Introduction

A visit to the Minibeast Zooseum and Education Center always brings a greater awareness about the importance of minibeasts (invertebrates) to any group.  The Minibeast Zooseum is a wonderful place to see minibeasts from both Michigan and other parts of the world.  The Zooseum is a place where you and your class can see "wild" minibeasts safely.  The minibeasts are kept in special terraria and aqauria that are similar to their natural homes.

We strive to provide your students with age-appropriate information and hands-on activities that will expand their knowledge about insects, spiders, and other minibeast animals. We know that a field trip where students do things is far more valuable than one where they simply go and see a demonstration or talk.

To insure the best possible experience for your group, we offer the following guidelines and procedures.  (Note: Each booked group is sent a special postcard that requests information which will allow us to tailor each visit to the leader's needs and expectations.  We will happily work with you to make a field trip to the Minibeast Zooseum both an educational and memorable experience.)

Trip Preparation

A week or more before coming to the Minibeast Zooseum, talk with your students about minibeasts.  Try to let them do most of the talking so that you can find out what they already know about minibeasts.  Have your group make a list of the animals that they think they will see at the Minibeast Zooseum.  (They will see many types of macroinvertebrates -- insects, spiders, scorpions, crustaceans, centipedes, millipedes, worms and snails; they will NOT see snakes, turtles, mice, hamsters, or other small vertebrate animals.)  Review the list that has been compiled and if appropriate discuss why some of the organisms should not be on the list.  You may want to briefly introduce your group to the various types of macroinvertebrate animals (minibeasts), placing special emphasis on similarities and differences amongst the various groups: worms, mollusks, and arthropods.  Another great way to set the stage for learning about arthropods is to start with the Forgotten Animals Quiz or the Arthropod Fact or Fiction Quiz.  For more information on minibeasts, including fact sheets, curriculum ideas, references, and minibeast glossary, visit our Minibeast World of Insects and Spiders website.

For some groups it is a good idea to provide each student with a checklist of  minibeast observations to make, or questions to answer, while at the Minibeast Zooseum. [print off the sample questions student worksheet]

Specific objectives to be achieved while at the Minibeast Zooseum could include any or all of the following:

• View the live minibeasts and be prepared to discuss their similarities and differences.
• View each animal's habitat and be prepared to discuss the type of environment each prefers.
• View each minibeast and be prepared to discuss what each animal needed for survival, in the form of diet, shelter, moisture, health care, etc.
• Gather information on why invertebrates are so ecologically (and in some cases economically) important.
• Find an amazing fact about a macroinvertebrate animal to share with the rest of the group.
• Note what types of plants (and other animals) were seen in and around the Minibeast Zooseum.

A day or two before the scheduled trip, discuss with the children what they will do and tell them about any special equipment or clothing they will need, including cameras, lunches/snacks, and spending money.  It is probably also a good idea to review the rules of good field trip behavior -- for example, staying with the group (or partners), giving their attention to Zooseum personnel, and no "horseplay".

Arriving at the Minibeast Zooseum

On the day of your visit, please make every effort to be on time. We understand that some delays cannot be avoided, but please remember that other groups may be scheduled immediately after yours. (If you run into problems that would cause a considerable delay, we ask that you notify us by phone if at all possible.)  If you will be traveling for an hour or more we would like to suggest that you use one of the highway rest areas just outside the Lansing area for a bathroom break prior to final arrival at the Zooseum (so we can begin programming immediately after your arrival). Rest areas are located on I-96 eastbound near Okemos, I-96 westbound near Grand Ledge, I-69 northbound near south Lansing, I-69 westbound by Bath, and US-127 southbound near St Johns - all within a 10-15 minute drive of the Zooseum.  There is ample car and bus parking immediately adjacent to our building. Those groups arriving by bus should not off load students until instructed to do so by one of our staff. Have a complete and accurate head count (including chaperones) upon arrival and please have a school check, personal check, or cash ready. Buses will be instructed to pull up to the multipurpose room door on the south side of the building. After students are safely in the building the bus may be backed into one of the bus parking spaces near the east side of the building. Students will reboard the busses there.

Exploring the Facility

All groups gather in our multipurpose room for either a welcome and brief introduction, or a welcome and presentation.  Presentations generally last from 20 to 30 minutes, depending on age of the students, interest level, and other factors.  Our award-winning staff has developed a whole series of presentations that entertain while they educate, and unless otherwise instructed we will talk about the "magnificent minibeasts".  [click here to learn more about our presentations]  We can also address any special topics on minibeasts that you would like to have included.  During the visit, chaperones and/or teachers will be responsible for the students and their behavior.  After the welcome or presentation the students will be given important instructions before being released to explore the main exhibit area. In the exhibit area they will encounter hands-on exhibits, displays, live minibeasts, computers, and other activities (for example puzzles, coloring, and games). We are a handicapper friendly facility, but if you foresee a need for special accommodations please feel free to call us to discuss those needs.

Outdoor Activities

If your group will be involved in an outdoor activity (such as an insect safari), please instruct your group to wear appropriate shoes and clothing for exploring the woods and fields. Some areas may be muddy, and old or waterproof shoes/boots are strongly recommended, as is a hat. Long pants and long-sleeved shirts are also recommended (even in hot weather) to reduce irritation from biting insects, brambles, and weeds. To avoid contact with thorns and poison ivy all students should stay on marked trails (unless otherwise instructed by a Zooseum staff member). Stinging and biting insects such as bees, wasps, and mosquitoes may be abundant at times and students and chaparones will be instructed on how to avoid insect-human encounters if conditions warrant.  It would also be appreciated if members of your group carry out their own litter and respect the property boundaries of the adjacent landowners, the manager's residence, and any research areas.  If students bring their own collecting jars, they must be plastic or wood and screen -- not glass.

Food and Picnicing

Your group is welcome to bring picnic lunches -  we have 4 picnic tables, plus there is ample lawn area for picnicking. We do not have indoor space for eating, and if the weather is inclement you might have to eat on the bus or drive to one of the local parks with a pavilion. We ask for your cooperation by participating in our recycling program. You will get instruction on site, but basically all left over food is to be taken to the worm bins, plastic and glass containers go into the marked recepticles, and all other miscellaneous materials go into the trash containers.  If your group plans on eating out, there are many eating establishments and convenience stores within a few minutes drive of the Zooseum.

Gift Shop

The Zooseum has a small gift shop which offers a wide variety of souvenirs and educational items, and students, parents, and teachers are welcome to shop. As an alternative to letting students shop on their own, we can provide each member of your group with an inexpensive souvenir gift for a predetermined price (starting as low as $.50) by prior arrangement. Please inform students that the posted prices DO NOT include tax, and in accordance with Michigan law we must collect 6% sales tax.  (This can cause some confusion and frustration for younger students, and we appreciate your assistance in preparing them to be knowledgeable and thrifty shoppers.)  Teachers planning on making tax exempt purchases must have a copy of the school district's exemption letter, as required by recent revisions to the Michigan nonprofit exemption rules -- a tax exempt NUMBER by itself is no longer acceptable according to the Treasury Department.  

Of course, if you would rather not have your students shopping at all, then please let us know in advance and we will close off the area.

After Returning to School

Followup activities are, of course, an important part of any field trip. After visiting the Minibeast Zooseum we are confident that your students will show new attitudes about the importance of minibeasts, and have a better understanding about how minibeasts live and survive.  We hope that you be able to allow time for the children to exchange observations, experiences, and ideas.  For starters, if you made a pre-trip list of minibeasts, review the list and make any necessary corrections based on new knowledge -- then be sure to follow up on any unanswered questions with library or internet research (or contact us here at the Minibeast Zooseum).  You might also want to schedule individual or group reports (oral, written, or displays).   For more information on minibeats, including fact sheets, curriculum ideas, references, and minibeast glossary, visit our Minibeast World of Insects and Spiders website.

We invite you and your students to provide us with feedback on your Minibeast Zooseum experience.  Each group is generally provided with a simple survey form, but if you do not receive one please feel free to send us your comments in whatever form is convenient for you.

Here are some other ideas for followup activities:

• Compose a poem (or story) about insects or spiders (why not send them in to be published by the Young Entomologists' Society in Insect World).
• Construct some word finds or crossword puzzles using minibeast terminology.
• Try inventing an insect or spider board game.
• Play some old-time games such as "What Am I?", "Charades", "Jeopardy", etc. with an insect or spider theme.
• Make some "model" minibeasts (life-like or creative); use recyclable materials (bottle caps, styrofoam, cloth scraps, etc.) and craft materials (chenilles, straws, glitter, paint, and construction paper).
• Make some decorative insect and spider banners and flags from construction paper or felt (or other fabric).
• Create an insect, spider or other minibeast mural or poster.
• Color a minibeast picture (coloring sheets).
• Make some insect sculptures (adults, pupae, larvae or eggs) from wood, clay, play-dough, or natural objects (such as smooth stones).
• Write a skit or play about minibeasts (and make some insect/spider costumes).
• Make a bulletin board featuring insects and spiders in the news.
• Conduct a survey to see what people think about (a) minibeasts as human food; (b) minibeast pests; (c) beneficial minibeasts, or, (e) use of pesticides to control minibeasts.
• Investigate the role of insects and spiders in folklore and history.
• Read some biographies of famous entomologists or arachnologists.
• Find out more about minibeasts that are threatened or endangered species.
• Try an indoor "scavenger hunt" (searching classroom, home or stores for products with insects on them, or even in them).
• Try an outdoor insect or spider scavenger hunt (or insect safari).
• Set up a temporary classroom minibeast "zoo".