Field Trips

Fall/Winter 2023

Randall Museum Self-guided Field Trips
The Randall Museum offers many field trip programs to compliment your classroom educational goals. Meet some of our live California animals or delve deep into a science concept. Field trip registration fees also allow your students to explore the Museum’s exhibits. Programs are discounted for public schools.

The Randall is perched almost on top of the Corona Heights hill, offering majestic views of San Francisco, the bay and East Bay cities! There is plenty of open space to have an outside lunch or go for a hike. Don’t forget about the States Street playground just below the museum for afternoon activities.

Science Field Trips

Price: $85, Public Schools 50% Discount. Use code “PUBLIC” and hit apply

  • 10:15 Tuesday – Friday
  • 90 minutes
  • Max 35 Students
  • Allow additional time to visit the Museum’s live animal exhibit

Science Field Trips are an in-depth exploration of a simple science topic for grades 1-5. Choose any one of the subjects below. Science Field Trips are specifically designed to follow Next Generation Science Standards.

Science Field Trip registrations: click the Register button to Eventbrite to select your date and purchase tickets.

Field Trip Topics:

Air and Wind - Grades 1 - 3
We are surrounded by Earth’s atmosphere, an amazing mixture of gases that sustains life on our planet. By participating in exploration activities, students learn how different properties of air are used in various real-world applications. Students also learn what forces drive winds that sweep through our lives and create weather systems.

Bay Area Geology - Grades 3 - 8
Students begin their exploration by constructing the Earth’s geologic history that begins at Earth’s formation, 4.6 Billion years ago. The class also uses the museum’s rock and mineral collection to identify distinguishing properties of different rocks. Topping off this field trip is an instructor-led hike through stunning geologic features that are unique to Corona Heights, home to the Randall Museum.

Before San Francisco - Grades 3 - 4

Revised! The San Francisco peninsula looked very different before settlers came to California. This class explores the interactions between Native People and the surrounding geography, flora, fauna through discussion, games and activities.

Creepy Crawlies - Grades K - 5
Insects have developed amazing and unique adaptations to thrive in their own ecosystems. While they may seem “creepy” and foreign to us they actually have a great impact on our world. Through physical contact and observation of some the Randall’s live insect collections, students will develop a heightened understanding and deeper respect for insects.

Earthquake! - Grades 3 - 8
Many earthquakes have rocked the San Francisco Bay Area. Through the museum’s collection of historical photographs and artifacts, students learn details why the 1906 earthquake was so damaging. Viewing seismographs of recent “Big Ones” and simulating their own earthquakes at our shake tables, students will develop a deeper understanding of the implications of earthquakes and how they can prepare for them.

Electricity and Magnetism - Grades 2 - 4
Electricity and magnetism are two different, but closely related, natural forces in our world. Through hands-on exploration, students learn the basic properties of electricity and magnetism by pulling electrons off each other, creating circuits that control the flow of electricity, magnetically testing familiar objects and more.

Green and Growing - Grades K - 3

Students learn that every object they use in daily life is either a plant or is produced from plants. Green and Growing encourages students to understand their own roles in ecological systems including being consumers, producers and good stewards of our environment.

 

Sound Exploration - Grades 2 - 4

How is sound created and how do we hear sounds? Students will explore through a variety of hands-on activities, about wave styles, vibrations that cause sounds, resonance, how the human ear works and how sound becomes music. Students will be able to play a variety of musical instruments!

Water - Grades 3 - 5

Water is the basis of life on Earth. In this class students will experiment with the unique qualities of water. Flow, surface tension, capillary action, buoyancy are some of the topics that are covered. Students also gain an appreciation of the limited amount of water on Earth and how water cycles through the earth and atmosphere.

 

Food for Thought - Grades 2 - 4

New! – Food for Thought: Complimenting the Randall Museum’s new temporary exhibit, Food for Thought illuminates that each of us has direct impact on the environment by our interaction with the food system. Through games and activities we explore the impact of shopping for, growing, cooking and disposing of food and packaging. We also explore the amazing positive change taking place by dedicated scientists as well as the positive impact of composting.

You will be asked to select a field trip topic during the checkout process.

NEW! – BIRDING – AN INTRO TO Ornithology

Price: $40, 50% discount for SFUSD schools. Use code “PUBLIC” and hit apply

Did you know that San Francisco is a wonderful place to go birding? The Randall Museum is perched above San Francisco and is surrounded by a natural habitat hosting many migratory birds. Join Dominik Mosur, ornithologist and animal exhibit specialist, on an interpretative hike on Corona Heights hill to observe and study native and migrant species. Students will learn the basics of vocal and visual identification, native chaparral and woodland species, as well as related natural history.

This field trip program is geared for 6th grade and up, with a limit of 20 students (plus additional chaperones). Available on Thursdays from 1:00-2:00pm or 2:00PM-3:00PM. Binoculars are recommended, but not necessary.

Animal Presentations

Price: $40, 50% discount for SFUSD schools. Use code “PUBLIC” and hit apply

Get an up-close introduction to some of our live animals in one of our themed 45 minute Animal Presentations. This program is geared for grades K-3 and groups of up to 25.

  • Available in person at the Museum.
  • Tuesday-Friday at 10:00am and 11:00am

Animal Presentations:

Amazing Invertebrates
Learn about the differences between insects and arachnids and why they are so important for the ecosystem.

Grades K and above

The Food Web - Predator and Prey

Learn about this connection through our different animal ambassadors and their place in the food chain.  

Grades 1 and above

Super Senses
Learn about the special ways animals sense with different body parts and how these are different from how we do it!

Grades K and above

Reptiles and Amphibians
Through interactions with our Animal Ambassadors, students will learn about what makes reptiles different from amphibians.

Grades K and above

Oceans: Intertidal Ecosystem
In our ocean exhibit, students will see some of our native intertidal species. Learn about the bizarre sea urchin, see the tube feet of the sea star, and maybe even see the pipefish eat!

Grades K and above

Exhibit Explorations - California's Habitats and Ecosystems
From the redwoods to the desert, with stops in the chaparral in between, students will learn about some of the most interesting habitats that occur in California and the wildlife that reside there.

Grades K and above

Click the Register button and you will be taken to Eventbrite where you can select a date and time and purchase tickets. You will be asked to select a presentation during the checkout process.

Self-Guided Visits

Price: Groups of 10 – 35 must register, $15. 

Visit The Randall at your own pace with your students or your group. Tour the changing exhibits and the Live Animal Exhibits. Interact with geology in the Foundations exhibit and view the fabulous model train layout. Download a Scavenger Hunt and talk with the animal keepers and picnic lunch on the grounds.

  • Groups may come between 10am – 1pm
  • Groups of 10 persons or more must register. Registration fee is $15.00 for the whole group.
  • Groups of 10 or less are free and do not need to register.

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Receive program updates, breaking news and more. You can unsubscribe at any time.

You have Successfully Subscribed!

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This