Field Trip Workshops & Guided Tours

The Bakken Museum supports the teaching of electricity and magnetism with field trips that engage students in hands-on inquiry based learning.  The museum strives to ensure a fun and educational environment so all students feel at ease to explore science through investigation.  Age appropriate workshops incorporate historical perspectives and interactive discussions, and are designed to meet state and federal standards.  Each student leaves with a project to take home so they can continue to experiment even after the field trip is over and share what they learned with their families.

A typical field trip includes:

• A Bakken Museum workshop and a guided tour of the museum exhibits (grades 1-6) OR
• A Bakken Museum workshop and a Museum of Broadcasting workshop (grades 4-6)

NEW FOR 2010-2011

• Registrations will be made and scholarships will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Field trips fees have increased by $1/student.
• Scholarship funds are limited so register early.

Register Now

Intro to Magnets Workshop (Grades 1-2)

In this workshop, students use scientific inquiry to investigate magnets and magnetism.  They sort magnetic and non-magnetic materials and observe and compare magnetic force as they learn about the history of magnets.  Students make a magnetic motor that demonstrates one way magnets are used in modern engineering to improve everyday life.

Magnets & Electromagnets Workshop (Grades 3-6)

In this workshop, students recreate the historic experiments that helped people to investigate the properties of magnets.  They learn about the invention of the compass, its uses and limitations.  They do experiments to better understand magnetism and magnetic fields and explore the interaction between magnetism and electricity.  Every student takes home a kit containing all the materials needed to construct and experiment with their own electromagnet.

Static Electricity Workshop (Grades 4-6)

In this workshop, students investigate the science of static electricity.  Students learn about historical figures and the tools they used to conduct their research.  Through engaging experiments, the students compare insulators and conductors to discover how they are used in static electricity experiments.  All students build a static electricity generator and Leyden jar to take home.

Batteries Workshop: Investigating the Nature of Science & Engineering (Grades 4-6)

In this workshop, students learn what happens when two great scientists disagree.  Students explore the history of batteries by engaging in the famous 200-year-old debate between scientists Alessandro Volta and Luigi Galvani.  They make replicas of the first documented battery, the Voltaic Pile, and use it to produce sound and light.  Participants take home a kit containing all the materials needed to construct and experiment with their own environmentally friendly battery.

Museum of Broadcasting Workshop (Grades 4-6)

Your class visits the nearby Museum of Broadcasting where they go ´live and on the air´ in an educational broadcast workshop that highlights the history of radio and TV.  Students engage in hands-on activities and demonstrations including hosting a 1960s-style radio broadcast and being a contestant on a TV quiz show.

Bakken Museum Guided Tour (Grades 1-6)

Students explore the connections between history, science and engineering through The Bakken Museum´s interactive galleries.  They hear fascinating stories about the relationships between electricity, magnetism, medicine and invention.  Students learn that they are part of science by finding a connection with the artifacts, experiments, scientists and inventors highlighted in the museum.