Bringing the Museum to the Library and your Students

1. Bringing the Museum to the Library and your Students Jeanie Murrow, Librarian Ditto Elementary School Arlington Independent School District

2. It all began with…

3. WHY bring the museum to school? • Some students have never been to a museum; could be only chance to experience it • Access to great resources that are otherwise not available in your district • GREAT visibility of the library being the heart of the school

4. WHY bring the museum to school? • Curriculum-based materials and information can be shared across all grade levels • Topic can be linked to many academic studies, including history, science and geography

5. Let teachers know in advance; they may… • have items to add to the exhibit • want to change the timing of when they explore this subject in class • want to introduce their own connections in the classroom

6. TEKS

7. TEKS TEKS TEKS TEKS TEKS • Kinder: differentiate between fiction and non-fiction (Language Arts) or is (or was) alive and what is not (Science) • 1st grade: observes and records changes in the life cycles of organisms (Science)

8. TEKS TEKSTEKSTEKSTEKS • 2nd grade: describe the order of events by using the designations of time periods such as historical and present times (History) • 3rd grade: observe and describe the habitats of organisms within an ecosystem (Science)

9. TEKS TEKSTEKSTEKSTEKS • 4th grade: Draw conclusions about “what happened before” using fossils (Science) • 5th grade: Compare adaptive characteristics of species that improve their ability to survive and reproduce in an ecosystem (Science)

10. TEKS TEKSTEKSTEKSTEKS 6th grade: Interpret factual/quantitative information from diagrams/charts (Science/Math, Reading); Making inferences based on specimens, historical artifacts, photographs and other items in the exhibit (all academics)

11. PLANNING • Fort Worth Museum of Science and History • 817-255-9327 • http://fortworthmuseum.org/sites/default/files/PDFs/Learn/2012/Loan_Kit_Program_brochure.pdf

12. PLANNING • WHAT IS IN EACH KIT? • Items, short dvds or video • Laminated photos • Laminated information • List of all items in kit

13. PLANNING • GO TO THE MUSEUM at least 2 months before you plan to exhibit items • Set up a time in advance to view the kits with Museum personnel • Museum will work with you regarding timing

14. PLANNING • Once you have decided which kit(s) works best for you, reserve them • Kits will fit into a sedan and sedan trunk • $20 refundable deposit per kit required; credit cards accepted

15. PLANNING AT SCHOOL • Locate books in your library that effectively supplement the loan kit items/ info • Example: Stetson Hat “Boss of the plains : the hat that won the West” by Laurie Carlson

16. PLANNING AT SCHOOL • Arrangement of tables • Signs • Daily Schedule

17. PLANNING AT SCHOOL • Is there time to check-out? • How many days • Set up and tear down

18. Exhibit addresses all grade levels … when possible … • YOU need to approach each grade level differently when they explore the exhibit • Talk to students in advance about what a museum is

19. Exhibit addresses all grade levels • Kinder / 1st grade: no touching, hands at sides; • Follow the leader and surround table, students circle the table as I explain what is on it

20. Exhibit addresses all grade levels • 2nd & 3rd grade: depends on how much time they have; mainly a silent individual activity • May have time to read a short corresponding read-aloud or video • May touch certain items; give clear directions on how to lift items;

21. Exhibit addresses all grade levels • 4th-6th grade: depends on how much time they have; this is a silent individual activity • May have time for a video from the kit • May touch certain items; give clear directions on how to lift items; • Should be able to read everything

22. YOUR PASSION • Mine is rock-hounding • Suggestions: • quilting; recycling • trains; gardening at school • globes & atlases

23. Fossils and rocks

24. Be open-minded • Some students may want to bring some items to display; • Hands-on experience can be very powerful and memorable

25. Reptiles/Amphibians of Texas

26. Reptiles/Amphibians of Texas

27. Ancient Civilizations in Texas

28. Ancient Civilizations in Texas

29. Ancient Civilizations in Texas

30. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

31. Pioneers and Cowboys

32. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

33. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

34. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

35. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

36. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

37. Cowboys and Pioneers of Texas

38. Cowboys and Pioneers of Texas

39. Rocks, minerals, fossils exhibit

40. Cowboys and Pioneers of Texas

41. Cowboys and Pioneers of Texas

42. Feedback from Staff • Ask for constructive feedback; what suggestions can make it better next time • Share the Museum website with faculty and be open to their suggestions

43. Other Resources • Cedar Hill Museum of History • May offer kits in future • http://www.cedarhillmuseum.com • (972) 293-3806 • 332 Cedar Street, Cedar Hill, Tx

44. Other Resources • National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame (Fort Worth) • Director of School Services, at 817-509-8697 or ccollins@cowgirl.net. • http://www.cowgirl.net/TravelingTrunks.html

45. Other Resources • Texas Parks and Wildlife • http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/learning/resources/trunks/ • Grand Prairie: Keira Quam 972-263-0427 • Fort Worth: Laura Veloz 817-392-7410

46. Other Resources? • Science Dept at your school or cluster • History Dept at your school or cluster • UT Arlington/ UNT?