The words on the cards offer another dimension to learning how to look at works of art. “The glory of everything.” “Rest from care, my one and only.” “Deep in the dung and the dark.” “They’re fattening you up because they’re going to kill you.” “The night seemed long.” Taking …
Give Me Memphis, Tennessee Going to Memphis, Tennessee? Be sure to check out their many and varied museums, in addition to eating great barbeque and listening to the blues. Among the cultural attractions you might wish to visit are: Center for Southern Folklore 209 Beale Street. Documents the lives and …
Birthday cakes with candles for wishes. A freshly baked loaf of bread to welcome a new neighbor. Thanksgiving feasts and celebratory spreads for bar mitzvahs, christenings, graduations, and weddings. Food is more than nutrition in most cultures, and it is another tool teachers use to motivate and educate their students. …
A shy third grader teeters on shaking legs. She lowers her eves and blushes as she pulls on the thick jacket that simulates whale blubber. Fins are placed on her hands, a tail is strapped on her body, and large eyes are stuck to the sides of her head as …
New docents, also known as docents-in-training, must maneuver around the docent policy manual as deftly as they do around an exhibit or touch cart. But how can you know this? A paper and pencil-type test might indicate which trainees studied the policy manual, but can’t really indicate how they will …
The Plains Indian is one of a complex of four museums housed within the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. It is a popular attraction for school children who sometimes travel hundreds of miles to see the things they read about while studying Wyoming and U.S. history. Children of …
Docents at the Bayly Art Museum of the University of Virginia know that an activity called, “Academy Awards” is a sure winner. The docents distribute cards labeled “Best Actor,” Best Actress,” “Best Costumes,” “Best Set Design,” and “Best Screenplay” to individuals or small groups. After the visitors have made their selections …
This story is really about a love affair with maps. I was always interested in maps – – roadmaps, blueprints, shopping mall maps, even fire escape diagrams. I lingered over those cartographic treasures delivered every month in the National Geographic magazine. Interest became passion the day I learned there was …
While all of us experience the physical world through our bodies, people who have strong bodily-kinesthetic intelligence tend to use their bodies to express ideas and feelings. These individuals are often talented athletes, dancers, skilled technicians, and actors. Though children who possess this orientation may not be verbally expressive, they …
How does a botanical garden teach specific scientific topics to children when, in most cases, the plantings were designed for beauty rather than education? How can we encourage children to explore and investigate the collection without hurting the plants or themselves? At many museums and botanical gardens, these challenges are …
Games in my institution? You must be joking! Our collection has been researched by scholars, our subject matter is serious and important, our approach is sophisticated, and our demeanor is dignified. Why would we play games in our galleries?” If you’ve perceived similar attitudes at your institution ╤ staff or …