School Earth Science Curriculum Reflected in Exhibits and an Educational Analysis of Exhibition Methods: Cases of Natural History Museums in the U.S

Natural history museums used to be called an "informal learning institute". It is based on the assumption that their exhibition and exhibits are supposed to reflect school science curriculum and support school science programs. This study is to explore how this assumption is verified in terms of content-wise connections between school science and museum exhibits. In this study, 461 Earth Science related exhibits were selected from the Smithonian Museums and the American Museum of Natural History in the U.S. and analyzed with several instruments. The instrument targeting on Earth Science curriculum was framed based on the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (1993) and the National Science Curriculum Standards (1996). Other than content-wise connections, this study investigated exhibition characteristics related to better learning of science: these characteristics were types of activities, exhibition media, exhibition technology, and presentation methods. The nature of science shown in exhibits were examined as well. Natural history museums were reconsidered for their relevance and potential as informal educational venues from this study.