VMNH Discovery Kits

The museum's education team has created 5 separate Discovery Kits that explore a variety of topics, from paleontology to food webs to life cycles. These kits are a wonderful way to keep your young learners excited about science, while learning about important scientific concepts that often aren't taught in a typical school classroom!

Please contact us at discover@vmnh.virginia.gov or call (276) 634-4187 for more details, including purchasing options. VMNH Discovery Kits are currently available for $20 (pick up at VMNH) or shipped to a location for $30.

Available Kits

Junior Paleontologist Kit

Start your own collection with this fossil identification kit! Kit contents include:

• Bag of assorted fossils
• Fossil identification book
• Magnifying glass
• Virginia State Fossil - Chesapecten jeffersonius

Owl Pellet Dissection Kit

Learn about food chains by dissecting owl pellets! Kit contents include:

• 2 owl pellets
• Bone ID sheet
• Ziplock bag for bones
• 2 toothpicks (to aid with dissection)
• Information sheet - “What Is An Owl Pellet?”

Bugs in a Box Kit

Explore insect life cycles with mealworms! Kit contents include:

• Bug viewer with magnifying top
• Small plastic container of oatmeal that contains 5 mealworms
• Small piece of carrot (food for mealworms)
• Worksheet
• Piece of paper and piece of plastic
• 2 small pieces of paper towel
• Life cycle craft with 1 paper fastener

Flying High Kit

Experiment with variables and water ratio to explore the height of film canister rockets! Kit contents include:

• 1 film canister
• 3 alka seltzer tablets
• Experiment chart

Let's Make a Fossil Kit

Create a cast (replica) of a fossil shark tooth or seashell! Kit contents include:

• Playdough
• Shark tooth
• Sea shell
• 2 small cups 
• 2 toothpicks
• Plaster
• Example fossil image
• Please note that cooking spray is needed for this kit and is not included.