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Project Descriptions

CATS! WILD TO MILD: A Traveling Natural History Museum Exhibit on Endangered Wild Cats and Domestic Cats Aimed at Elementary School Students and Families

September 15, 1996 - February 28, 1998 | Exhibitions
The Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (LACMNH) will develop "Cats! Wild to Mild" a traveling exhibit on endangered wild and domestic cats. This will be a 5000 sq. ft. exhibit intended to engage families, school groups, and adults in the history, biology, and evolution of the family Felidae. The primary objectives of the exhibit are to awaken interest in scientific study in children, to provide parents and children with a stimulating interactive environment, to increase public knowledge about the status and conservation of wild cats, and to promote responsible pet care. The exhibit will include a large number of mounted cat specimens and various interactive activities in addition to label panels. A broad menu of complementary programming is planned, both for use at LACMNH and by museums hosting the exhibit. Items and activities include: teacher enhancement activities, curriculum guide, and other materials, pre-and post-visit materials for students, family take-home materials, kits for teachers and families, a CD-ROM and a place on the museum's WWW page with an extensive amount of information about cats and activities for the user, among other things. The formal education materials will be designed to integrate the study of cats into state-mandated areas of the curriculum such as reading, mathematics, and social studies. An audience that is specially targeted is the traditionally underserved group. The exhibit will have a five year tour at fifteen venues and will open at LACMNH early spring, 1997.

Funders

NSF
Funding Program: ISE/AISL
Award Number: 9626997
Funding Amount: 787652

TEAM MEMBERS

  • James Olson
    Principal Investigator
    Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
  • Joan Grasty
    Co-Principal Investigator
    Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
  • Blaire Van Valkenburgh
    Co-Principal Investigator
    UCLA
  • Discipline: Life science
    Audience: Families | Elementary School Children (6-10) | Adults | General Public | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Exhibitions | Museum and Science Center Exhibits

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