Rent a Portable Museum for your classroom!

Bring the Museum to your classroom, library, or after-school program with Portable Collections kits, with or without a BCM educator. Rent a single kit or multiple kits.  Arrange a program or programs with a kit. Choose from a list of more than 20 kits on curriculum topics in culture and natural science. Each kit includes artifacts or specimens, a teacher guide with information and activities, books, and sometimes tools, photographs, DVDs, or other related material. Grade levels are suggested only. Kits can be adapted for any age group.

Rent an individual case: Use it in your classroom. Share it with other classrooms or in combined group events. Fee: $100/case for two weeks; $50 each additional week. Borrower arranges pick up and return by car.

On-the-Go 1:  Rent the case for a week and receive one BCM educator-lead program in your classroom.     Fee: $320

On-the-Go 2:  Rent the case for three weeks and get a field trip to the Museum plus a pre- and post-trip school visit from a BCM educator in your classroom. Fee: $800

Customized rentals:  Pick a group of related cases from the list on our website and arrange for a discounted price and/or extended periods of use. Transportation provided. 

Examples of curriculum topics and related cases are:

• American studies:  New York 100 Years Ago; Northeast Woodlands Native Americans; Kwanzaa
• Early grades and pre-school:  Butterflies; Land Birds of NYC; Dolls of World Cultures
• African studies: African Textiles; African Musical Instruments; and one or more of the following cross-cultural cases that includes African artifacts: Masks; Adornment; Other People’s Money
• Earth Sciences:  Volcanoes; Rocks and Minerals; Fossils; or Crystals
• Biological Sciences: Predators and Prey; Urban Naturalist; Reptiles; Insects; Butterflies; Shells; Antlers, Horns, Teeth; Human Skeleton
• Urban Nature: Land Birds of NYC: Urban Naturalist

To reserve any of the following Portable Museums for your class, please call (718) 735-4400, ext. 118.

CULTURAL CASES & CURRICULUM KITS

Adornments from Head to Toe (Grades K-5)

What does your jewelry say about you? By looking at 22 rings, necklaces, anklets, and amulets, students learn about the role of jewelry and personal adornment around the world. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Adornments from Head to Toe Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Bags, Boxes, Bowls, and Beyond (Grades K-5)

Containers may conceal something inside, but they also reveal a lot about the people who make and use them. This case introduces students to a variety of containers from around the world. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Bags, Boxes, Bowls, and Beyond Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Chinese New Year (Grades K-5)

New York City has at least three thriving Chinatowns. The objects, books, CDs, and other resources in this case will help your students learn about the Chinese Zodiac, the Lion Dance, and other aspects of the Chinese New Year celebration. Case includes a teacher’s guide, a CD, a DVD, a photo album,and a map. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Chinese New Year Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Dolls of World Culture (Grades K-5)

The dolls in this case aren't toys--they're cultural ambassadors! Students explore the cultures of Mexico, Jamaica, Africa, and other regions, while enjoying the opportunities for creativity and cross-cultural studies the dolls invite. The case includes dolls, teacher's guide, books, audio CD, and inflatable globe. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Dolls of World Culture Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Kwanzaa (Grades K-5)

Kwanzaa celebrates the culture and heritage of African Americans. With the objects and resources in this case, your students can build a classroom Kwanzaa table and learn the principles of Kwanzaa and how it is celebrated. Making a unity cup and Kwanzaa gifts are among the activities. Case includes a teacher’s guide, a poster, a CD, a DVD, and other resources. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the World Brooklyn Kwanzza Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

African Textiles (Grades 2-5)

Kente, adire, and adinkra fabrics have come to symbolize African heritage around the world. Students learn about the symbols on the fabrics and the techniques used to make them, and practice making their own wearable art. Case includes textiles, tools, and a teacher’s guide. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the World Brooklyn African Textiles Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Day of the Dead (Grades 2-5)

This case focuses on how people celebrate the Mexican holiday called Day of the Dead, from folk art and rituals to setting up a Day of the Dead altar. Students make cross-cultural comparisons with Halloween and the rich artistic traditions of Mexico’s people. Case includes a teacher’s guide, a CD, a DVD, photos, and recipes. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the World Brooklyn Day of the Dead Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Global Shoes (Grades 2-5)

Students explore how shoes are clues to where we live and how we work and play, and celebrate special events in our lives. This kit contains shoes to try on, a teacher's guide, videocassette, photos, and hands-on materials.

Masks (Grades 2-5)

Students explore masks from Guatemala, Indonesia, Papua New Guines, West Africa, and the Northwest Coast. They make masks and learn about their meanings and uses around the world. The case includes masks, teacher's guide, books, and videocassette. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Masks Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Mexican Folk Art (Grades 2-5)

With this case students discover the vibrant culture and traditional crafts of Mexico. Students handle handcrafted objects such as a ceramic owl, woven bag, and maracas. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, books, audio CD, and videocassette. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Mexican Folk Art Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Musical Instruments of Africa (Grades 2-5)

Bring the sounds of Africa to your classroom! Students may play the angle harp, kettledrum, rattles, bell and thumb piano. Activities may include constructing instruments and learning to sing along to traditional African songs. The teacher's guide, books, and audio CD complete the case. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Musical Instruments of Africa Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

New York 100 Years Ago (Grades 2-5)

The Central Inuit (Grades 3-5)

By examining bone snow goggles, a bone knife, a costumed doll, and other artifacts, students learn how the Central Inuit people have adapted to life in their Arctic environment. The case includes a teacher's guide and books.

Inside India (Grades 3-5)

A doll in a sari, a yo-yo, a toe ring, finger cymbals, and other authentic artifacts introduce students to the traditions of India. The case include objects, teacher's guide, map, audio CD, and books. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Inside India Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Northeast Woodlands Native Americans (Grades 3-5)

Students look into the lives of New York's original residents. They compare wampum and projectile points to the materials from which they were made, and a stone pendant to its silver successor. The case includes a teacher's guide and books.

Other People's Money (Grades 3-5)

The objects in this case provide students with a cross-cultural overview of the history of money, encouraging global awareness through an exploration of national currency. Students can design their own currency, practice numismatic research, and make a bank. Case includes a teacher’s guide,books, and magnifying glasses. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the World Brooklyn Other People's Money Portable Museum Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Telling Stories through Objects (Grades 3-5)

By pairing a Hopi kachina, an Indonesian shadow puppet, and other objects with tales related to specific cultures, this case prompts students to think a bout the stories objects tell, and to tell stories themselves. The case includes objects, teacher's guide, and books. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Telling Stories Through Objects Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

SCIENCE AND MATH CASES & CURRICULUM KITS

Butterflies (Grades Pre-K to 4)

Imagination takes flight with this case, thanks to the more than 30 butterfly specimens inside. This case focuses on the butterfly's beauty, body structure, and lifecycle. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, a DVD, and a butterfly lifecycle poster and model. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Butterflies Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

 Urban Naturalist: Exploring the New York Environment (Grades K-5)

Human Skeleton (Grades 1-5)

Using bones and a skull, students learn about the structure of the human body. The case includes real and reproduction bones, a teacher's guide, books, a life-size skeleton poster, miniature skeleton model, and X-rays. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Human Skeleton Portable Museum Teachers Guide. Currently unavailable.

Land Birds of New York City (Grades 2-4)

Insects (Grades 2-5)

Evi'dents (Grades 2-5)

Pattern Wizardry (Grades 2-5)

Students discover how spirals, tessellations, and linear and branching patterns help us to make sense of the world. The case contains natural science objects, such as seashells, and culture objects such as woven textiles. A teacher's guide with activities completes the case.

 Reptiles (Grades 2-5)

Antlers, Horns, and Teeth (Grades 3-5)

 Fossils (Grades 3-5)

Predators and Prey (Grades 3-5)

By examining a rattlesnake skull, turtle shell, porcupine quills, and grizzly bear claws, students discover the unique adaptations and behaviors animals use to stay alive in the wild. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, and project tools. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Predators and Prey Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives (Grades 3-5)

Along with learning about geology by studying 31 rock and mineral samples, students have a chance to compare them with a variety of objects made from those materials. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, and books. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Rocks and Minerals in Our Lives Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Volcanoes! (Grades 3-5)

Your students will be erupting with excitement! Volcanic rocks, cinders, dust, ash, and other specimens help students learn about geology and understand what happens when a volcano erupts. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, books, and a DVD. Click Here to read the full PDF version of the Volcanoes! Portable Museum Teachers Guide.

Shells and Sea Life (Grades 4-5)

Ideal for classifying and researching ocean life, this case contains an abalone, spider conch, channeled whelk, octopus (in plastic), and fifteen other sea treasures. It includes a teacher's guide and books.

Crystals (Grades 4-5)

Students are fascinated by the exotic shapes and colors of the 20 crystal specimens in this case. The teacher's guide provides activities for students, such as how to grow crystals in the classroom. The case includes specimens, teacher's guide, and books.