Summer Institute 2026 – Interpreting Prehistoric Worlds: Fossils, Art, and Inquiry
Join us at the Field Museum on Wednesday, July 8 from 9am-12pm and Thursday, July 9 from 8-10am for this year’s exciting two-day Summer Institute – Interpreting Prehistoric Worlds: Fossils, Art, and Inquiry.
In this two-day, interdisciplinary session, educators will explore how fossils hold clues for interpreting the past.
We will engage in inquiry with fossils and reflect upon how art, including popular media, can be used to help us illuminate both what we know and what we do not.
What You'll Experience
Explore fossils through inquiry-driven investigations, examine how scientists and artists reconstruct prehistoric life, engage with Field Museum collections, and enjoy exclusive early access to the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition. Participants will leave with interdisciplinary strategies that connect science, art, observation, and evidence-based learning for students in grades 3–8.
Science, social science, and fine arts-aligned. Registration is open to formal and informal educators of all levels, though activities for this session are most applicable for teachers of Grades 3-8.
Illinois Educators will earn 5 hours of Professional Development for attending this two-day training.
Your registration includes
Materials
Light breakfast
Private early-hour access to Pokémon Fossil Museum ! Please note, the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition store will not be open, and access to the exhibit does not include the trading card.
Registration will remain open until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, or until full.
Program questions? Contact Samantha Chapleau, schapleau@fieldmuseum.org .
Get Tickets
In this two-day, interdisciplinary session, educators will explore how fossils hold clues for interpreting the past.
We will engage in inquiry with fossils and reflect upon how art, including popular media, can be used to help us illuminate both what we know and what we do not.
What You'll Experience
Explore fossils through inquiry-driven investigations, examine how scientists and artists reconstruct prehistoric life, engage with Field Museum collections, and enjoy exclusive early access to the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition. Participants will leave with interdisciplinary strategies that connect science, art, observation, and evidence-based learning for students in grades 3–8.
Science, social science, and fine arts-aligned. Registration is open to formal and informal educators of all levels, though activities for this session are most applicable for teachers of Grades 3-8.
Illinois Educators will earn 5 hours of Professional Development for attending this two-day training.
Your registration includes
Materials
Light breakfast
Private early-hour access to Pokémon Fossil Museum ! Please note, the Pokémon Fossil Museum exhibition store will not be open, and access to the exhibit does not include the trading card.
Registration will remain open until Wednesday, July 1, 2026, or until full.
Program questions? Contact Samantha Chapleau, schapleau@fieldmuseum.org .
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