Bison Boxes

There’s nothing like hands-on experience for students. Are you looking for a rigorous, standards-based lesson with real museum materials that you can provide to your students or group at your own pace? Look no further than our new Bison Boxes! Each box includes authentic objects or 3D reproductions from our collections, standards-aligned lessons, and master copies of any materials to be consumed during the lesson. Each kit is available for free to Idaho educators (both formal and informal) for a period of two weeks, and this can be extended for up to one month if needed. Kits are available to pick up with a reservation from the IMNH front desk, or they can be mailed to your school or group location (just pay postage).

Our current Bison Boxes include:

Ice Age Idaho

Students will be able to handle real Ice Age Fossils and 3D prints of fossils from our collections as they learn about conditions here in Idaho over the last 500,000 years. Contains lesson plans for all grades K-12.

Hagerman Fossil Beds

Students will be able to examine 3D printed models of fossils from Hagerman Fossil Beds including the Idaho State Fossil, the Hagerman Horse. Contains lesson plans for all grades K-12. Produced in partnership with the National Park Service, coming January 2024.

Dinosaurs of Idaho

Students will be able to examine 3D printed models of fossils from the Age of Dinosaurs in Idaho, including the Idaho State dinosaur, Oryctodromeus. Contains lesson plans for all grades K-12. Produced in partnership with the Caribou National Forest, coming January 2024.

Printing Natural History

Learn how the history of the printing press and photographs overlaps with the history of natural history! This kit includes a 3D printed printing press, carved blocks for printmaking, and lesson plans for K-12 grades. Coming November 2023.

Life in One Cubic Foot

Explore the biodiversity of your backyard or school yard! With this kit, students will receive two sampling cubes, instructions for site selection and monitoring, and K-12 lesson plans.