Before you visit, introduce your students to the concept of a museum so they will be prepared to learn from the exhibits they will see. You might wish to try one of the following activities:

Think of Analogies
Have students draw pictures illustrating the statement "a museum is like [students fill in the noun]." They may draw an attic, a light bulb, or a scientist conducting an experiment, among other things. Ask students to explain their similies and then use them to categorize the drawings into groups. From these groups, what generalizations can students make about museums? What do the drawings tell them about the different types of museums?

Compare Museums
Have any of your students previously visited museums? Did they enjoy the experience? Make a chart with two columns. In the first column, list all of the museums students have visited. In the second column, write the types of objects found in those museums. By comparing the two lists, what general statements can students make about museums? Use the lists to write a definition of a museum.

Share Personal Collections
Ask your students about their personal collections. What do they collect and why? How do they choose what to keep? How do they organize their collections? How do they store and care for them?

Collect Objects
Take your students on a neighborhood collecting expedition, then have them create a tabletop exhibit of the objects they find. Have them research the objects and write labels. Talk about how the objects can be used to tell different stories. Discuss choices the children had to make in interpreting their collection.