Family Activities
Family-friendly events for families with children of all ages.
Learn about Flintknapping
First Saturday
2nd, 3rd, and 5th Sunday
1 to 4 p.m.
Demonstration of flintknapping techniques in our Museum Discover Room with James Kickham. James started flintknapping at Idaho State University when he was in high school. He developed those skills from multiple technical courses and mentors while honing them working for the Idaho Museum of Natural History. He has also given lectures and presentations on stone tools while working as a Park Ranger.
In Gallery Activity
Offering different in gallery activities as part of admission. During Pocatello-Chubbuck School District 25's Spring Break (March 25-March 29) we will offer one of the following activities at 1 pm.
- March 25, Bracelet Weaving - Join Kristal, artist, to learn about weaving techniques and then make your own unique bracelet from cornhusks.
- March 26, Garbology - Join Stephanie, anthropologist, to find out about the scientific study of trash, including its origins, patterns, and society and the environment.
- March 27, Children's Reading & Activity Time - Join Hailie, educator, for a children's story and associated activity.
- March 28, Animal Origami - Join Sarah, artist, as she guides you through the process of making your own animal origami.
A Critical Look at the Ecology of "The Land Before Time" and the End-Cretaceous
April 1, 2025
7 to 9 pm
$10
"The Land Before Time" is a beloved children's story; an animated classic by Universal Pictures from 1988. The story warmed hearts and taught kids about the power of friendship and overcoming adversity; important lessons for kids of any generation, which has lent the film (and its sequels) considerable staying power in American pop culture.
But "The Land Before Time" holds a dark secret. The plucky friend group, perhaps unknowingly, was setting off a chain of events that would lead to their own extinction. Join us for a fun and lighthearted look at the biology and ecology of the world depicted in "The Land Before Time;" Rob Gay, Education Manager, will explore how predators and prey interact in the real world, how Cretaceous ecosystems might have worked based on the latest paleontology, and what the actions of Littlefoot and friends mean for the Star Trees and the fate of the Great Valley.
Light refreshments and no host bar will be available.
Space is limited, registration is required. Museum and ISU community receive a 20% discount with code, email ambertews@isu.edu
Ancient Phosphoria Sea
April 29, 2025
6 to 8 pm
$3 - Single
$10 - Family
Free - Museum Members and ISU Community with discount code
Join Dr. Leif Tapanila for a dive into the Ancient Phosphoria Sea. The ancient phosphoria sea gives us mines for fertilizer. It also records the history of the world's strangest sharks and an ocean taken over by sponges!
Space is limited, registration is required. Didn't receive a discount code, email ambertews@isu.edu
Lunch & Learn
April 30, 2025
12 to 1 pm
Free
Topic: Fear the Flesh Saw! A redescription of the holotype of Sarcoprion edax using CT-Scans to examine the form and function of the jaw with Tobias Babcock
Sarcoprion is the best-preserved relative of Helicoprion, but since its description in the 1950's, very little research has been done on this unusual shark, and many mysteries remain regarding its anatomy and how it ate. However, the past few decades have allowed for new technologies like Computed Tomography (CT) Scanning to unravel the mystery of other whorl-toothed sharks like Helicoprion. CT-Scaninng, photography, and 3-D modeling of the holotype of Sarcoprion reveal new insights into the anatomy of this bizarre shark's teeth, jaws, relatives, and growth.
Tobias is currently working on a redescription of the holotype material for the Permian shark Sarcoprion edax for his master's thesis working under Dr. Leif Tapanila. His primary research interests are in Paleozoic Fishes and Dinosaurs. Tobias graduated from Montana State University, with a bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences, Paleontology Concentration. He has extensive volunteer and work experience in paleontology, including histology, collections, fieldwork, and more. Paleontology is a lifelong passion of Tobias, and he's always happy to share his passion through teaching, outreach, and research.