As children's museums become increasingly popular, they serve as ideal environments to supplement school learning. This study inquires into the pre-trip preparation and interaction between elementary teachers and students during a field trip to a Discovery Center of Natural History. We found that teachers did not specifically prepare students for their visit to the center and many teachers exhibited formal school behaviors in this informal environment. Students manipulated a variety of objects with and without teacher assistance; however, teachers who initiated hands-on experiences had students who were engaged in a variety of activities for greater lengths of time. 20

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