This document provides guidance on effectively planning exhibits and educational programming to appeal to school audiences. It emphasizes the importance of aligning exhibits and programming with curriculum standards and testing to attract field trips. Specific recommendations include researching curriculum maps and textbooks, consulting teachers on interests and needs, and providing supporting materials like traveling trunks and educational guides. The goal is to create authentic connections that demonstrate an exhibit was "built for" a particular grade level audience.

1. The Kentucky Intensive Museum Management Seminar:ExhibitsFighting for the field trip dollar: Effective Exhibit Planning and Educational Programming for the School AudienceChristy SpurlockMarch, 2010

2. What Teachers want . . .

3. So tell me what you want, what you really really want,I'll tell you what I want, what I really really want . . .Spice Girls song “Wannabe”

4. Exhibits and programming that reflect and enhance what is being Taught and Tested in class

5. If your build it, they will come . . .

7. NO!!!!!Educational ReformState Specific CurriculumEver Shrinking Field Trip DollarSchool audiences will not be sold on visiting exhibits not reflective of their curriculum

8. If you build it FOR them, they will come . . .

9. One can stretch/twist to make an exhibit “sort of” match

10. Step OneI have an idea for an exhibit subject.How do I figure out who (if any) my target school demographic is? Where do I start first?

11. Step TwoWhat subjects are taught in which grades?Let’s just go with one content area- Social Studies.What is taught in 1st grade? 2nd? 3rd? 4th? 5th? 6th? 7th? 8th?

12. KDE WebsiteCurriculum Maps and Core Content* We will come back to this

13. Step threeOK, so now I know the following . . . K-3rd Government grade Historical Perspective Cultures & Societies Economics Geography4th grade KY History

14. 5th grade US History6th grade Geography-The World and its people7th grade World History 8thgrade US History *Through Reconstruction

15. What about High School?What is taught in Social Studies during 9th? 10th? 11th? 12th?What are the Social Studies requirements to graduate in KY?

16. Three credits for social studies are required for high school graduation. These credits must incorporate the five social studies disciplines of U.S. history, economics, government, world geography, and world civilization. Districts and schools can arrange the essential content within the three-credit requirement to best meet their need.

17. 9th or 10th World History 9th or 10th Political Science/ Economics11th grade US History *Since Reconstruction

18. Step FourHow do I find out specifically what 4th graders are studying in KY history?

19. Pop Quiz Time Can an exhibit have more than one authentic grade level audience?

20. Yes!The key is authenticity!Exhibit must have natural, legitimate worthwhile connection to that grade’s curriculum

21. Is she going to bring her class?Remember this guy?Twist & Stretch . . .

22. Step FiveTested? how is it being tested? Testing drives the curriculum!Sample questions from the test. * We will come back to this

23. Step SixNow I am ready to start planning my exhibit!

24. Pick up the phone and call . . . “What would you like to see in an exhibit about ________?”

25. State Department of ED Website

26. Audience?

27. Current Textbooks

28. Let’s do lunch!

29. NO Bubble-IN Surveys!!!

30. Take a page from Conner Prairie and come up with your own . . . Anonymous survey mailed to every teacher with a return self addressed envelopeWhat did you like best about your field trip?What would you like to see changed/gotten rid of or done differently? What exhibits or resources would you suggest for the future?

31. Gifts! Teachers Love Gifts!

32. New exhibit that has a school audience How are you going to appeal to multiple intelligences???Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Musical, Bodily-kinesthetic, Spatial, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal ?Title of exhibit?Target audience(Grade/s)?Specifically, what in their curriculum?

33. How are you going “to own it and rock it?” Why should I bring my class?

34. Share OutSuggestions?Hands-On Activities?Things you have seen elsewhere that you can adapt to your exhibit?

35. Final ThoughtsSchool field trips, future exhibits have to be designed for them . . . from the beginningGet target demographic’s curriculum, textbooks, teachers on the phone during designWhat do they need, want . . . What will appeal to your target grade/s ?In the words of those great modern day philosophers . . . . With exhibit planning are you . . . .

36. “Someone who knows how to own it, and rock it . . .”

37. CHANGES TO ky Testing & therefore curriculumAKA Senate Bill 1 (SB1)2009 SB1 passed and it changes KY’s assessment2009-2011 Transition period2012 New State Test Debuts

38. Things we can talk about if we have time . . .

39. Can do programming not connected to exhibitsSpecial field trip daysExample such as “KY Historic Native American Days”By finding out what your educator audience truly wants, can come up with programming that will be “sold out!”

41. Bait!Traveling TrunksSchool project such as 4th and 5th grade KY themed Christmas OrnamentsDramatic Performances such as International HolidayWeb sitePromotional itemsItems from your gift shopEducational Program GuideVisually appealing emails- used sparingly!Ad on Education page of area paper

42. Textbooks Different schools in the same district use different textbooks. Email a 4th grade teacher at each school in your area and ask for the name and publisher of their KY Social Studies textbook. Email 5th grade for US textbook. Purchase the most commonly used ones. When your exhibits team designs/plans an exhibit have a copy of the curriculum in hand/ along with the textbook. Sometimes it is just a matter of semantics – saying it this way instead of that way Developing our Civil War in KY exhibit, we had the current 4th grade and 5th grade texts, along with the Core Content and suggestions from teachers

43. Design your ED webpage for teachers ED page should be designed for teachers and easy to navigate May also include additional educational resources Regularly updated

44. Education Advisory CouncilTarget 4-6 outstanding teachers of your target grade level/s. How? Ask around- email principals and tell them what you want Invite to lunch/discussion session with a specific agendaSchedule for one hour at most convenient time for teachers- at end or beginning of school year If you have to pay them or offer some type of incentive, well worth the effort!

45. Education Programs & Tours bookletBooklet describing your programs and tours with Core Content numbers Available onlineMail a copy to every teacher of target grade/s in areaSee example

46. Traveling Trunks Ask the target audience teachers what trunks they would like developed Travel Trunk statistics – number of students Total 2005 143 Total 2006 1025 Total 2007 1609Total 2008 4785 Total 2009 3884

50. Ad on weekly Education Page of Daily News