Museums in the Classroom

ID: WMA2026_580

Track:

If classes don’t come to your museum, bring the museum to them through school presentations that build lifelong connections. This session highlights the “Topaz in the Classroom” program, which reached over 10,000 participants last year, and shares case studies research examining elementary teachers’ use of object-based learning. Participants will explore how to launch a program, key presentation elements, best practices, and engage in interactive opportunities to test ideas with fellow museum professionals and educators.

Session Information

Format: Regular session/panel (roundtable, single speaker, etc.)

Uniqueness: Expand museum engagement by exposing students to museums at schools. Ideally, presentations will result in an early appreciation of museums and future visits from family.

Objectives: The learning objectives will be: ●      Conveying to participants that museum engagement can be expanded by outreach into the classrooms ●      Explaining how to navigate schools and school districts to make that happen ●      Demonstrating examples of programmatic curriculum ●      Showing best practices ●      Facilitating and advising participant discussion to inspire and refine new ideas The learning outcomes will be: ●      Understanding that outreach into schools can create a new generation of museum attendees along with their families ●      Learning how to begin a “museums in the classroom” program in school districts and classrooms. Handouts will detail steps to follow. ●      Reflecting on your institution’s collection to understand the kinds of objects that could be included in classroom-based experiences to meet teachers’ educational goals ●      Observing a variety of methods used to create curriculum: still images for visual learners, recorded interviews for aural learners, and museum toolbox kit for tactile/kinetic learners ●      Acquiring new ideas and advice to stimulate “museums in the classroom” programs

Engagement: We will be using a variety of methods to engage our audience: ●      Powerpoint presentation examples using still images ●      Excerpt of a video interview ●      Tactile use of a physical toolbox created to show best practices ●      Breakout conversation groups ●      Handouts with tips on starting a Museums in the Classroom program   Resources needed: ●      Projection device for Powerpoint and video files ●      Speakers to hear the video ●      Projection screen ●      Power cords

Relationship to Theme:

Audience

Audiences: Curators/Scientists/Historians Development and Membership Officers Marketing & Communications (Including Social Media) Other 

Professional Level: All levels 

Scalability: The subject matter of this session applies universally to all sizes of museums that are interested in expanding their outreach into the student population.

Participants