The Museum at La Brea Tar Pits is temporarily closed for construction. Many outdoor areas of Hancock Park remain open. Learn More.

Learning Resources

The museum at La Brea Tar Pits is currently closed for a two-year renovation. Indoor exhibitions and experiences are temporarily paused. While our physical doors are closed, our commitment to supporting educators continues through our virtual learning resources and at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

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screenshot of iNaturalist platform with image of bee

Video | GR 2-5 | GR 6-12

NHMLA's Community Science Projects

Join NHMLAC staff as they talk about some of the community science projects they manage throughout Los Angeles area and beyond.

Three T-rex dinosaur skeletons in different sizes

Reading | GR 2-5 | GR 6-12

What is a Dinosaur?

boy with light brown hair and a yellow shirt kneels and looks at something on the ground

Teacher Guide | All Grades

How To: Set up an Animal Track Station

A track station is an area created to record the presence and/or activity of animals in a particular location. This guide has great tips to help you and your student be successful in setting one up!

Family admiring direwolf skull with gallery interpreter at La Brea Tar Pits

Lesson Plan | GR 2-5 | PK-GR 1

The Right Tool for the Job

In this lesson, students will use observational evidence to make a claim about how the external features of each animal's teeth would help them eat their food.

Activity | GR 2-5 | PK-GR 1

Ice Age Word Search

Sift through this word search to find all the Ice Age-related words!

north american mammal hall level 2 empty

Photo Gallery | All Grades

Habitats of North America

In this Photo Gallery, explore the varied habitats of North America through our classic dioramas!

Video | GR 2-5 | PK-GR 1

So Many Bugs to See!

Celebrate the wonder of bugs with The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s very own bug band, the Luv Bugzzz, and their song “So Many Bugs to See”.

Photo of microfossils being sorted in the Tar Pits micro lab

Activity | GR 2-5 | GR 6-12

Build Your Own Simulated Matrix Sifter!

In this activity, students will be challenged to engineer their own simulated matrix sifter to practice their microfossil sifting skills!

Laura's nature memory map of a "lizard invasion" in a backyard

Activity | All Grades

Nature Memory Mapping

Video | GR 6-12

Oil Underfoot: Exploring the Geology of the Tar Pits

Why do we find so many fossils here?