Reflections: How Can I Provide a Meaningful Museum Experience for My Students

My experience at the Newark Museum has been one of enlightenment. I have learned so much about art, history, science, and the cultures of various civilizations. This has made me question how I can use the arts to enhance the health curriculum. I had been contemplating taking the seventh grade to view the Bodies Exhibit because it ties in with content area in both health and science for that grade level. There is so much to see in this exhibit, as there is a separate room for the displays of each body system. I wanted to ensure that students would get the most out of the experience. What I have learned about the use of the arts as a learning tool and object-based learning will really help me to plan an enriching experience.

We learned that object-based learning and museum displays should have an entry point. I think that the Bodies Exhibit would be a good entry point for a unit on the body systems. My thought is to have students in small groups with a group leader (teacher) in charge of each group. The leader would ensure that students viewed all exhibits in each room so that they get the most out of the experience. I would also have students record their thoughts and questions in a journal as they toured each display. A follow-up classroom activity could be the sharing of those thoughts and questions from the journal entries with the class. This would serve two purposes. First, it would give me an idea of what they know already, what they are curious to learn more about, and what they need to know with regard to the core curriculum standards. Secondly, based on this information, I can then design a meaningful unit based on student interests and needs. While I could assess this information using a KWL chart, I think I can get a better picture their learning needs by providing a meaningful experience through an exhibit such as the Bodies Exhibit. I also feel that this would be a great way to excite and engage students in a vital part of the curriculum.
The possibilities are endless. This experience is showing me that there are so many choices when it comes to delivering the curriculum. From what I have learned in the first semester classes, it is important to assess what the student already knows, what the students wants to know, and what the cultural aspects of their lives are that affect what they know or how they view things. It is also important to address all learning styles. The use of visual arts, object-based learning, and inquiry are just some of the tools that can be used to address those aspects of learning