Minnesota Academic Standards: Science K-12
Science Museum exhibits can be a wonderful resource to extend and support your learning goals. Use the matrix to identify museum galleries that have exhibits that will support student learning as outlined in the MN Academic Standards for Science. Questions about specific standards correlations or which specific exhibit areas are most appropriate can be directed to .
Note: All parts of the standard or every benchmark may not be addressed. Use your Free Educator Pass to preview exhibits or contact us to customize your field trip.
Kindergarten | Grade 1 | Grade 2 | Grade 3 | Grade 4 | Grade 5 | Grade 6 | Grade 7 | Grade 8 | Grades 9-12
Grades 9-12
Strand |
Sub-Strand |
Standard |
Science Museum Galleries and Field Trip Support materials or programs |
| I. HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE | A. Scientific World View | The student will understand the nature of scientific ways of thinking and that scientific knowledge changes and accumulates over time. | DINOSAURS & FOSSILS GALLERY |
| I. HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE | B. Scientific Inquiry | The student will design and conduct a scientific investigation. | EXPERIMENT GALLERY EXPLORATIONS: Math of Motion, Calculus |
| I. HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE | C. Scientific Enterprise | The student will understand the relationship between science and technology and how both are used. | HUMAN BODY GALLERY SCIENCE ON A SPHERE SCIENCE LIVE THEATER: Maria's Metamorphosis, Attack of the Nanoscientist, Wheel of the Future |
| I. HISTORY AND NATURE OF SCIENCE | D. Historic Perspectives | The student will recognize the historical and cultural context of scientific endeavors and how they influence each other. | HUMAN BODY GALLERY SCIENCE LIVE THEATER: Maria's Metamorphosis, Spirit of the Mummy |
| II. PHYSICAL SCIENCE | A. Structure of Matter | The student will understand the nature of matter including its forms, properties and interactions. | SCIENCE LIVE THEATER: Cryogenics, Surface Area |
| II. PHYSICAL SCIENCE | C. Energy Transformations | The student will understand energy forms, transformations and transfers. | EXPERIMENT GALLERY SCIENCE LIVE THEATER: Cryogenics, Surface Area |
| II. PHYSICAL SCIENCE | D. Motion | The student will understand the nature of force and motion. | SCIENCE LIVE THEATER: Free Fall |
| III. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE | A. Earth Structure and Processes | The student will understand that the interactions of the atmosphere, biosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and space have resulted in ongoing change of the Earth system over geologic time. | EXPERIMENT GALLERY MISSISSIPPI RIVER GALLERY DINOSAURS & FOSSILS GALLERY SCIENCE ON A SPHERE BIG BACK YARD |
| III. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE | A. Earth Structure and Processes | The student will investigate the impact humans have on the environment. | MISSISSIPPI RIVER GALLERY SCIENCE ON A SPHERE BIG BACK YARD EXPLORATIONS: The Science Museum Rocks |
| III. EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE | B. The Water Cycle, Weather and Climate | The student will explain the causes and effects of the Earth's atmospheric and hydrologic processes. | EXPERIMENT GALLERY BIG BACK YARD |
| IV. LIFE SCIENCE | A. Cells | The student will comprehend that all living things are composed of cells, and that the life processes in a cell are based on molecular interactions. | HUMAN BODY GALLERY |
| IV. LIFE SCIENCE | B. Diversity of Organisms | The student will classify, compare and contrast the diversity of organisms on Earth and their modes of accommodating the requirements for life. | DINOSAURS & FOSSILS GALLERY EXPLORATIONS: The Science Museum Rocks |
| IV. LIFE SCIENCE | C. Interdependence of Life | The student will describe how the environment and interactions between organisms can affect the number of species and the diversity of species in an ecosystem. | MISSISSIPPI RIVER GALLERY |
| IV. LIFE SCIENCE | E. Biological Populations Change Over Time | The student will understand how biological evolution provides a scientific explanation for the fossil record of ancient life forms, as well as for the striking molecular similarities observed among the diverse species of living organisms. | HUMAN BODY GALLERY |
| IV. LIFE SCIENCE | G. Human Organism | The student will understand how all organ systems, including the nervous system, interact to maintain homeostasis. | HUMAN BODY GALLERY |