A class visit to an informal science center can do wonders to broaden students? horizons while challenging creative thinking. However, students will get much more out of the visit with a little preparation. One of the best ways to prepare students is by providing them with a focus question to research during the visit. Some centers will be able to provide a list of suggested questions for students to work on, or be willing to work with teachers on a more in depth worksheet. These worksheets keep students focused and require them to be active learners instead of passive observers. Questions could be as simple as: What are four things all plants and animals must do to survive? What adaptations protect deer from enemies? Can you list the regions of Virginia illustrated by each exhibit tank? For those teachers interested in a more structured experience, museums may offer classes for students on a variety of topics that are aligned with state and federal standards of learning. Depending upon the museum, these classes can be held either at the museum, at school, or a field location. The education professionals that run these classes, many former teachers themselves, are comfortable working with students and have a great deal of experience explaining difficult concepts to young minds.