Southern Utah University Museums to Offer K-12 Educational Tours
Published: July 31, 2018 | Author: Brooke Vlasich | Read Time: 3 minutes
From October 16 to December 14, the Southern Utah Museum of Art (SUMA) and the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History are offering K-12 educational tours. These tours, led by Southern Utah University student volunteers, include a visit to both museums and educational activities that reinforce creative learning through art and science. Tours are available Tuesday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
“The collaboration between these two museums is unique because it pairs art and science,” Museum Director of the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History, Dr. Jacqualine Grant added. “At the Frehner Museum we love the challenge of finding the science hook that links our programming to SUMA's. This challenge keeps each year's programming fresh and stimulating to our staff. These tours are important to students and teachers in southern Utah because they expand our awareness and our ways of thinking about science, art, and Utah's amazing natural resources.”
Two types of educational tours are available. For grades K-5, the Art & Science Museum Tour teaches students about the connections between art and the natural world. Afterwards, they create artwork based on their visit. The Museum Practices Tour, for grades 6-12, features a behind-the-scenes tour of both museums to show students the best practices and tools to run their own museum. Upon completing the tour, students will work in groups to design their own museums and curate an exhibit from their museum design.
“We want teachers to view these museums as community resources that can enhance educational experiences. Our K-12 tours are another way for teachers to encourage more experiential learning for their students while still connecting to curriculum content and standards,” said Community Engagement Associate, Arielle Altenburg.
Tours have been offered since September 2016 and are available during both the fall and spring semesters. This past year, tours served over 2,800 students in Iron, Washington, and Kane County. Teachers who have reviewed the tours find them to be beneficial resources for their classrooms.
“It was great to show students some of the wonderful things that are in our community while being able to reinforce core curriculum,” said Becca Esplin, a teacher from Fiddlers Canyon Elementary. “I loved how easy it was for me to connect what was being taught in the class to what was being taught by the museum guides.”
Teachers can sign up their classes for tours starting now. Tours are Tuesday through Friday 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and run from October 16 through December 14, 2018. Spring tours will run January 22 through April 12. To sign up for tours or for more information, please visit the SUMA K-12 Education Tours webpage.
Schools are also eligible to apply for transportation waiver to SUMA. Only one application per teacher will be funded for each school year (September-May). Applications are due one month before a tour visit. For more information on transportation funding, please visit the SUMA Bus Fund webpage.
Show your students the worlds of art and science with educational tours from the Southern Utah Museum of Art and the Garth and Jerri Frehner Museum of Natural History.
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