NC+History+Museum

Part I. (a paragraph will suffice) As a visitor of the museum what part of the exhibit was your favorite and why? Did you find anything surprising in terms of our state's history?

I took my youngest son (he's 3) to the museum on Tuesday (Oct. 8). He was so scared being in there that we didn't stay long and walked over to the Natural Sciences museum instead, but I was able to quickly take pictures of most of the exhibits as we were walking through.

My favorite area was in the pirate exhibit. I love the history of Blackbeard. I think students would enjoying learning about it too. Part II. (answer the following questions) 1. How would you prep your students prior to their visit to the museum? I would prep them by saying that we will be visiting the NC History museum as well as the NC Natural Sciences museum. I feel that seeing both of these museums is beneficially for the students so they can see history as well as the habitants of NC.

2. As a teacher how would you guide your students through the exhibits? (would you provide them with worksheets, scavenger hunt, what would they be looking for?) For this question I really think it depends on the grade level that we are taking to the museum. Now if this was a 7th or 8th grade class, I might make up a booklet or some worksheets, or have them jot down important dates or something. For 6th grade I'd give them a short fill in the blank worksheet to fill out while they are walking the museum. For elementary kids I think I would just have them walk around with a chaperone and enjoy what they are seeing and learning.

3. Which sections of the exhibits would you focus on the most? Why? I would focus on the slavery exhibits a lot, so that students can see the progression through the times. Specifically, I believe I'd stop at the Social Order exhibit and lead them in a group discussion about how the figures are placed standing. Who is doing the work? Who is looking on? Who looks "esteemed"? Etc... This was we can dig into our slavery unit. I would also focus on the Pirates exhibit. I have a soft spot for learning about Blackbeard and Queen Anne's Revenge. I want them to open the "treasure chest" to see what pirates actually pirated during Blackbeard's time and again lead my students on a discussion regarding these items and pirates in general. This can lead to more discussions about NC's coast line, how the geography of it has changed over the years, how it is changing now, how animal species are evolving, etc... 4. What types of activities would you create while the students are visiting the museum? (be specific and provide concrete examples when possible) While they are visiting I think I want to focus more on group discussion, so that we can discuss everything we are seeing and learning. I will then use what we have discussed in further classroom lessons involving the geography of NC, animals, historical figures, slavery, crops, etc... When we get back to the classroom we can talk about how NC has been farmed and what crop were grown in which parts of the state, why certain crops grow better in certain areas. Why certain animals live in certain environments. How the coastline had changed since the time of Blackbeard. What he pirated and his history of living in Bath, NC. Etc.... I really can see this going further and further. 5. How would you extend the activities into the classroom? Well like I just said I can see myself building on this continually. Since I was able to take some great photos... that wiki isn't allowing me to upload for some unknown reason right now... I think I can continually pull what we saw into future lessons. 6. What questions or concerns might you have as a teacher taking a group of students to a museum with vast exhibits? One concern I have, is to keep students on task. There are some areas of the museum that I believe students can get a bit crazy in. For example where they can stand with their head through the head hole of the soldier... I can see that going a bit overboard. Where the old automobiles are as well, I can see that being crazy. I think they will need constant reminders that we aren't here to play.

Part III. Develop a field trip guide Create an activity and/ or a question guide for your students to complete if they were to visit the exhibit.(Be creative!!!)

I'll be passing out notecards after we arrive at the museum. You are to walk around and observe various exhibits. On your notecard will be certain prompts, jot down some notes about the prompt on the notecard and be prepared to write about it when we get back to class tomorrow. Otherwise, enjoy yourselves and have fun exploring our great state's history.

Prompts: What is in the Pirates treasure chest? Is it what you thought it would be? In 1860, how many North Carolinian's were enslaved peoples? What is the date and location of the Wright brother's first flight?