This is part 1 of a two-part presentation given at the 2011 Ontario Museum Association in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

1. London Museum School:
A Collaborative Approach to Engaging
Children in the Heritage Sector - Part 1
By PresenterMedia.com

2. London Museum School…
• “…provideselementary students with a
valuable week of learning and discovery.”
• “…allowsteachers to move their classroom to a
museum setting for a full week of curriculum-
based experiential learning.”
• “…allow[s]students to slow
down, observe, reflect and make connections to
the world beyond the classroom.”

3. Teacher Led Time
• Teachers work in partnership with
museum educators
• The week-long schedule of
activities consists of both
museum-led programs and
teacher-planned activities and
instructional time.

4. Campus Calgary/ Open Minds Program
• Is the basis for the London Museum
School program Campus Calgary
Petro-Canada Bird School
Canada Olympic Park School
City Hall School
“The Open Minds concept began as an University School Week
experiment when a Grade Three class Stampede School
Talisman Centre School
came to the Calgary Zoo every day for a Aero Space Museum School
week in 1993.”
- Implementing the Open Minds Education Concept in Your
Community – a guide Chevron Open Minds
Zoo School
Glenbow Museum School
• Museum School has been running in Science Centre School
Calgary since 1995 Cross Conservation School

5. Museum Schools Can now be found in:
• British Columbia
• Michigan
• Singapore
• London, Ontario

6. London Museum School Partners
• The Canadian • Museum of Ontario
Medical Hall of Fame Archaeology
• Fanshawe Pioneer • Woodstock Museum
Village National Historic Site
• London Regional • Thames Valley District
Children’s Museum School Board
• Museum London • London District
Catholic School Board

7. Journaling
Journals are used...
to write and sketch what is personally interesting to the student
to note observations
to imagine and wonder
to connect new information with prior knowledge
to provide entry points for discussion and sharing
Journaling provides students with the opportunity to
engage in their own learning and have the opportunity to
clarify and reflect upon their thinking and experiences.

9. •Looking At Objects
• Describe the object.....PHYSICAL FEATURES
• What colour is it? What is it made of? Is the object complete? Has
it been mended or changed? Is it worn? Would it make a sound?
• How was it made ... CONSTRUCTION
• Was it hand-made or machine made? Is it made from several
pieces? If so, how has it been put together?
• Is it well designed ... DESIGN
• Does it do the job it was intended for well? Were the best materials
used? Is it decorated? If so, how is it?

10. Comments On Journaling

11. Students participate in a variety of activities
• London Children’s • Canadian Medical Hall • Fanshawe Pioneer
Museum of Fame Village
• Science experiments • Guest Speakers. • Traditional
games, drama, and
group work

12. Benefits of Museum School
From London Museum School Report
After completing Museum School:
• 62% of students showed an increase in their
understanding and appreciation of museums
• 18% more students were meeting or exceeding grade level
expectations according to the Ontario Curriculum
document after their Museum School experience
• Student assignments consistently showed an increased
enthusiasm and understanding of the museum role in
connecting learning to our community
• In addition to the students gaining knowledge, 80% of the
adults who accompanied the class indicated that their
knowledge of what museums have to offer had increased

13. 2010/2011 School Year
• 726 elementary students
• 169 educators & volunteers

14. Funding Museum School
The 2010/2011 school
2010 LMS Funding Sources
year was generously
Corporate Government Community
supported by 9 groups
and 5 individuals. Their
investment contributed to 25
29
an increased enthusiasm
for learning among
students and an enhanced 46
awareness of the museum
sector in our community.

15. Assessment & Evaluation
We have used various methods of
assessment trying to find the most useful:
Today we are using:
Teacher program evaluations
Volunteer program evaluations
Student before/after persuasive
assignments

16. How to set up your own Museum School
You Will Need...
SITES
PARTNERSHIPS
PROGRAM CO-ORDINATOR
SCHOOLS/TEACHERS

17. Students experiencing life inside a
longhouse at the Museum of Ontario
Students at the Canadian Medical
Archaeology
Hall of Fame

18. “Learning is more interesting when
taken outside the classroom, like
Museum School. Museum School
was an opportunity of a
lifetime, and I am grateful to have
been part of this amazing
experience.”
- (Grade 7/8 Student,
St. Joseph’s Catholic School)