come prepared!

The Exhibition

Members of the Antarctica meteorite expedition examine a specimen.
©Nancy Chabot
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The Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites draws on the latest research and cutting-edge technology to present a comprehensive look at meteorites. To provide focus for your visit, the "Key Concepts and Orientation" section of this guide correlates the content in the exhibition to three areas of the science curriculum: Earth and planetary science, chemistry, and physical science.

An Advanced Look at the Exhibition

We encourage you to visit the exhibition prior to coming with your class, so that you can familiarize yourself with the information presented in the Hall, its layout, and the specimens on display. You may also want to visit the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites Web site, for a comprehensive overview of the exhibition: www.amnh.org/ exhibitions/ permanent/ meteorites/

Teaching in the Exhibition

This photo of the Peekskill meteorite was captured as it headed towards the Earth.

Use the tour described in the "Teaching in the Exhibition" section and the activities presented in other sections of this guide to plan your visit. Prepare students for their visit by presenting one or two of the activities in the "Before Your Visit" section. You can choose to conduct a tour of the Hall or you can have students explore the Hall independently. Duplicate the map of the exhibition for students. Have them choose an activity from the "While You're at the Museum" section. Suggest they bring clipboards, drawing paper, and a pencil with them to sketch samples and take notes. Students may also wish to bring a magnet or compass.

As an informal learning environment, the Museum offers many opportunities for self-directed learning. In visiting this exhibition and related halls, students will be exposed to, and inspired by, wonderful artifacts and specimens supported by a range of media. Build flexibility into your plans to allow students to follow their interests. You can customize and adapt the tour and activities to fit the needs and abilities of your students.