We all know that teaching is an art form. It requires creative thinking, sensitivity and motivating materials. A tall order for sure. As parents and teachers gear up for the new school year, many are scratching their heads, while looking for fun and interesting ways to present topics. This past Spring presented new challenges in teaching with COVID -19 forcing online learning across the country. This change however, can also be seen as an opportunity to Think Outside the Box.
Producing and hosting Museum Access has taught me about the educational gold mines our country’s museums represent. As museums begin to reopen, they continue to offer the opportunity to learn in a completely different setting. Many have activity sheets for kiddos and you’d be surprised how complete a selection of materials can be downloaded from museum websites. If you’re more into Virtual Visits, many museums can accommodate you too with curator presentations and discussions on many topics every week.
Our Museum Access team immediately jumped into action too. We’ve produced companion materials for each of our television episodes. Free downloadable Fun Sheets with D.I.Y activities and fun facts. Plus more in-depth Conversation Sheets for continued learning or just plain family fun. If you’re looking for a more complete experience, we’ve designed our new Classroom Series. These complete, standards based lesson plans take a deeper dive into a variety of topics from outer space and archeology to fine art, engineering and technology.
Whether you visit our nation’s museums in person or virtually, they infuse social and emotional learning into any content being taught. As the central core or a supporting resource, these visits can bring students to new levels of success through learning. We think that there’s no better way to Think Outside the Box for our future generations!
