Read what teachers, students, and parent volunteers are saying about their Museum School experience.
Woodstock Museum National Historic Site
The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame
“Museum School allows students to make connections between school and the real world. It encourages them to “dream big.” The experience builds community amongst the class which leads to an environment that encourages risk taking and sharing of ideas (an excellent way to start off the year!)”
Holly Grandy, Grade 7/8 teacher, St. Michael Catholic School (The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“I hope this program is able to continue in the future…it plants seeds in the fertile soil of future generations allowing kids to make a difference and believe in themselves! Thanks again for allowing us to be part of this life changing educational experience.”
Anita Lambrech, Grade 8 teacher, Chippewa Public School
(The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“It was a wonderful experience and I highly recommend this program to all educators of all levels. I felt it inspired the children that their dreams are within reach.”
Mary Hughes, E.A. grade 6/7 class, St. Anne Catholic School
(The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“This experience personally changed me. I knew that when I saw the faces of all the amazing Canadian medical heroes, that I wanted to one day be a Canadian medical hero, too. I wanted to one day change people’s lives by making a medical discovery.”
Grade 7 student, St. Patrick Catholic School (Lucan)
(The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“It was an honour being present while these people who have made such a difference in the medical world shared their knowledge with us… some of their speeches made us feel as though we could make a difference someday as well. These experiences have really inspired me and have shown me that if I am really determined to do something, I can accomplish it by devoting myself to it.”
Grade 8 student, Chippewa Public School (The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“I feel the program was successful in making learning “fun” for the kids. The hands-on activities allowed our son to participate in a way that is not possible in the classroom alone. Our son found the tours and speakers very enjoyable …he will remember the experience and what he learned. This was a wonderful learning experience and in the words of our son, was the best school trip ever!”
Deb Woods, Grade 5 parent, Grade 5, Wilton Grove Public School (The Canadian Medical Hall of Fame)
“Hands-on experiences are an exceptional way to learn. The Museum School allowed (the students) to go one step further and step into the life of a pioneer child. This is the ultimate way of learning…available only at the Museum School.”
Mrs. Pat Ryan, Grade 3 teacher, Leesboro Central Public School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“This program met a number of Ministry Expectations including social science, language, drama, math and art. The program was an extremely enriching experience. Students learned through hands on experience what the life and times of an Early Settlement would have been like. This cannot be taught or learned through media as effectively as learning from the expert staff at the Village.
Sharon McManus, Grade 3 teacher, Eagle Heights Public School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“I think the most effective way of teaching children about the 19th century is a hands-on approach. My children remember most of what they were taught because of the role play activities. The experience became more emotional for them, therefore, they remember it on a personal level.”
Emily Oatman, Grade 3 teacher, Knollwood Park Public School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“Museum School provided the class with a highly motivating, enriched learning experience that was both fun and educational. The students learned through exploration of artifacts in a hands-on fashion that made history come alive. The students enjoyed the role-playing activities and learning in the school house, because this enabled them to see what life was like for children over 100 years ago.”
Ted Parkinson, Grade 7 teacher, St. Sebastian Catholic School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“Pioneer Village was so much fun! My three favorite activities were the nature walk, role playing, and the pioneer games…IT WAS THE BEST WEEK EVER!”
Grade 3 student, Eagle Heights Public School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“My trip to Fanshawe Pioneer Village was great! We learned so much. The best part was when we pretended to be pioneers. I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Grade 7 student, St. Sebastian Catholic School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
“The children learned using a hands-on approach. They were able to touch and smell objects. They were asked to use their reasoning skills in order to determine how objects worked and what they would be used for.”
Tina Renaud, Grade 5 parent, St. Theresa Catholic School (Fanshawe Pioneer Village)
London Regional Children’s Museum
“The program was tailored to the unique learning styles of the students – very interactive and play-based – exactly what the kids need. The program was able to mesh perfectly with curriculum expectations making it easy to get the kids focused and interested.”
Grade 1 teacher (The London Regional Children’s Museum)
“It was … enlightening to read the reflections of the students and to learn about each one of them so early in the year. It was an unforgettable and invaluable week of learning and discovery, tailor-made to include integration of all subjects and rich curriculum based activities, just as promised. All the while, students practiced language skills, problem-solving and higher order thinking skills. We are very grateful for such an incredibly experiential week.”
Deb Woods, Grade 4 teacher, Summers’ Corners Public School (London Regional Children’s Museum)
“It was a highlight to have so many parents involved. The students loved the program. The expression/ excitement on their faces and their enthusiasm to get there everyday, said it all.”
Olena Wilson, Grade 4 teacher, Chippewa Public School (London Regional Children’s Museum)
“The hands-on learning and demonstrations by museum staff allowed the students to have fun while being engaged and active in the lesson. Watching children’s eyes light up when they discovered something new and exciting was a highlight of the Museum School experience.”
Miss Juric, Grade 5/6 student teacher, St. Bernadette Catholic School
(London Regional Children’s Museum)
“Today our class learned about dinosaurs. It was the BEST ever. We got to look at copies of real fossils. It was awesome!”
Grade 5 student, St. Bernadette Catholic School (London Regional Children’s Museum)
“I saw students take ownership of their learning, expanding their knowledge through experimenting and role playing. It was an incredible week for the students and as a parent, I am glad to have had the opportunity to see the benefits of Museum School first hand.”
Parent volunteer, Grade 3, Wilton Grove Public School (London Regional Children’s Museum)
Museum London
“We loved Eldon House! Students are still making connections and remembering facts. We enjoyed the river walk and all the London History tales – the flood, baseball field, etc.”
Sandra Schliehauf, grade 4 teacher, Lorne Avenue Public School (Museum London)
“The students really enjoyed their quiet time when they could reflect on various works of art. Also, they enjoyed the abstract art activity when they had to represent various emotional states using various media…This is an excellent program…very worthwhile.”
Jeff Tooke, Grade 5/6 teacher, University Heights Pubic School (Museum London)
“Being from a rural area, many of the students had not had an opportunity to (participate in) the activities before. I felt the experience was particularly (beneficial) for boys who learn better from an active approach.”
Mary Durand, Gr. 5/6 teacher, Sacred Heart Catholic School (Museum London)
“…(this experience has been a) cool, totally amazing, superbly awesome, grand adventure!” Grade 7 student, St. John French Immersion (Museum London)
“The program allowed children to think and use their creative skills in an imaginative way. The children saw and reflected on various types of artwork and even took part in creating their own “masterpieces” using elements and techniques learned through art. The students worked on communication and expressed feelings and interpretations of various artworks.”
Parent volunteer, Grade 3, St. Robert Catholic School (Museum London)
Museum of Ontario Archaeology
The Museum of Ontario Archaeology joined the London Museum School Collaborative in 2009. We look forward to adding more comments about this engaging Museum School site, as additional schools participate in Spring 2010.
“Students were able to focus on activities and tasks to a higher degree than usual, because so much of the learning experience was visual and participation oriented. Students were able to recall material presented to them because they could see it “in context” and could often hold the history in their hands.”
Grade 7 teacher, Jim Naphin, Holy Cross Catholic School (Museum of Ontario Archaeology)
“I thought going to the museum would be boring but it’s actually pretty cool. I can’t wait to go tomorrow.”
Grade 7 student, Holy Cross Catholic School (Museum of Ontario Archaeology)
“Today, we went into a longhouse and went through a maze. We also saw a sweat lodge, which is kind of like a sauna. We saw different paintings in the gallery. It was really cool, fun, and very interesting. I hope tomorrow will be just as fun!"
Grade 7 student, Holy Cross Catholic School (Museum of Ontario Archaeology)
“This trip was an amazing experience...It was really cool to be able to know what it was like to be an archaeologist and do things the First Nations people did.”
Grade 7 student, Holy Cross Catholic School (Museum of Ontario Archaeology)
Woodstock Museum National Historic Site“The week at Museum School really brought our local history ‘alive’! We are so lucky to live in the city and be surrounded by several historic buildings! The students have had an extremely enriching experience - beyond the four walls of their classroom!”
Jane Barker, RST, Central Public School (Woodstock Museum National Historic Site)“It was an amazing experience to visit the museum for a whole week for many reasons. For instance, our class’s new experiences consist of many interesting things such as square dancing, visiting a jailhouse, and the Art Gallery.”
Grade 7 student, Winchester St. Public School (Woodstock Museum National Historic Site) “Students were more eager to participate and learn because they were in a new and exciting atmosphere. The museum school provided opportunities for learning that didn’t exist inside the classroom.”
Lesley Noonan, Grade 4/5 teacher, St. Rita Catholic School (Woodstock Museum National Historic Site)“To be able to explore the library, museum, art gallery, and council chambers, was an experience in itself. It really engaged those students who struggle with seat work on a daily basis.”
J
ennifer Whitty, Grade 6/7 teacher, Central Public School (Woodstock Museum National Historic Site)