Montana State University (Museum of the Rockies)

The Museum of the Rockies at Montana State University will design and launch Discover Science!, a paleontology education initiative that will immerse visitors in processes of scientific inquiry of 71-82 million year old prehistoric environments by engaging them with paleontology specimens. Project activities will include producing K-12 curriculum, developing teacher training programs to be offered virtually and in person, and offering a Pop Up Museum service that will include outreach kits for classrooms and a traveling museum educator. The museum will hire a part-time staff person to lead the Pop Up Museum service with a focus on reaching Title 1 and reservation schools. The resulting suite of programs will leave an outdated, self-guided tour approach behind and replace it with more inquiry-based and interactive approach that will better serve the museum's rural community.