National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Education Kits

Alaska Science Center 
Ten Munsch, Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage, 907-564-8201 or 564-8258
http://www.alaskapacific.edu/Science/page6.html
 


Procedure to Check Out a Kit

Educational kits are can be reserved ahead of time - up to 3 months in advance. 

  1. Call the center and request a kit
  2. Kits are loaned for 1-2 weeks at a time (1-2 weeks is given for shipping out, you keep the kit for 1-2 weeks and then 1-2 weeks is given for shipment back in). They allow 1 month total for check-out and return of kit.
  3. You may only check out one kit at a time.
Rules for Use:
  1. A $10-$20 fee is taken at time of check-out.  A credit card number will be taken over the phone.
  2. Kits must be postmarked by due date.
  3. ASC pays for postage sent, borrower is responsible for postage returned.
KITS

Alaska's Living Tundra
Web page 
Grades k-6
Designed to support ADFG's Alaska Wildlife Tundra Curriculum, this kit includes materials and information needed to study the tundra environment and its inhabitants.  Fees: $20 plus shipping one way.

Kids' Aerospace Kit
 Web page 
Developed by teachers in three Southwest Region schools through the Alaska Science Center.  It will include the lesson plans that these teachers developed and materials that introduce students in grades K-9 to aerospace technology.  Astronomy, rocketry and space science will be explored in a multi-disciplinary and thematic format. 

Aviation Kit
 Web page 
Allows teachers to introduce students to the basic concepts of force, motion, friction, and aerodynamics through aviation.

Alaska's Loons
Web page 
 Grades 2-6
This kit will help you teach children about the four species of loons in alaska and what people can do to preserve loon habitat. Slides, videos, costumes, and lots of activities.

Geese Kit
Web page 
Grades k-12
Students explore wetlands, bird migration, endangered and extinct species and develop skills toward becoming environmentally responsible.

Gender Equity kit
 Web page 
Variety of materials for enabling students to explore the role of women in science, aviation, and aerospace.

Living Tundra
 Web page 
You can choose between our Primary kit, and the Upper Elementary kit. Teaches students about animals of the tundra. Involves students in games and language arts. Places an emphasis on traditional values and customs. Allows children to try hands-on activities to learn about permafrost and the tundra environment. Designed to support the Alaska Fish and Game curriculum "The Living Tundra."
Grades k-6

Minerals & Energy Kit
 Web page 
Alaska specific, interdisciplinary set of lessons and information about Alaska's colorful heritage with mineral and energy resources.  Teachers choose from over 150 hands-on student activities organized into distinct modules. Activities facilitate student discovery of basic principles of Earth Science and social-economic issues relevant to balancing mineral and fossil fuel extraction with environmental concerns.  Such participatory learning experiences provide students with the awareness and skills to analyze mineral forming processes to understand the technology and issues surrounding development and to apply what they have learned to make informed decisions for their lives and their communities.
Grade 4-8

Osmosis Kit
 Web page 
Teachers lead students through a series of osmosis experiments with provided materials.

Sea Mammals of Alaska Kit
 Web page 
Introduces students to a variety of sea mammals of Alaska. Involves students in cultural activities. Provides children's literature, music and video tapes about sea mammals. Shares with students the importance of sea mammals in the lives of the Aleuts. Includes numerous stuffed sea mammals and hand puppets for dramatic play.
Grade k-6

Snow and Ice
Web page 
Primary and upper elementary
Students get involved with handson activities and learn about the physics of snow and ice, how glaciers are formed and how they move avalanches, and human and animal interaction with an arctic environment.

Thermodynamics Kit
 Web page 
Materials in this kit are used to experiment with the insulation properties of different furs indigenous to Alaska. Students examine different variables and record data to test general hypotheses.  Information on arctic clothing and building materials is also included. 

Water Quality Kit
Web page 
Grades k-3
Students learn about the water cycle, conduct observations of microscopic organisms in water, and see the effects of chlorination.  All materials needed for doing water analysis.  Especially useful in rural Alaska.

Wolf Kit
 Web page 
This kit includes a puppet, latex tracks, a mask, a wolf skull, videos, a cassette tape, posters, and books and other materials for activities.