Discovery
Boxes
Free loan program for educators
Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum Discovery Box Loan Program
The Discovery Box program is a free loan program of boxes with information aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards about animals and their habitats. Boxes include background information, suggested classroom activities, and a variety of specimens for students to touch and examine. Many boxes also include books, both fiction and nonfiction, to further interest students in the topics. The program has extended beyond animals to include topics such as magnetism and renewable energy. The museum is also a loan site for the popular Illinois Department of Natural Resources loan boxes. Discovery Boxes may be checked out for a period of 2 weeks. Call the Jurica-Suchy Nature Museum at 630-829-6546 or email mmicklus@ben.edu for more information or to reserve a box.
Ecosystem Boxes
Introduction to Biodiversity - What does the word biodiversity mean? Why is biodiversity important to all of us? The excellent Windows on the Wild curriculum developed by the World Wildlife Fund is featured and the many specimens of vertebrates and invertebrates in the box foster student learning.
Northern Illinois Biodiversity - Introduce your students to the huge variety of species found in Illinois. This box contains a wealth of written information and activities to lead your class through a discovery of glacial northern Illinois to the modern day Chicago Wilderness. Touchable specimens include feathers, furs, fluorite, lamp shell fossils and deer antler.
North American Desert - This box introduces students to the deserts of the southwestern United States. What are the adaptations of the animals in this environment? Specimens include a scorpion, tarantula and other small animals and insects of the desert.
Prairie Field Trip - Visit the prairie with slides, posters and a life-size drawing of big blue stem grass. Prairie issues such as restoration, fire, roots, and animal life are presented. Specimens include fox and coyote skins, red shouldered hawk talons and insects.
Tropical Rainforest - This box was organized around the themes of people, plants and animals of the rainforest. Specimens include small animals and insects of the rainforest.
Wetlands Metaphor - The wetlands metaphor box introduces students to the many valuable functions of a wetland using slides, posters, activity sheets and other written information. Issues such as preservation, flooding, animal diversity and food webs are introduced. Specimens include a muskrat skin, turtle shell, red-winged blackbird and other small wetland animals.
Woodlands -This box has information and activities about the Northern Illinois Woodlands. Some of the topics are animal tracks, what's in a log, seasons, and functions of trees. Specimens include a gray squirrel, woodcock, striped skunk skin as well as the Walk in the Woods kit with additional specimens and activities.
Bird Boxes
All About Birds - This box features the hands-on activities developed by Louise Huffman for a workshop given in Feb.1996, for elementary teachers. Her creative activities are supplemented with background information about common backyard birds, migration, and nests, and specimens of mounted birds, nests and feathers.
Birds of Prey - Raptors, their adaptations and the problems they encounter in their position at the top of the food chain are discussed through posters, activity sheets, videos and specimens, including a hawk, an owl and the smaller vireo.
Feathers - Topics such as feather types, use, care and color are presented along with flying and flight information. Transparencies, feathers, and suggested classroom activities help students understand the complexities of feathers.
Great Horned Owl and Snowy Owl - Each box contains an owl, owl skull, owl feathers, and background information. There are posters, activities for class use and suggested topics for discussion. The Snowy Owl Box includes information about the Arctic Tundra and a lemming.
Wetlands Birds - Focusing on birds that inhabit freshwater marshes and their environmental problems, this box has information about marsh inhabitants and extends the Wetlands Metaphor Box. Specimens include a bittern and a sora.
Animal Boxes
Animal Adaptations and Skin Structures - This box was developed as a result of the winter 2000 workshop for teachers given by Louise Huffman and Nancy Pearson. Their activities are included along with many specimens of the different kinds of adaptations that allow animals to survive. Samples of different skin structures are included for students to examine: deer antler, shells, fur, feathers, claws, porcupine quills, and others. There is written information about each specimen and an article on mammal fur that is excellent background material.
Bats - Learn about bats and their importance to an ecosystem. Specimens of a brown bat, a Mexican silver hair bat, and a bat skeleton encased in plastic are included for study. Bat Conservation International curriculum materials are included.
Endangered Species - Learn about the various endangered and threatened species of the United States and Illinois. Posters, specimens and the video, Going, Going, Almost Gone: Animals in Danger and activities developed by the World Wildlife Fund in their Windows on the Wild series are highlighted.
Exotic Species - What is an exotic or alien species? Zebra mussels are one focus of many activities designed to teach about the environmental and economic threats posed by exotic aquatic species. This box was developed using activities and information from the National Sea Grant programs. A smaller box that focuses on terrestrial exotic species is also available.
Fish - This box contains information about the anatomy and physiology of fish as well as habitat information. Information about the reintroduction of the smallmouth bass to the DuPage River is included. Specimens include a fish skeleton and a dissected fish in plastic.
Fossils - Specimens of both plant and animal fossils are included along with written materials and suggested activities. Fossils from Mazon Creek in Illinois are featured. Directions for making fossils are included along with other hands-on activities developed by Tim Brinker.
Frogs and Toads - Learn about amphibians with the information and specimens in this discovery box. Information about common Illinois amphibian species also includes salamanders and newts. Specimens include grass frog development, necturus skeleton and toads all encased in lucite for close examination.
How Do They Eat?/Animal Skulls - Students can manipulate and compare real skulls of herbivores, carnivores, insectivores, and omnivores. Activity suggestions and worksheets are included for classroom use along with specimen information.
Insects - Samples of insects embedded in plastic and butterflies in glass can be studied for similarities and differences. Written information about each insect is included along with activities, posters and worksheets. Many teachers who have used this popular box have added ideas and transparencies.
Lewis & Clark Expedition - Teachers interested in studying the Lewis & Clark Expedition requested information and specimens of animals the explorers encountered. The box contains 6 pelts and the corresponding skulls along with books and a video about the Lewis & Clark expedition.
Plants - Foam models of seed to plant and a flower are featured in this box along with seeds, posters, the Eyewitness Video: Plants, transparencies and many plant activity suggestions.
Rocks and Minerals - Various rock and mineral samples, posters, written information and suggested activities are in this box. This box includes the Eyewitness Video: Rocks and Minerals.
Seashore - Learn about waves, sand, sea stars, shells, and sponges as well as many plants and animals found along the ocean beach. There are many specimens for children to handle and lots of activities to use in the classroom.
Snakes - Does a snake feel slimy when you pick it up? What do snakes do in winter? How do snakes eat? These are some of the questions that can be answered through use of the specimens, books, and the Eyewitness video: Snakes.
Spiders - Students can look closely at a black widow, garden spider, tarantula and other specimens as they learn about spiders. Books and activities for learning about these arthropods are also in the box.
Stone Tools - This is a box with stone tools made by Native Americans for their daily activities. It is a basic box with tools and identification cards. Students will be challenged to add to this box with their observations and research.
Turtles - Learn about turtles with this discovery box. How do they breathe? Where do they go in the winter? What do they feel like? Specimens are included for students to study turtle development, shells, and skeletons. Read the story Minn of the Mississippi and learn about the travels of a turtle down the Mississippi River. Illinois specimens are highlighted and An Atlas of Biodiversity is included along with other valuable Illinois information.
Wolves - Factual information about wolves and their reintroduction and recolonization in national parks provide a background for student discussions about the problems involved in this project. There are also literary lesson plans for Julie of the Wolves and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. A wolf skull is included for students to study. Information about other large mammal predators is included.
Renewable Energy Boxes
Solar Energy - Primary Grades - This Discovery Box has information about solar energy and activities to introduce solar power to students. Activities and materials in this box were suggested by teachers who participated in a series of renewable energy workshops at Benedictine University. Activities are aligned with the Illinois state standards. Consumable materials include sun print paper, UV beads and a solar balloon. Other materials include solar ovens and solar cars.
Solar Energy - Middle School - This Discovery Box has information about solar energy and activities to introduce solar power to students. Activities in this box were suggested by teachers who participated in a series of renewable energy workshops at Benedictine University. The box includes solar ovens, solar cars, solar cells, UV beads, and the Patrick Technologies kit about solar energy along with many other materials and books for your use.
Exploring the Power of Wind - This Discovery Box contains materials for students to use as they explore the wind as a renewable energy source. Teachers who participated in three renewable energy workshops suggested the activities. The binder contains basic information about wind as an energy source and many activities that can be used at different grade levels. Materials in the box include anemometers, wind tubes, a wind powered generator, voltmeter, and compasses.
Magnetism - This Discovery Box leads students through activities about magnetism to help them understand how a magnetic levitation train works. Students can explore the properties of magnets and decide if magnetism could be considered a renewable energy resource. Students in the Physics Club at Benedictine University developed this box in the spring 2004 semester using the Illinois State Standards. The box includes a Levitron Antigravity Top with instruction tape and starter, many different kinds of magnets, a Magnaprobe, and a Magnetic Field Demonstration Model.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Trunks
Aquatic Illinois - This IDNR trunk includes items to help teach about biological, historical, chemical and other aspects of water. Books, posters, water sampling tools, CD-ROMs, videos, and activities are among the contents of this trunk. Suggested grades: 5 - 9.
Illinois Birds - Studying birds can jump-start your students' interest in nature and conservation. The Illinois Birds Trunk is a great way to enhance your lessons. This trunk is filled with field guides, books, track and egg replicas, CD-ROMs, videos, DVDs, CDs with bird songs and calls and even bird replicas that sing! Suggested grades: PreK - 8, but can be modified for other grade levels.
Illinois Fossils - This IDNR trunk provides the opportunity for students of grades 4 - 8 to work with actual fossils and fossil molds. Posters, books and replicas are also included. This box pairs well with the above fossils box.
Illinois Insects and Spiders - Insects and spiders fascinate students. Encourage them to learn more about these organisms by using the resources in this trunk. Books, CD-ROMs, student activities, field guides, posters, insect/spider observation equipment and a video are just some of the items included. Targeted Grades: PreK-6.
Illinois State Symbols - Are you teaching about Illinois? Then the Illinois' State Symbols trunk is perfect for you! Photos, replicas, actual samples, activity books, information and other items are included for your use. There's an Illinois Facts section, too.
Illinois Wild Mammals Trunk - This trunk was developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and contains skulls, furs, rubber tracks, rubber scat, field guides, activity books, CD-ROMs, DVDs and other resources about mammals in our state.
People and Animals from Illinois' Past - This IDNR trunk includes many items relating to Native Americans and to wild mammals that once lived in Illinois. The Native American section has posters, activities, pottery samples, Native American games, a video, samples of natural products used by the Native Americans and much more. Learning about the Ice Age and other mammals that once roamed what is now Illinois will be easy with the models, tooth replicas, books, video, posters, activities and other items representing these animals. This trunk is targeted to grades 1 - 3.
Chicago Wilderness Materials Box - This box contains lesson plans and materials for three problem-based scenarios based on successful restoration, stewardship, and education efforts in the Chicago area. This box and the educator's guide are a Chicago Wilderness project.
Development of these boxes was made possible by grants from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the Helen V. Brach Foundation, the DuPage Community Foundation and the Illinois Clean Energy Foundation.
Boxes may be scheduled via email. Contact mmickus@ben.edu or call 630-829-6546 to reserve a box or if you have any questions.
updated 10/1/09
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