Mammoths and Mastodons

Trip Review:
We recently visited The Mammoths and Mastodons exhibit at the Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, it is a wonderful special exhibit. I really liked that they showcased the work being done here in Colorado, AND they have the baby Mammoth and that is really very cool!
The exhibit did talk a bit about the people who lived at the time but not as much as the school curriculum. The kids really liked it (ages 15-7). In fact, almost a week later, my boys were playing in the snow and created a 'museum exhibit' which included an entire herd of Mammoths. I was impressed.

We also saw the IMAX movie about the Ice Age. That was really neat. Certainly recommended as it talked more about why they became extinct, cave drawings, land bridge, ice age man and what is an ice age anyway.

Tips:
For younger kids you will need to explain that the images of Mammoths and other ice age creatures are computer animated and are not real. You will have to explain that we don't really know what they look like, but have pieced together an idea of what they looked like from clues. It is like playing a game of Clue or a guessing game in which you arrive at a close answer from clues you get in the game.

Use the restroom before going in, there is not one within the exhibit and if you leave you can't go back in.

No food or drink, kids will need to eat before going in and get a good drink. There were lots of hungry and tired kids in there.

Read a book about the Ice Age if they have not yet done the class lessons. There is not a audio tour for this one so you will need to give the info to your kids. It helps if you know how to link it to what they have or will learn or a book you read together. Simple terms, related to things they know or have read are great.

Be excited even if this is not your favorite theme. :)

It is good to know that this is a separate fee from the museum entrance itself and therefor is rather pricy. If you have a membership it is significantly reduced!

You have to select a time to visit and if there are a lot of visitors you have to keep to your time. You can buy and reserve on line. http://www.dmns.org/mammoths-and-mastodons

Curriculum:
Ice Age
Grade 1