Participate in a fun, in-depth investigation of the natural sciences! Through these interactive classroom experiences, your students will practice important scientific skills, from making observations to designing experiments and interpreting data. Discovery Lessons take place in a museum classroom.

All lessons have been developed to meet Educational Standards, including Pennsylvania State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards.

Discovery lessons take place Wednesday through Friday at 10:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.

All lessons last 45 minutes and are taught by an experienced Academy educator.

Maximum number of students: 35

Price: $85 per class

We offer a variety of Discovery Lessons for grades Pre-K–3, 4–8, and 9–12.

Discovery Lessons are available from September 1-June 30 each year.

The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is an approved entity for the School District of Philadelphia. The paperwork is on file with the School District of Philadelphia Risk Management Office.

You can request Discovery Lessons when you book your Academy field trip. To add a Discovery Lesson to your existing field trip reservation, or for more information, email reservations@ansp.org or call 215-299-1060.

Programs using live animals are denoted by a . 

Grade	Fee	Discovery Lessons Wednesday through Friday Only Lessons are 45 minutes each	Maximum # students per lesson
Pre K-3	$85	Bugs to Butterflies	35
Pre K-3	$85	Meet the Dinos	35
4-8	$85	Fossil Forensics	35
4-8	$85	Amazing Arthropods	35
7-12	$85	Exploring Evolution	35

Grade K-3

Bugs to Butterflies

How does a butterfly use its senses to discover the world? What’s the difference between an insect and a spider? Explore the amazing world of boneless creatures using role-playing activities and museum specimens, and by touching live invertebrates.

PA 3.1 A1, A3, A5
PA 4.1 D 
PA 4.4 C
NGSS: K-2: LS1

Meet the Dinos 

Dinosaurs continue to inspire awe in people of all ages, but what exactly classifies an animal as a dinosaur? When and where did they live? How do we know? Take dinosaur measurements, touch real fossils, and participate in role-playing activities during this introductory dinosaur class.

PA 3.1 A1, A5, C2, C3
PA 3.3 A1, A3
PA 4.1 D
NGSS: LS1, LS2

Grade 4-8

Fossil Forensics

You won’t see a living Tyrannosaurus rex or a mastodon hanging around in your backyard (we hope!). So how do paleontologists know about extinct animals? Solve some of the mysteries of ancient adaptations and behaviors yourself using evidence to make inferences about ancient animals by examining fossils, artifacts, and museum specimens.

PA 3.1 A1,A5, C2, C3,
PA 3.3 A1
PA 4.1 D
NGSS : LS3, LS4

Amazing Arthropods

Eat or be eaten is the name of the game in this lesson about arthropods, featuring museum specimens and real live invertebrates. Investigate the adaptations these animals use to obtain food or avoid becoming food!

PA 3.1 A
PA 4.1 A
NGSS: LS3, LS4

Grades 7-12

Exploring Evolution

Explore how scientists study the amazing story of life on Earth! By participating in hands-on activities and studying real museum specimens, students will investigate key aspects of the evolutionary process including mutation, transitional fossils, and natural selection.  Working with vertebrate skulls, they will investigate features that illustrate the evolutionary relationships between different species.

PA 3.1 A,B,C
PA 3.3 A
PA 4.1 A,D
NGSS: LS1, S1- 1,3,6