Finding the Subject in the Material

Every day there’s an opportunity to see the subject in the material. This picture is the perfect example: we weren’t looking for an art shot on our historic meander, but we found one.

Museums and schools have had a long symbiotic relationship that has recently been put on the rocks.  Schools these days are severely underfunded when it comes to field trips, making teachers focus on getting the most out of every trip taken in a year. Museums, in turn, have had to move towards a more formal look at their classes and offerings for schools in order to satisfy local and state curriculum and education standards. Thus, we have the subject of today’s post: finding the subject in the material.

What does that even mean? Don’t you usually write the material for the subject? Yes and no. If you go into a museum with the subject in mind, you may not get as full of a field trip or visit as you’d like. But if you go into a museum with the material in mind, the subjects are endless.

Take, for example, a natural history museum. Rocks, minerals, animals, maybe even dinosaurs (anyone that says they don’t like dinosaurs is probably lying, FYI). If you look at it as just a chance to study fossils or the natural environment, you may miss out on the opportunity to discuss texture, history, human impact, or mathematics (think word problems). If you go into an art museum expecting to only discuss art, you’re missing out on mathematics, politics, world cultures, literature, mythology, world religions, history, and science, as well as psychology and personal development (to name a few).

All museums offer something beyond what’s described or pictured on the surface.  And visitors from different backgrounds will take away different meanings and relationships from the same objects. Teachers have a hard enough time teaching in a classroom; museums give them a chance to teach a bunch of subjects to a bunch of individuals who may not always feel a personal connection to a subject in school. Suddenly that student may have the chance to create a potentially lasting relationship with a subject because they now see it in a different light. You never know what will be the initial spark to someone’s fire.

In grad school, we were required to write lesson plans for potential activities that fit state educational and learning objectives. Our professor told us to write the activities and lesson plans and then find the objectives that met them, rather than read the objectives and write plans that fit them. So now I offer that challenge to you, readers.

This post isn’t just for teachers or parents. This is your personal challenge this weekend to visit a museum you’ve never been to before with no pre-conceived subject in mind, and see what the material presents to you. Find the subject in the material.

Tuesdays are for Toddlers: Gone Wild!

Today’s edition of Tuesdays are for Toddlers is going back to nature: National Park style.

Fern Lake, Rocky Mountain National Park. Photo Credit: National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park

The National Park Service has been around since 1916 and was founded by President Theodore Roosevelt to preserve natural areas that represent American beauty and majesty. After the establishment of Yellowstone National Park as the flagship park, the Service came to include Parks like Yosemite, Glacier, the Grand Canyon, and many more. These parks are full of recreational activities and learning opportunities from hiking, camping, nature watching, and educational tours and camps. Exploring nature with your toddler can be really rewarding and beneficial for both your child and nature.

Before going to a National Park, talk about what makes the country beautiful. Talk about the song “America the Beautiful”, written by Katharine Lee Bates and composed by Samuel Ward, and how it describes America’s landscapes. Discuss the animals that may be found in the area and what they like to eat. Remind them to not feed the animals, as they can change and become too comfortable with people.

When at the parks, enjoy nature walks and talk about the things they see and feel: what’s the weather like? What do the trees smell like? What colors can they see in the rocks and mountains? Some National Parks, like the Grand Canyon, have not only natural beauty but are also religiously and culturally important landmarks for American Indians. You may find ruins and petroglyphs (or pictographs) that show what life consisted of for the peoples living there. Bring paper and crayons or colored pencils with you and encourage your toddler to draw their daily life in pictures like the ones they see.

For a fun activity, try playing with air dry clay and make bowls and cups. Once the clay has dried, you can paint them in different designs and colors. And, to help with understanding the world, visit UNESCO’s website listing World Heritage Sites and discover culturally, naturally, scientifically, and aesthetically important sites around the world. These sites are chosen because of their inherent importance to human culture, not just one nation. Talk about these sites and if available, take a photographic tour of the areas. Pick a country you’ve always wanted to go to and dream with your toddler about the culture and the people.

In the news recently? 6 New World Heritage Sites have been selected and added to the list! 

Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex WIKIMEDIA COMMONS/BUI THE TAM