Yesterday (Monday) was my first day. I was a little nervous about how long it was (11 - 6), but it went really well! I got lost a lot (I forgot a lot of the places Amanda toured me on Saturday), but everyone was extremely friendly and helped me. When I first came in I got a key to all the secret places in the museum (super legit) and then began learning about curriculum guides.
Curriculum guides are what the museum gives the teachers when they come to teach a summer camp, and there are all different topics. They have learning objectives, background information, and activities for the teachers to do with their students. The activities should be able to correspond to different exhibits in the museum. My curriculum guide topic is "Nature's Champions" which means the biggest, strongest, fastest, oldest, smallest, etc, animals. Yesterday I finished a whole topic on adaptations- because all of these characteristics that makes these animals "champions" come from adaptations that help them survive.
It was actually pretty fun. I learned a lot of interesting things (like did you know the hump of a camel doesn't actually store water? It's all fat!), and it was really challenging to think of activities that kindergartens who can't really read or write would be able to participate in, as well as 5th and 6th graders.
I'll keep you updated on what happens next!
Beth, that sounds like fun! I completely understand getting lost...when I started at the museum last summer, there was too much to even think about with all of the hidden offices on both floors. Hope I get to see you around the museum :)
ReplyDeleteBeth--That's funny what you said about getting lost… it's like my internship last year, all over again! You'll get used to the set-up of your institution. It took me some time to get used to the aquarium, and honestly, I never figured it totally out! Glad your first day was good!
ReplyDeleteI had no idea it was fat! I thought it was water as well. Secret passages? I always thought that was so cool. Your internship sounds like a lot of fun seems like you've got a busy but exciting summer ahead. And don't feel bad about getting lost I'm sure you'll know all the in's and out's of the museum in no time (:
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