NYC’s American Museum Of Natural History Includes Great Dinosaur Exhibit
Keywords: student travel, educational travel, student tour, student tours
For teachers planning a student tour to New York City, one of the best choices for a truly educational experience is the American Museum of Natural History, located at Central Park West at 79th Street.
Among the many exhibits of the museum, which is open from 10 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., are Dinosaurs Alive!, a large-format film narrated by Academy Award-winning actor Michael Douglas. The film shadows museum paleontologists in a hunt for dinosaur remains in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia and at Ghost Ranch in New Mexico. The adventure includes the uncovering of evidence that the descendents of dinosaurs still walk (or fly) among us.
The 40-minute film, which includes footage from the museum, features the earliest dinosaurs of the Triassic Period and the creatures of the Cretaceous Period. Realistic computer-generated animation helps bring these ancient creatures to life.
Museum paleontologists Mike Novacek and Mark Norell travel with graduate students on an expedition to the Gobi Desert. They follow in the footsteps of museum scientist and adventurer Roy Chapman, believed to be the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character. Andrews and his team uncovered hundreds of dinosaur remains, including the first Velociraptor and dinosaur nests with eggs.
Another good reason for including the American Museum of Natural History in a student tour is the Cosmic Collisions, a space show narrated by award-winning actor, director, and producer Robert Redford.
This theater experience launches visitors on a thrilling trip through space and time to explore cosmic collisions, hypersonic impacts that drive the dynamic and continuing evolution of the universe.
The show includes visualizations based on cutting-edge research developed by museum astrophysicists, scientists at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and other international colleague. Cosmic Collisions shows the dramatic and explosive encounters that shaped our solar system, changed the course of life on Earth, and continue to transform the galaxy.
Viewers will witness the violent face of the Sun, imaged by NASA satellites, that produces enormous ejections of material, with the resulting subatomic clashes producing the eerie glow of the aurora borealis and the aurora australis.
Cosmic Collisions also shows the creation of the Moon some five billion years ago when a wandering planetoid struck Earth.
Other collisions depicted include the violent meeting of two stars at the edge of the galaxy and the future collision of the Milky Way galaxy with Earth’s closest neighbor, the Andromeda spiral galaxy, a cosmic crash that scientists predict will produce a new giant elliptical galaxy billions of years from now.
Students and their teachers visiting the American Museum of Natural History will also be able to take in the display of a spectacular mineral specimen, a 1,000-pound stibnite with hundreds of sword-like, metallic blue-gray crystals sprouting from a rocky base. Stibnite (Sb2S3), a compound of the elements antimony and sulfur, occasionally forms nests of delicate, six-sided crystals, but examples this large and intricate are exceedingly rare.
The unique specimen on display was found by alert miners in an antimony mine in Jiangxi Province of southeastern China. Stibnite is most commonly pulverized and heated to extract the antimony and make flame retardants and engine bearings, so the fact that it survived is considered a miracle.
The museum’s stibnite specimen, the largest on public display in the world, was likely formed some 130 million years ago when water heated by volcanic activity dissolved antimony and sulfur from surrounding rocks and flowed between layers of limestone, leaving a dense band of stibnite and occasional pockets containing long, elegant crystals. Complete stibnite crystals as long as the ones this specimen exhibits are rare - they are typically found broken because of their extreme fragility and the industrial nature of modern antimony mining.
Other highlights of any tour of the American Museum of Natural History are the habitat group dioramas that are located throughout its halls. Featuring precise depictions of geographical locations and the careful, anatomically correct mounting of specimens, the dioramas are windows onto a world of animals, their behavior, and their habitats. Many of the environments represented have been exploited or degraded, giving students and teachers taking in the Museum as part of a student tour the ability to travel not only across continents, but through time
Travel Adventures, www.traveladventures.com, is staffed by educators who understand the needs of teachers. Serving over one half million students since our inception, we provide hassle-free travel arrangements while empowering teachers to create change by expanding the classroom to the world.
Previous Articles Highlighter:
A Visit To The Guggenheim Museum Delights Students And Teachers (1)
He brought people to the top of the building via elevator and had them proceed downward at a leisurely pace on the gentle slope of a continuous ramp, dividing the galleries with self-contained yet interdependent sections.
Thailand Can Be A Retirees Paradise (2)
You can also just relax and enjoy cultural activities if you would prefer. Overall retiring in Thailand is definitely something you should consider. The cost of living there is extremely low and it is one of the safest places in the world.
Finding Homes In Paradise (3)
This is a genre of music which uses a number of stringed instruments to create the mood for the party. Given its beauty and nightlife, it is no wonder that people flock to its shores.
Tourism Season In Full Bloom On Prince Edward Island (4)
Its rich heritage and island location naturally lend itself to a unique shopping experience. Antiques abound and so too do arts and crafts related products. From quilts to pottery, woodworking and woven tapestries, traditional artisans offer up a shopping experience as simple, or as sophisticated as you desire.
Maine Vacation Rivaled By That Of Prince Edward Island (5)
Imagine miles and miles of soft, silky sand in colors from white to champagne, from pink to red. Imagine the sound of sea birds soaring high over head. Imagine too the warmest waters north of the Carolinas.
Spain Beats Off 2007 Eastern Tourist Competition (6)
The highest number of visitors came from the United Kingdom, followed closely by Germany. It was mainly due to the Germans that the numbers were up, as the number of British arrivals actually showed a slight drop, while more than 6 per cent extra visitors from Germany ensured a good start for 2007 for Spain.
2007 Tourists Numbers Up For Malta (7)
The surprise among the statistics is where the tourists have come from. Many people in the Malta holidays industry expected a big increase in visitors from the UK, but visitor numbers have remained static, as they have from Germany and France.
Guide To South India (8)
The bedroom decor was simple, soothing and relaxing and we had excellent views of the sea. We were extremely grateful for the air conditioning in our rooms as it was very hot outside.
South India Wildlife Sanctuary (9)
The projects are designed to help preserve India's natural heritage and to encourage eco-tourism. For those going on South India package tours, a trip to Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary comes highly recommended as it is a thoroughly enjoyable day out.
Gary Rhodes Cooks In Grenada (10)
This is just yet another step to ensure that the quality of the food being served measures up to Gary's high standards. He and many others worked on the cuisine and crew for one year to get everything in top shape and have modified local dishes to suit a demanding pallet.
Newer Articles Highlighter:
Maryland Science Center Offers Great Opportunities For Student Travel (1)
SpaceLink, the second of the Link galleries at the Maryland Science Center, is a place where students can "dock" the Space Shuttle or construct a planetary rover. They can also watch NASA's latest launch countdowns and press conferences or try on a flight suit.
Liberty Science Center In NYC Offers Student Tour Organizers A Great Time (2)
In "Live From. . ." the Liberty Science Center brings teachers and students the thrill of real-time interactive videoconferencing with a series of hospital surgical suites, featuring cardiac, neurosurgery, kidney transplant and robotic surgery experiences.
The Omni Hotel Adds European Style In Downtown Detroit (3)
The Omni Hotels Ideal Living program is designed to help you maintain a healthy attitude and lifestyle while you're traveling. Our Ideal Nourishment Program provides you with healthy meal options, and our Get Fit Rooms are set up for a private, in-room workout.
20 Year Low For Andorra Ski Holidays In 2007 (4)
To obtain residency in Andorra, applications need to be submitted in Catalan. A notarised copy of the applicants passport, birth certificate and a certificate of good conduct from the home country are submitted at the same time.
Hawaiian Cruises - The Best Way To See The Islands? (5)
Some cruise lines go to some of the islands that are farther out in the Pacific and out of US waters. Passports are required for these trips and the frequency of foreign ports of call appearing on itineraries is increasing.
All About Beautiful North Cyprus (6)
There are plenty of water sports you can engage in as well. Whether you like surfing, boating, parasailing, swimming, sailing, or skimboarding, you're sure to find a perfect place to do it.
Moving To The Gorgeous Land Of Cyprus (7)
Purchasing property in Cyprus: New property laws were put in place and took effect after Cyprus became a full EU member. EU nationals who are resident in Cyprus are allowed to purchase any amount of property without restriction and without having to obtain any kind of approval.
The Four Seasons Of Cyprus (8)
Keywords: cyprus Cyprus epitomizes the Mediterranean weather with gorgeous sunshine and perfect temperatures every day of the year. Extreme temperatures are rare, making Cyprus an island for all seasons. While Cyprus does not experience drastic seasonal fluctuations, each of the four seasons is distinctly different and has its own influence on the island's character and the activities on offer.
Tips For Planning A Trip To Cyprus (9)
Pack a variety of clothes that can be layered or changed - sorts, long pants, short sleeve shirts, long sleeved shirts, etc. Many people forget to pack a sweater to stay warm on those cooler evenings.
Tips For Planning A Vacation To Cyprus (10)
Many of the popular activities fill up quickly so you should consider scheduling your events before you go. This way you won't have to wait in line or be disappointed that you have to miss out on it.
Permalink to NYC’s American Museum Of Natural History Includes Great Dinosaur Exhibit