Field Trips

The field trip program provides students with a private tour through the Mineral Museum and a more interactive experience, including several activities. A typical program includes time to explore our asteroid cave, view rare and beautiful mineral specimens in our Hubert C. De Monmonier Collection, check out the only scale replica of the Martian surface, and students can try their hand at “crystal construction.” Downstairs in the Mineral Museum, all students will participate in a Mineral Scavenger Hunt and the “Essence of Luminescence.” Groups may also choose either “Living in a Mineral World” or “Rocks Rock!”. All of these activities are described below.

Price: $150 (1-30 students), $250 (31-60 students).

Mineral Scavenger Hunt

(Included in all field trips)

Kindergarten-12th grades (25 min.)

This game involves finding minerals on display in the museum based on drawings of their physical appearance. There are large specimens on display that can be touched and are easier for younger students to find. A second group of specimens found in the display cases are more suitable for older students. This exercise allows students to experience mineral forms, color and texture and encourages team-work.

Arizona State Science Standards:

Strand 6, Concept 1 (Kindergarten: PO 1; Grade 3, PO 3)

The Essence of Luminescence

Kindergarten-12th grade (10 min.)

This activity explores of some of the unusual properties of minerals. Some of these include fluorescence, phosphorescence, triboluminescence, piezoelectricity, chemiluminescence and radioactivity. Younger children will see demonstrations of fluorescence and triboluminescence and older children demonstrations of chemiluminescence and radioactivity.

Arizona State Science Standards:

Strand 5, Concept 1 (Grade 8, PO 7; High School, PO 8 )

Strand 5, Concept 3 (Grade 3, PO 3; Grade 6, PO 1, 3; High School, PO 2, 7)

When you make your reservation, in addition to the scavenger hunt and luminescence program, you will choose from the following activities:

Living in a Mineral World

1st-12th grades (25 min.)

This interactive game helps students realize the importance of minerals that they use in their everyday lives. For example, a student may select a product and then try to decide which mineral(s) might used to manufacture that product. An alternate approach would be to choose a mineral and then try to decide which groups of products depend on that mineral for their manufacture.

Arizona State Science Standards

Strand 6 Concept 1 (Grade 1: PO2, PO3)

Rocks Rock!

3rd-12th grades (25 min.)

The rock cycle is presented with a discussion of the formation of rocks, examination of different samples of rock types, and a brief explanation of some of Arizona’s geology.

Arizona State Science Standards:

Strand 6, Concept 1 (Grade 3: PO 1, 2, 3, 6; Grade 7: PO 1, 2, 3; High School: PO 1, 2, 3)

Strand 6, Concept 2 (Grade 4, PO 3; Grade 7, PO 1, 2; High School, PO 4, 5)

Click here for the Mineral Museum Field Trip Request Form.