Acer palmatum, although there are more than 100 species of maple worldwide, only one species (Acer campestre) is native to the UK.

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Earth Lab workshops

This activity is free and has curriculum links appropriate for KS3 and KS4 students.

Bring earth science to life with our hands-on Earth Lab workshops.

Packed with fascinating fossils, minerals and rocks, Earth Lab is where students can dig deep into the exciting and varied world of British geology.

Inner Lab: use specialist microscopes and geologist tools to investigate different minerals and rocks:

  • Rock Cycle: identify sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks and place them into the rock cycle
  • Mineral Key: learn about the different properties of minerals and discover how they are the building blocks of rocks

Outer Lab: this area contains collections of British rocks, minerals and fossils that are displayed according to their geological period and linked to a map and database

  • Date with an Ammonite: an opportunity to discover more about ammonites and use keys to identify species using the fossil record as evidence for evolution

The earth sciences programme is supported by BP

Events for schools

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Contact us

Activity bookings
All activities must be booked in advance.
Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5555

Cartoon image of a hatchet fish on a museum pass

In World War II the Museum was used as a secret base to develop new gadgets for allied spies, including an exploding rat!