Open Forum

Dear All

What is the best way to engage with grade school kids in a museum? I think its about getting them interested in what the museum is about. Also get them engaged in the exhibits. That can mean age appropriate actives. I kept that in-mind when I created an educational tool for the museum that is in the grade program I was in. 

Thanks,

Rachel

I wouldn't be able to say for certain what the "best way" to engage is, but here are some things we do at our little museum. When grade school kids come in for field trip opportunities, we give a guided tour and then use a scavenger hunt afterwards where students pair up or get into small groups to then go back over the things they looked at to solve the scavenger hunt and they get a little prize at the end. We also do hands-on art activities somehow related to some portion of our exhibition. We've done gyotaku fish printing (with rubber fish), have made kaleidoscopes, created their own "Winter Counts" inspired by Indigenous American winter counts, created koinobori (carp windsocks), and a number of other make-and-takes. Sometimes we bring in story-tellers, magicians, or special guests to teach them games. 
It's about having fun and making a memorable experience inside the museum. Providing teachers with educational resources on the topic of the exhibition helps teachers tie the upcoming field trip in with their curricula and prepares students and teachers alike for what they'll experience when they get here. 

Hi Rachel!

This is such a great question. I agree that it is important to gain kiddo's interests in the museum and its exhibits. However, sometimes it can be challenging to appeal to every child's interests. At our center, we serve kiddos from Pre-K-12th grade. What I have found most helpful is having on hand, 1) an educator's guide that lets teachers know what their students will be learning, and what goals and objectives will be met in the activities. 2), Lesson plans are so fundamental. Our center receives confirmation sheets detailing from teachers the activities they have chosen, and which grade levels are participating in said activities. Lesson plans have saved me in preparing age-appropriate activities. For example, we have one activity that is a particularly fun story time about spiders. I have accommodated this lesson plan to include age appropriate activates such as coloring pages, matching games for creating spider webs, and showing live tarantulas. Preparing your presentations, language, and activities on an aged-based manner is so important. How you address yourself and present your attitude and information for different age levels makes a huge difference. I hope you find this information helpful! 

Dear Aarianna and Lindsey

Thanks for your in-sights. I agree and know that each museum has to approach this in the way that works for them. I enjoy learning from you all.

Rachel

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Rachel Alschuler
Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
San Francisco CA
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Dear All

Thanks for the in-sight and I agree activities are a good way to engage with school kids. I also agree that learning something about the museum before the visit is good to do. I see that as a collaborative thing between the school/ class room and the museum.

Thanks again,

Rachel

Dear All

I want to say that part of the reason I appreciate your different approaches is that I have a learning difference and have come to understand that each person learns differently.

Thanks,

Rachel