We do programs for kindergartners all the time. Some basic tips:
They have a VERY short attention span, so keep it simple.
They have a small vocabulary, so keep it simple.
Expect questions/comments that have nothing to do with your talk.
Just acknowledge them and move on.
They are very tactile, so give them different things (with different
feels) to touch/hold.
Ask them questions or tell them things at very basic level about the
objects (e.g., with an amethyst crystal, I might say isn't it
beautiful! This is actually found in rocks! What color is the
crystal? Can you touch all the flat surfaces of the crystal?) This
gives them things they can relate to later, telling their parents
about the cool purple thing they saw at school.
Try to relate things to their lives (e.g., What do you use to wash
your face in the morning. Soap! Well, a long time ago, people had to
make their own soap at home...)
Think of something inexpensive that you can hand out as a keepsake of
your visit (e.g., we're a geology museum, so we pass out polished
stones)
Try to get them moving around a little (e.g., we make them stomp like
woolly mammoths)
Read from a book pertaining to your museum's focus that is geared to
that age group.
They have no expectations for you. They don't know if you forget to
say something.
Have fun!
Joanne Kluessendorf, Ph.D.
Director
Weis Earth Science Museum
University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley
1478 Midway Road
Menasha, WI 54952
phone 920.832.0125
fax 920.832.2674
www.weismuseum.org
The Weis Museum—Where Science Rocks!
On Oct 8, 2009, at 7:39 AM, las834 wrote:
> Hello Colleagues,
>
> I have been invited to come to speak (present?) to 60
> kindergarteners about
> what museums do. (!!) I am a curator at a small history museum and
> have
> done presentations and Museums-In-A-Box / Discovery trunks for school
> children before, but not for this young an age group. The teacher
> who wants
> me to come is so excited...so I am asking for your input,
> suggestions and
> help for what type of presentations you have done and what types of
> things
> you brought with you that would work for this little age group.
> Please
> advise and thank you!
>
> Best,
> Laurie
>
> =========================================================
> Important Subscriber Information:
>
> The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/
> . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands
> by sending a one line e-mail message to
> [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read
> "help" (without the quotes).
>
> If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail
> message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message
> should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
=========================================================
Important Subscriber Information:
The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes).
If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).
|
