Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum

The Monte L. Bean Life Science Museum is located on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Admission to the museum is Free and it has many preschooler friendly exhibits. Whether your preschooler likes bugs, Utah wildlife, or safari animals they are sure to find something interesting to explore.

Visiting the Museum

The museum is located in a free standing building just to the east of the Marriott Center. Parking is available directly in front of the museum entrance making it easily accessible to preschoolers. Parking is free but you will need to stop by the reception desk to obtain a parking permit to be placed on your rear view mirror.

Be sure and pick up a preschool scavenger hunt handout at the reception desk. The scavenger hunt contains pictures of animals that are found throughout the museum and invites preschoolers to color each animal as they find them in a museum exhibit.

Directions to the museum can be found on the website and are easy to follow.

Preschooler Friendly Features

The exhibits at The Bean Museum are extremely preschooler friendly. Many exhibits are based at ground level and others have very low glass viewing areas that make it easy for preschoolers to see. There are interactive features throughout the museum that preschoolers will enjoy such as buttons that light up information screens or exhibit areas. Educational videos are part of many of the exhibits and are surrounded by low benches for preschoolers and their families to sit and watch.

The Bean Museum is located in a relatively small area, making it easy to keep track of active preschoolers. The museum is rarely crowded so preschoolers are able to relax and enjoy the experience. Preschoolers can view each exhibit at their own pace without having to wait their turn or move out of the way for other patrons. Restrooms are located nearby and have preschool-sized sinks.

The gift shop is generally a place parents of preschoolers try and avoid but the gift shop at The Bean Museum contains many life science related toys that can be purchased for under $1.

Schedule a Free Live Animal Show

The Bean Museum offers free live animal shows for small groups such as families, playgroups, and preschools. If you would like a live animal show to come out to your preschool or other organization the cost is $30 in Utah County. You can request any topic for your live animal show but the recommended topic for preschoolers is Reptiles. The Animal Babies show is recommended for Kindergarteners and may be appropriate for preschoolers as well. The live animal shows are based on the Utah State Core Curriculum.

Attend a Regularly Scheduled Public Show

The new fall show schedule will begin September 3, 2007.

Monday: Reptiles at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm
Tuesday: Adaptations at 7:30 pm
Wednesday: Utah Animals and Plants at 7:30
Thursday: Center Atrium Theme at 7:30 pm
Friday: Invertebrates at 7:30 pm
Saturday: Reptiles at 1:00 pm

Discovery Reading

Every Wednesday at 11:00 am preschoolers can visit the Bean Museum for a special story time featuring stories about animals and nature. Stories are read by a professional storyteller who will capture your preschoolers attention and help them to develop an interest for life science.

General Information

645 E. 1430 N.
Provo, Utah

Hours
10:00 am to 9:00 pm Monday - Friday
10:00 am to 5:00 pm Saturday
Closed Sunday

Free Admission

Website: http://mlbean.byu.edu/home/

Additional Photos of The Bean Museum