Suitcase Science & WONDERWISE Kits

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Learn & Discover > Students & Teachers > Educational Resources > Educational Resources to Borrow > Suitcase Science and Wonderwise Kits

Suitcase Science & WONDERWISE Kits

Suitcase Science Kits

Suitcase Science kits offer teachers lesson plans and supplies for hands-on science activities. Each kit provides the materials and information needed to engage students in the study of a variety of science topics.

A $5 non-refundable circulation fee is required to borrow a Suitcase Science kit. To reserve a kit, please call (314) 577-9501.

Seeds Grades PK–2 Investigate seed diversity. Look “inside” a seed to see a baby plant. Sort, dissect and plant seeds. (Good introduction to the Heaps of Seeds Garden Class or Sensational Seed Hunt Guided Tour at the Garden.) *Mystery Boxes* Grades PK–2 Explore the five senses with these sensory awareness activities using scent jars, mystery boxes and natural materials. Includes a new mystery sound activity. The Tropical Rainforest Grades K–12 Activities, resources and displays illustrate rainforest ecology, products, deforestation and the importance of biodiversity. Note: The Tropical Rainforest teacher’s curriculum guide is available for free download.		Sensational Seasons Grades 1–4 Learn what causes seasons! Explore seasonal differences using three separate kits: Fall, Winter and Spring. Missouri Mammals Grades 5–12 Using pelts, skulls, hands-on activities and additional resources, investigate the many interesting mammals that live in Missouri.

Seeds
Grades PK–2
Investigate seed diversity. Look “inside” a seed to see a baby plant. Sort, dissect and plant seeds. (Good introduction to the Heaps of Seeds Garden Class or Sensational Seed Hunt Guided Tour at the Garden.)

Mystery Boxes
Grades PK–2
Explore the five senses with these sensory awareness activities using scent jars, mystery boxes and natural materials. Includes a new mystery sound activity.

The Tropical Rainforest
Grades K–12
Activities, resources and displays illustrate rainforest ecology, products, deforestation and the importance of biodiversity.
Note: The Tropical Rainforest teacher’s curriculum guide is available for free download.

Sensational Seasons
Grades 1–4
Learn what causes seasons! Explore seasonal differences using three separate kits: Fall, Winter and Spring.

Missouri Mammals
Grades 5–12
Using pelts, skulls, hands-on activities and additional resources, investigate the many interesting mammals that live in Missouri.

The Tropical Rainforest Suitcase Science Kit

WONDERWISE Kits (Women in Science and Learning)

Pollen Detectives WONDERWISE Kit Bring women scientists into your classroom for the ultimate science field trip! This series of learning kits introduces you to women who have made science their career. The kits are designed for students in grades 4–9, and are produced by the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska. The series has been funded by the Informal Science Education Program of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the National Science Foundation.

WONDERWISE kits use multiple technologies: a video (VHS) profile of the scientist, written biography, classroom activities, a CD-ROM resource, and special supplies necessary to complete the WONDERWISE activities.

A $5 non-refundable circulation fee is required to borrow a WONDERWISE kit. To reserve a kit, please call (314) 577-9501.

Pollen Detective Grades 4–9 Become a pollen detective along with University of Nebraska paleontologist Peg Bolick. Peg seeks clues from microscopic pollen in the air we breathe that affect allergies as she collects daily pollen counts for physicians. But her passion is detecting clues to the ancient past left by pollen in the remains of fossil animals. Meanwhile you can dissect a flower, identify parts and analyze the pollen you find. Urban Ecologist Grades 4–9 Get dirty and muddy with wetland ecologist, Carmen Cid as she explores species diversity in wetland areas of Connecticut. Carmen studies plants in wetlands, but to do so she also works with insect, wildlife, and water specialists to understand the interactions that keep wetlands healthy. Sea Otter Biologist Grades 4–9 U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Brenda Ballachey travels Alaska’s Prince William Sound to study the living habits and survival of sea otters following the catastrophic spill of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker. While Brenda takes you on a research boat to observe otter behavior, make a kelp forest community in your classroom. Participate in an oil investigation to learn how scientists track sea otters.		African Plant Explorer Grades 4–9 Discover the amazing number of poisons in everyday foods, examine chemical properties of starch, use cassava to batik African symbols onto cloth and explore the world travels of everyday food. Biological anthropologist Fatimah Jackson takes viewers on an exotic journey from her lab at the University of Maryland to Uganda in central Africa as she studies how one of the world’s most popular food crops, cassava, can be used as both food and medicine. Parasite Sleuth Grades 4–9 University of California–San Francisco parasitologist Judy Sakanari explores the world of parasites and how their life cycle is linked to our food supply. Judy sleuths for parasites at unusual locations: a fish market, eating sushi with her parents, consulting with marine biologist Frances Gulland as she studies seals at the Marine Mammal Center, testing water at a stream, catching ticks and visiting paleontologist George Poinar to discuss ancient parasites preserved in amber.

Pollen Detective
Grades 4–9
Become a pollen detective along with University of Nebraska paleontologist Peg Bolick. Peg seeks clues from microscopic pollen in the air we breathe that affect allergies as she collects daily pollen counts for physicians. But her passion is detecting clues to the ancient past left by pollen in the remains of fossil animals. Meanwhile you can dissect a flower, identify parts and analyze the pollen you find.

Urban Ecologist
Grades 4–9
Get dirty and muddy with wetland ecologist, Carmen Cid as she explores species diversity in wetland areas of Connecticut. Carmen studies plants in wetlands, but to do so she also works with insect, wildlife, and water specialists to understand the interactions that keep wetlands healthy.

Sea Otter Biologist
Grades 4–9
U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologist Brenda Ballachey travels Alaska’s Prince William Sound to study the living habits and survival of sea otters following the catastrophic spill of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker. While Brenda takes you on a research boat to observe otter behavior, make a kelp forest community in your classroom. Participate in an oil investigation to learn how scientists track sea otters.

African Plant Explorer
Grades 4–9
Discover the amazing number of poisons in everyday foods, examine chemical properties of starch, use cassava to batik African symbols onto cloth and explore the world travels of everyday food. Biological anthropologist Fatimah Jackson takes viewers on an exotic journey from her lab at the University of Maryland to Uganda in central Africa as she studies how one of the world’s most popular food crops, cassava, can be used as both food and medicine.

Parasite Sleuth
Grades 4–9
University of California–San Francisco parasitologist Judy Sakanari explores the world of parasites and how their life cycle is linked to our food supply. Judy sleuths for parasites at unusual locations: a fish market, eating sushi with her parents, consulting with marine biologist Frances Gulland as she studies seals at the Marine Mammal Center, testing water at a stream, catching ticks and visiting paleontologist George Poinar to discuss ancient parasites preserved in amber.