On Friday, September 25th, 17 students enrolled in SST 402: Methods of Teaching History and Geography in Grades K-9 walked to the Whaley Historic House Museum in Flint to make hands-on connections with local history.
The visit began with an outdoor tour, followed by an orientation walkthrough and an overview of the home’s history and collections. Students then had 45 minutes to explore on their own and photograph historical artifacts that will become the centerpiece of an early elementary history lesson.
Justin Wentenhall, the museum’s Executive Director and a UM-Flint graduate, was on hand throughout to answer students’ questions about life in the Gilded Age and the artifacts on display.
This project has three goals:
- Give UM-Flint elementary education students experience developing and teaching lessons that draw on local community resources and institutions.
- Support the education outreach program of the Whaley House Historical Museum, which is one of our community partners
- Build stronger ties among UM-Flint, local elementary schools, and the museum.
Over the next few weeks, students will develop their lesson plans and then teach them in their field placement classrooms. Mentor teachers will provide feedback on the plans, and each student must submit a written reflection on the project by December 3.
The field trip is part of a larger, ongoing Community-Engaged Fellows Grant project. The grant also funded relevant children’s books and the materials needed to launch a traveling trunk program.
Enjoy the gallery below to see the students in action as they explore the house and its artifacts. 📸: Emily Wilson
