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Anchorage Alaska Public Lands Information Center Education Kits
Education kit materials from the center's library that is spread across a table
NPS/ANCH
Discover hands-on learning and bring Alaska's natural and cultural stories to life in your classroom with the center's free education kits.
The Anchorage Alaska Public Lands Information Center loans out materials to support educators. The center's education library consists of books, lesson plans, and educational kits. These kits are medium to large sized suitcases filled with ready-to-use curriculum, hands-on materials, and helpful teacher resources. Typically, kits are borrowed for two weeks, but extensions are available on request. Long-distance loaning of kits can be modified for shipping if need be or is requested.
Listed below in the collapsing panels are the education kits offered at the center, located in downtown Anchorage at 605 W. 4th Ave., Suite 105. Educators are invited to the center to pick up kits in- person and can request ahead of time for a specific kit to be held.
How do I reserve a kit?
To reserve a free education kit or for any questions, please contact the center's education team by emailing, visiting the center in person, or call (907) 644-3661.
Education Kits for Loan
Browse the center's 32 free educational loan kits designed for hands-on learning, organized by theme below.
Loon Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten-8th Grade
Description: Discover Alaska's fantastic feathered friends—the loons! This kit features all things loons and so many resources to share such as a loon costume so you can dress up a student while exploring loon biology, behavior, and habitat needs.
Description: Are you studying bones? Bring anatomy and food webs to life with hands-on owl pellet dissections! Owls, hawks, and other raptors swallow their prey whole and later regurgitate a pellet containing complete skeletons of rodents, moles, shrews, and birds. (The pellets are sanitized). Students can excite their inner scientist as they uncover each new bone... they can even reconstruct a skeleton!
Description: Though we see birds every day, we don’t often think about how diverse, unique, and how special they really are. This kit allows students to explore how bird beaks are adapted for each bird’s environment and food selections. It includes many books and resources as well as several interactive stations for investigating why birds’ beaks look the way they do.
Description: This kit is based on a real-life study conducted by researchers in Kenai Fjords National Park.
Students will simulate the work of field scientist by measuring prop oystercatcher chicks, and looking at shells to determine what oystercatchers eat. Students can use iPads (not included in kit) to review time-lapse footage of oystercatcher nests and explore how researchers utilize modern technology—such as remote cameras—to gather field data.
Description: Focus on Alaska's migratory songbirds with this fun educational kit! The lessons and activities have been specially adapted to fit Alaskan songbird species and include a teacher's activity guide, videos, books, student research kits, posters, songbird recordings, puppets, and much more! This kit is an excellent resource for exploring bird adaptations and migration behavior.
Description: This kit includes several interactive tracking activities, track stories, and step-by-step instructions for making your own plaster animal track casts (teachers provide the plaster and other materials). Featured in the kit are flexible latex molds, including beaver, coyote, eagle, bear, wolf, caribou, and more.
Description: This educational kit features books, posters, games, video resources, puppets, and curriculum guides focused on marine mammals in Alaska: whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, walruses, polar bears, and otters.
Description: Living in Alaska requires us all to be bear and moose aware! Teach your students proper safety etiquette around bears and urban wildlife using the engaging films, pamphlets, and educational materials included in this essential kit.
Description: Do you want your students to learn more about wolves? This kit includes engaging activities, books, video resources, posters, a wolf hide, skull, and more! This kit was prepared with the assistance of biologists and educators throughout Alaska.
Subject: Wolf Biology & Anatomy, Wolf Behavior & Communication, Wildlife Ecology, Predator Ecology, Wildlife Research
Bat Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten - 6th Grade
Description: Learn about Alaska's bats with a special focus on the Little Brown Bat! This kit includes classroom activity guides, books, little brown bat skeleton specimens, and information on white-nose syndrome.
Subject: Bat Biology & Anatomy, Alaska Bat Ecology, Food Webs, White-Nose Syndrome, Echolocation
Bear Kit
Grade Level: 6th - 8th Grade
Description: Bears are animals Alaskans are familiar with, but how much do we really know about them? This kit is split into three core themes: bear ecology, bear safety, and living in bear country. It includes comprehensive curriculum plans for each section to help teachers easily prepare lessons for their classroom.
Description: Many animals use their sense of smell to understand their surroundings. This kit allows students to explore their sense of smell as well.
Subject: Animal Senses Biology, Animal Adaptations, Sense of Smell, Scent Marking, Human & Animal Senses, Scientific Observation & Inquiry
Alaska Fish Kit
Grade Level: All Grades Levels
Description: The Alaska fish kit was designed to help students and educators explore the fascinating world of Alaska's diverse fish species, aquatic habitats, local fishing, and the importance of using fish as a resource. This kit has a strong focus on salmon and includes a variety of materials such as books, activity guides, a lesson plan binder, and games. If you are planning on teaching your students about local fish, this kit is perfect for you!
Subject: Fish Biology, Salmon Life Cycles, Alaska Aquatic Habitats, Fisheries & Resource Management, Aquatic Ecology, Alaska Native Cultural Connections
Gyotaku (Fish Printing) Kit
Grade Level: All Grade Levels
Description: This kit introduceslearners to the traditional Japanese art of fish printing, known as gyotaku, through a unique blend of art and science! Included in the kit are several realistic rubber fish models, fish identification resources, ground cloths, paint, and a variety of art supplies. The kit provides everything educators and students need to create colorful fish prints while exploring fish identification, anatomy, and Alaska's aquatic life.
Subject: Visual Arts & Printmaking, Japanese Gyotaku, Fish Anatomy & Physiology, Alaska Aquatic Life
Marine Mammals Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten-12th
Description: This educational kit features books, posters, games, video resources, puppets, and curriculum guides focused on marine mammals in Alaska: whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, walruses, polar bears, and otters.
Description: Discover how culture and mathematics intersect! Students explore the mathematical properties of shapes, patterns, angles, and symmetry used in Tlingit basketry. The kit includes a basket, weaving books, and references for borrowing museum items for school use.
Subject: Cultural Studies, Mathematics, Woven Art, Geometry, Angles & Measurement, Visual Arts
Great Alaskan Mystery Box
Grade Level: 4th-6th Grade
Description: If you want to teach your class about all things Alaska, this is the ultimate kit! It is divided into four flexible units: Alaska Introduction, Alaskan Animals, Alaskan History & Culture, and Alaskan Geology. Each section includes an independent curriculum guide, hands-on activities, books, and multimedia resources that can be taught individually or integrated into a comprehensive unit study.
Subject: Alaskan History, Science, Literature, Culture, and Animals.
Russian History Kit
Grade Level: 6th-12th Grade
Description: Students read Will Hobbs' novel Leaving Protection (class book set included) to begin their journey into Russian -history and culture. This kit includes authentic replicas—such as a Russian possession plaque, a tea brick, and trade beads—to spark student interest in archaeology, local heritage, and cultural history.
Subject: Language Arts, Social Studies, Russian History, Alaska History, Archaeology
Stampeder Kit (Gold Rush)
Grade Level: 6th-12th Grade
Description: Developed by Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, this kit explores what it might have been like to come to Alaska during the Gold Rush era. Includes primary source materials, historical artifacts, mapping activities, and hands-on learning resources.
Description: Walk in the footsteps of Alaskans during World War II. This kit features a room-sized map, interactive pathway tracks, and real original artifacts such as original Japanese soldier letters and goods. The kit holds dozens of items that were used during the Aleutian Islands Campaign. The main activity instructs students to trace three key wartime journeys (the U.S. Military, Unangax̂ relocation, and Attu residents) while exploring historic quotes, geography, and Alaska's role in WWII. This detailed kit aligns with Alaska History Content Standards. Subject: Alaska History, WWII & Aleutian Islands Campaign, Historical Geography, Unangax̂ History
Constitution Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten-12th Grade
Description: Written over 200 years ago, the U.S. Constitution remains a "living" document that shapes our daily lives. This educational kit includes a historic replica of the Constitution, ready-to-use lesson plans, assessment activities, and individual pocket constitutions for students to keep.
Subject: American History, U.S. Government & Civics, Branches of Government, Historical Documents
Classroom Puppet Show Kit
Grade Level: All Grade levels
Description: Bring perspective and critical thinking to life through storytelling! Based on Jon Scieszka's The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, this kit uses puppets to retell the classic tale from the wolf's point of view. The kit provides an engaging, hands-on way to explore narrative perspectives while helping students distinguish real animal behaviors from wildlife myths and stereotypes.
Subject: Storytelling & Performing Arts, Literature & Perspective, Wildlife Myths & Stereotypes, Animal Behavior, Communication & Theater
Park Jobs Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten–5th Grade
Description: Inspire the next generation of public land stewards! This kit introduces learners to a variety of careers that keep national parks, refuges, and public lands running smoothly. Featuring interactive career role-play activities and materials, students explore the diverse roles of park rangers, wildlife biologists, trail maintenance crews, wildland firefighters, and interpreters.
Subject: Career Exploration, Public Lands, National Parks, Park Ranger Careers, Environmental Stewardship, Social Studies
Fire in Alaska Kit
Grade Level: 6th-12th Grade
Description: Discover the role fire plays in our ecosystems! This kit contains materials to teach the “Role of Fire” and “Fireworks” curricula. Included is a rich collection of educational books, media, articles, and hands-on laboratory activities designed to explore fire behavior, wilderness, youth stewardship, and wildfire science.
Subject: Fire Ecology, Ecosystems, Wildfire Safety & Preparedness, Wildfire Science, Stewardship, Fire Behavior
Safety Note: This education kit contains materials and activities that incorporate creating a contained fire demonstration. All experiments and demonstrations from this kit’s activities must be supervised by adults and follow fire safety precautions and protocols.
Climate Change Kit
Grade Level: 3rd-8th Grade
Description: In this kit, students will learn how renewable energy works and discover clean energy solutions. Through engaging land- and ocean-based activities, students investigate how Earth's climate system functions, examine potential sea-level rise, and learn how renewable energy helps lessen environmental impacts. The kit features online resources, PowerPoint presentations, and additional curriculum to help you and your students become experts in climate change, sustainability, and renewable energy!
Description: The Leave No Trace activity kit inspires students to practice good outdoor ethics, valuing the land, and public land stewardship! This kit provides all the lesson plans, student prizes, handouts, activities, and resources educators need to teach the seven Leave No Trace principles. Students will explore essential practices like packing out waste, respecting wildlife, and protecting natural spaces.
Subject: Land Stewardship, Leave No Trace Principles, Outdoor Ethics, Wilderness & Public Lands, Environmental Education, Sustainability, Conservation
Permafrost Kit
Grade Level: 3rd-6th Grade
Description: Developed by the University of Fairbanks through a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project, researchers visited 40 Alaskan communities to talk about permafrost and climate change. This permafrost teaching kit was developed from their traveling displays. The eleven 3D-printed models and demonstrations in the kit show common permafrost features and climate change processes. Students explore key concepts including soil thermal dynamics, structural stability, and the impacts of climate change in northern environments.
Subject: Permafrost Science, Climate Change, Arctic Environments, Geology, Soil & Snow Science, Heat Transfer & Thermal Energy, Alaska Research
Minerals Kit
Grade Level: Kindergarten-4th Grade
Description: Minerals and natural resources have shaped Alaska’s history and continue to play a vital role in our economy and daily lives. This hands-on kit includes rich curriculum resources and engaging classroom activities to help students explore mineralogy, energy production, responsible mining practices, and environmental stewardship.
Description: Discover how the Earth moves and how structures withstand seismic waves. In this STEM kit, students design and construct paper towers of varying heights, then test their structural integrity on a simulated earthquake shake table using simple wave movement. Complete with essential earthquake safety protocols and preparedness guides, this kit combines engineering challenges with practical safety education.
Description: Bring geology to life through interactive, game-based learning! This educational kit lets students explore volcanic processes and lava layering through hands-on activities. Includes real geological specimens, such as lava rocks and volcanic ash samples, along with comprehensive classroom resources to investigate how volcanoes shape Earth's landscape.
Description: Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals once roamed the world, including Alaska. More than a dozen dinosaur species have been found in Alaska alone! This kit introduces paleontology, how fossils are formed and discovered, and theories about dinosaur anatomy, behavior, and more. The wealth of curriculum ideas in the teacher’s guide alone makes this an exciting kit to teach and to experience as a student.
Description: Master the fundamentals of map reading and outdoor navigation! Perfect for class outings or physical education units, this kit includes 30 student compasses and instructional books to guide learners through land navigation, spatial awareness, and orienteering challenges.
Description: Step back in time and view history in 3D! This historical photo kit features classic stereoscope viewers and authentic 3D stereo-card image pairs from Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. Students use vintage-style viewing technology to examine historic photos, analyzing early 20th-century gold rush life, and historic architecture.
The center offers educational material kits designed without a fixed curriculum, allowing educators flexibility to introduce tangible, hands-on items in any learning setting.
Moose Cape: one full-length moose cape
Puppets: three suitcases filled with various puppets
Moose & Muskox Bones: one moose skull and two muskox jaws
Mammal bones: nine various animal skulls (five bear, three wolf, one rodent)
Bear Capes: one black bear cape and one brown bear cape
Bear Pelts: two black bear pelts and one brown bear pelt
Various Furs: Wolf, coyote, muskrat, and mink
Mukluk Snowboot Artifacts: Handmade traditional mukluk snowboots
Alaskan Book Collection: Dozens of books pertaining to Alaskan topics
Additional Resources: Many more books, artifacts, and hands-on teaching tools are available upon request. Please contact the centers education team to inquire about specific items or topics.
