to the MAP or its KCUA partner institutions—transportation and lunch are included for every grade level. Each trip features a tour of current exhibitions followed by hands-on, inquiry-based learning experiences and classroom resources for teachers. Full-day options are also available. All students receive a free Friends and Family Pass to return to the MAP and its partner institutions any time. Resources and FREE trips are available for both Missouri and Kansas Schools.
Download KCUA Field Trip Information
For more information, booking confirmation or to book your KCUA Field Trip today, please contact Wendy Beins: education@visitthemap.org | Phone: (913) 333-3506
SCHOOL VISITS
Museum at Prairiefire Educators will visit your classroom for pre-field trip consultations to help connect KCUA field trip experiences with learning in your classroom.
Contact Wendy Beins for more information or to register:
education@visitthemap.org | Phone: (913) 333-3506
FREE STEM RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS
The Museum at Prairiefire provides print and digital resources for teaching essential STEM and English Language Arts concepts prior to the students’ field trip and to reinforce essential concepts in the classroom after their field trip. Museum at Prairiefire educators work one-on-one with KCUA teachers to counsel them on implementation of these teaching and learning resources.
KCUA teachers also receive FREE ACCESS to STEAM programming for adults, including Professional Development and programs such as Science Happy Hour.
Current MAP Educator Guides and Resources:
Permian Monsters Educator Guide
Modern Dinosaurs Educator Guide
Savage Ancient Seas Educator Guide
NSF Brief: Early Stem Learning
Project Based Learning
Project Based Learning (PBL) prepares students for academic, personal, and career success, and readies young people to rise to the challenges of their lives and the world they will inherit.
With guidance and programing provided by the Museum at Prairiefire’s KCUA Education Team, students work on a project over an extended period of time – from a week up to a semester – that engages them in solving a real-world problem or answering a complex question. They demonstrate their knowledge and skills by developing a public product or presentation for a real audience.
As a result, students develop deep content knowledge as well as critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills in the context of doing an authentic, meaningful project. Project Based Learning unleashes a contagious, creative energy among students and teachers.
PARTNER RESOURCES
Green Works in Kansas City: GreenWorks ECOS Urban Outdoor Nature Discovery is a program that serves youth from 4th - 8th grades. We explore nature in the city, take field trips, and meet neighborhood leaders and career professionals creating healthy places for people and nature. We emphasize experiential learning methods that incorporate social-emotional learning. We can travel to schools, community centers, and youth programs on an on-demand basis. Contact Roberta Vogel-Leutung at roberta@greenworkskc.org or 816-803-5829 for more information about bringing this active learning experience to your school.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The MAP provides FREE Professional Development on Project-Based Learning for KCUA teachers and support staff.
These teacher professional development courses will introduce teachers to the problem-based learning (PBL) instructional model and provide them with the science content needed to create a unit that is designed to help elementary and middle school students achieve the Next Generation Science Standards in various subjects. The basics of PBL will be taught by having the teachers collaboratively work through a PBL scenario during the course. Subject content will be addressed as the teachers progress through the PBL. To successfully complete the course for grade, teachers will be given two weeks following the end of classroom instruction to develop outside of class and submit a short PBL unit in the subject, appropriate for upper elementary or middle school students.
Contact Wendy Beins for more information or to register for Professional Development courses.
education@visitthemap.org| Phone: (913) 333-3506
For Families
FREE FAMILY PASSES
Visit KCUA Institutions with your All Access Family Pass!
After their site visit, teachers and students receive passes to return with their entire family to the KCUA institution visited by the class.
FREE FAMILY PROGRAMS
Families may access scholarships to MAP STEAM programs such as Little Explorers, JAM Sessions, and Science Happy Hour. Special camps and non-school hours programs are also available to families and caregivers of KCUA students.
KCUA teachers also receive FREE ACCESS to STEAM programming for adults, including Science Happy Hour.
Contact Wendy Beins for more information or to register:
education@visitthemap.org | 913.333.3506
Programs
Choose from a variety of ongoing Museum at Prairiefire programs:
Little Explorers Club (3-5 Years Old)
These fun-filled 45-minute sessions guide children through a STEAM topic with Museum scientists. Each exploratory session includes story time, an activity or experiment, artifact or animal encounters, and a craft.
JAM Sessions (Elementary Learners)
Junior Adventurers at the Museum (JAM) Sessions engage students in hands-on, inquiry-based activities to familiarize students with STEM-essentials.
Science Happy Hour (Adult Programs)
Science Happy Hour features a presentation by an expert in a particular STEAM field such as paleontology, arts and sciences, medicine and astronomy. Drinks and appetizers are provided with ticket purchase during these dynamic talks followed by Q & A.
Cinema + Science
Enjoy special movie screenings at the AMC Theater plus an engaging panel discussion. Followed by a meet and greet with film makers, scientists and field experts.
Contact Wendy Beins for more information or to register:
education@visitthemap.org | 913.333.3506