Grand Rapids Public Museum

Hey, Kindergarten through 4th grade educators! 🍎 📚 ✏️ On Friday, February 14th, The GRPM and Grand Valley State University are delighted to invite your class to the Museum for Roger That! a day of STEAM and space programming honoring the life of Grand Rapids native and astronaut, Roger B. Chaffee. 🚀 Participate in the dynamic program, Creative Space with Rover and Ray of WGVU's Our Show Today. Participants will explore space science as they learn fun facts, sing, and dance in a collaborative performance. 👩🚀 Aspiring astronauts will have the chance to earn a prize for taking part in an astronaut training mission at stations around the Museum. 🔭 Plus, catch a stellar planetarium show in the Roger B. Chaffee Planetarium! Reserve your group's visit to the GRPM now at https://lnkd.in/gD4F2uNB

On November 18, the Grand Rapids Public Museum was honored to receive a generous contribution from the State that will support updates to the Community Archives and Research Center. This one-million-dollar contribution will improve community access to over 250,000 artifacts and specimens in the 95% of Museum Collections that are in storage, most of which were donated by the community over the last 170 years. We were privileged to have Michigan State Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Michigan State Representative Kristian Grant, Michigan State Senator Mark Huizenga, City Manager Dr. Mark Washington, and Kent County Clerk Lisa Posthumus Lyons in attendance. We are deeply grateful for the continued support of our community leaders, whose commitment ensures the preservation of our collections for future generations of study, scholarship, and reflection. Learn more about how we're Expanding Curiosity at the GRPM at grpm.org/expansion

School News Network published a great article about Anishinaabe Culture Day at the GRPM! Read what Museum Middle School student Asuncrana Dandridge, a member of the Potawatomi tribe, had to say about performing for her peers and sharing her culture. https://lnkd.in/gdws94hT

💛❤️🖤🤍 Yesterday we welcomed 755 students from 9 schools, 1 home school, and two nonprofit organizations for Anishinaabe Culture Day at the GRPM! 💛❤️🖤🤍 This annual event celebrates the history and culture of the Anishinabek through storytelling, performance, and activities in partnership with local representatives from several tribes and organizations. Students were able to see drumming and dancing demonstrations, listen to oral histories under a Planetarium display of constellations, create their own corn husk dolls, and more. Thank you to the outstanding presenters, dancers, drummers, vendors, volunteers, staff, students, teachers, and chaperones who made this such a memorable and impactful experience!

It was so great to host you in the Van Dort Print Shop! Your donations of paper for the printing press in the Streets of Old Grand Rapids help us keep history alive!

Educators! 🍎 📚 Discover new ways to weave native history into your social studies and history classes through a one-day professional development session on Thursday, October 17, 2024! Facilitated by Anishnaabe Historian Eric Hemenway, Anishinaabek History in the Classroom: An Examination of Primary Sources to Help Tell Native Stories will focus on utilizing primary sources to help educators impart native history in the broader teaching of American, Michigan, and local history and Social Studies. The focus of this one-day session is for Secondary educators (Grades 6-12) who teach social studies, history, and civics. Participants will leave with high-quality, culturally appropriate sources to incorporate into their instruction, as well as increased background knowledge and confidence in teaching native history. Participants will also be provided with 5 MDE State SCECHs. Register today at https://lnkd.in/gSFfJSJ4

Hey, educators! 🍎 📚 Discover the world of freshwater mussels through the lenses of history, science, and culture in your classroom. The new digital booklet explores mussel anatomy, life cycles, habitat, threats to freshwater mussel survival, and efforts to preserve them. Freshwater mussels are a hot topic in West Michigan this fall with a massive relocation project underway in the Grand River. For the City of Grand Rapids to begin restoring the namesake whitewater rapids, endangered species of freshwater mussels must be moved to safety, and divers are currently hard at work collecting them. Throughout the activity guide, background information is provided through easy-to-understand language, diagrams, and photographs. Opportunities to reflect, sketch, and learn more will keep students engaged as they consider the differences between native and invasive species, make connections, and brainstorm their own ideas to protect these endangered freshwater mussels! Download the Virtual Discovery Kit today at https://bit.ly/4gfeOpO Photo credit: Gary J Wege, https://bit.ly/3z5eQQt

🚨Discovery Alert! 🚨 During ongoing riverfront construction at the Grand Rapids Public Museum, crews uncovered a historic centrifugal pump from William T. Powers’ Grand Rapids Electric Light and Power Company! This fascinating find is a key piece of our city’s industrial history. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to investigate this artifact. Curious about what's happening on the riverfront? Learn about how we're #ExpandingCuriosity through improved community access to the Grand River at grpm.org/expansion

We're passionate about educating GRPM visitors about the Grand River and its watershed. From events like Grand River Adventure to guided education programs around water quality and community watershed decision-making, visitors can learn how integral this resource is to West Michigan life. Now imagine how impactful learning about the importance of the Grand River would be right on the banks. This outdoor classroom space will serve generations of students and community members through powerful place-based learning. Learn more about how we're #ExpandingCuriosity on the riverfront at grpm.org/expansion

Last week, with the passage of the National Fossil Act, the Mastodon became the official fossil of the United States! Introduced by Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Mike Braun (R-IN), the bill passed unanimously. We're particularly fond of this ancient giant here at the GRPM. You can learn about our mastodon specimens, including the recently discovered Clapp Family Mastodon, by reading our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/gCiq92Un