Exploring Unusual Museum Specimens

Exploring Unusual Museum Specimens

Assessment

Interactive Video

Biology, Science

5th - 8th Grade

Hard

Created by

Olivia Brooks

FREE Resource

The video explores how museums collect diverse specimens, including unexpected items like a rusty car door. During a field expedition in Puerto Rico, scientists discovered a 1984 Ford Bronco door covered in lichens. These lichens, which are symbiotic organisms made of algae and fungi, intrigued the scientists. They decided to transport the door to the Field Museum in Chicago for further study. The team identified over 50 lichen species on the door, some fluorescing under UV light, and possibly discovered a new species. This highlights that scientific discoveries can occur in the most unremarkable places.

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5 questions

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1.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What unusual item did the Field Museum scientists collect during their expedition?

An ancient artifact

A rare bird

A rusty car door

A remarkable mammal

2.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

Where was the car door with lichens discovered?

In a museum

On a mountain

On the side of the road in Puerto Rico

In a forest

3.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What organisms were found in abundance on the car door?

Mushrooms

Ferns

Mosses

Lichens

4.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

How many species of lichen were identified on the car door?

More than 50

More than 30

More than 20

More than 40

5.

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

What unique feature did some of the lichens on the car door exhibit?

They changed color in sunlight

They emitted a pleasant scent

They fluoresced under UV light

They grew rapidly