Educators Planning Guide 2015-2016

Call to make a reservation at 765.287.3558minnetrista.net 1200 n. minnetrista pkwy. muncie, in 47303

INSIDE YOU’LL FINDnew school tours!new Stormwater Management Education Experience

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at-a-glance informationMessage from the Director of Experience & Education Plan YOUR Minnetrista Adventure

stormwater management education package NEW!4–8 Grade Teacher Professional Development Do You Know H2O School TourOnsite Classroom ExperiencePurity–Minnetrista Theatre Preserves

school toursPre-School (60 minutes each) Johnny Appleseed September–November Amazing Me!; Discover: Gardens September–June; Mid-April–June K–2 Grade (90 minutes each)Johnny Appleseed September–November Creepy Crawlies September–November; Mid-April–June Eat Well, Play Well September–June Garden Science Mid-April–June Habitat Hunters September–November; Mid-April–June Community Work Year Round NEW

3–5 Grade (90 minutes each)Community Growth September–June NEWNature Connections September–November; Mid-April–June

6–8 Grade (90 minutes each)Earth Matters; Energy Exploration September–November; April–June

minnetrista theatre preserves showsJill’s Giant Adventure September–June NEW Habitat-tat-tat September–June My Plate: The Musical September–JuneTales From the Mouth of a Ball Jar September–June Bounty; Working Man’s Responsibility; Purity NEW

exhibit datesArt Maker Space March 21–September 27, 2015Flags of Honor September 4–11Human Plus September 26, 2015–January 3, 2016Indiana Artists Club October 8–November 29, 2015Open Space: Art About the Land September 19–October 18, 2015Ned Griner Art Retrospective October 31, 2015–January 17, 2016 Minnetrista Annual Juried Art Show and Sale February 13–April 24, 2016Wizard of Oz May 9–September 23, 2016

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PageThink back to your first museum memory. Was it a field trip? A family vacation? Historic house, art museum, aquarium? What made that visit memorable? What made it valuable to you?

Those are the questions that we continue to work through as museum educators. Over the last twenty five years Minnetrista has been a partner in the education of our community’s children and their families. In that time, we have sharpened the way we do things, and become better at articulating the value of a museum experience. Perhaps more importantly, we have developed our offerings to be memorable.

A Minnetrista experience includes authentic objects and settings. We value the power of the real. Our experiences are shaped by your voice, participation, and personal experience. We value the power of relevancy.

We have made some changes in our 2015–2016 programming to better align our offerings with the mission and methods of Minnetrista. Through these changes, we have crafted our experiences to be more real, more relevant, and more memorable.

Thank you for choosing to partner with us in bringing these experiences to your students. For some, Minnetrista will be their first museum memory.

George BussDirector of Experience and Education

pick a tour experience!full-day experience$6 per personChoose two guided tours OR one tour and one theatrical performance(If substituting second tour with theatre show, tour cost is $4/person with an additional $150 performance fee)Add ons:Lunch space—must be reservedGuided time in Minnetrista exhibit galleries; $1 per studentTrip to The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista

half-day experience$4 per personChoose one guided tourAdd Ons: Lunch space—must be reserved Guided time in Minnetrista exhibit galleries, $1 per student

cost per studentCost is per student and adult chaperone. A minimum of ten paid admissions is required for all tours. Teachers are admitted at no charge.Please note: There must be a minimum of one adult for every ten students.

attention delaware countyWe have field trip scholarships available for schools when the number of students participating in the free/reduced lunch program is 50% or higher. Ask about this opportunity when you call to book your next field trip.

minnetrista theatre preservesWhen you book a full-day experience, you can substitute a 45 minute live theatre show by Minnetrista Theatre Preserves for one of your tours. Each show is followed by a question and answer session with the actors and a guided activity. You can also bring Minnetrista Theatre Preserves to your school as a pre- or post-visit experience to further your students’ learning! See page 21 for details.

lunch at minnetristaVisitors may bring sack lunches. You’re invited to use the Cantina or enjoy a picnic on the grounds. These spaces must be reserved beforehand, so please mention lunch requirements when booking your visit.

visit the orchard shop at minnetristaStudents can shop and bring home a memento of their Minnetrista experience! Please let us know if you would like your class to have this experience.

photography at minnetristaMinnetrista is a great place to capture memories. Bring a camera to capture your students learning and having fun. Minnetrista reserves the right to photograph school tours. If for any reason there is a concern with this policy, please inform us when you schedule your tour.

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how to plan your minnetrista experiencePlease gather the following information and call 765.287.3558 to schedule your tour. Please call at least two weeks prior to your desired tour date to ensure availability.

4call 765.287.3558 to book your adventure!

Your NameSchool NameSchool DistrictCountySchool PhoneCell PhoneBest time to call you E-mailGrade/Age LevelProgram(s) of Interest:

Full-Day Tour Half-Day TourTour 1Tour 2 or Theatre Show

Three Possible Tour Dates (to ensure booking if first or second date is already taken)

Time Requested Anticipated Number of ChaperonesLunch Plans

Please advise us of any special needs that your group may have

Would you like to book a Minnetrista Theatre Preserves show at your school?

stormwater management education experience NEWProject Supported by a 3M Eco Grant

In partnership with Muncie Sanitary District Minnetrista partners with local experts to offer a unique ecology education package for 4-8th grade students and teachers. The experience consists of three parts, starting with a Teacher Professional Development experience in the fall, a class visit to Minnetrista in the spring, followed by a visit to your school by stormwater educators. This program will equip you with the tools you and your students need to identify and advocate for the ecology needs within your own school environment. Best of all, the program is offered at a minimal cost to schools thanks to a grant from 3M Eco Grant from 3M Gives. Spaces are limited, so book now to reserve your space.

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What will my students do?• Use models to explore how our actions impact our

water systems• Investigate chemical and mineral properties of a pond

to determine its health• Experiment with stormwater management techniques• Develop advocacy and problem solving skills

What will my students learn?• Water is an important natural resource• Use and examine models that help us understand

how things work• A healthy water system requires many different

properties to function efficiently • I can impact my environment

Teacher Professional Development– October 23rd 9 a.m.–2 p.m. This 5 hour workshop will develop advocacy and leadership skills while equipping teachers with tools they need to effectively teach ecology issues on a local level including best practices in stormwater education. Participants will recieve an H2O educator’s bag of tools, lesson plans for a stormwater related unit, and 4 hours of Professional Growth Experience Points. Substitute pay available upon request. Cost: Free for package participants

“Do You Know H2O?” – NEW SCHOOL TOUR FOR SPRING 2016 Explore one of earth’s most precious natural resources: water. Students will experiment with best management practices for stormwater while learning about the importance and scarcity of non-renewable resources. Cost: $2 per student for full package participants; $4 per student stand-alone experience.

Minnetrista Theatre Preserves performance of Purity This 20 minute performance includes actor/educator led pre- and post-performance discussions and activities. Can be part of your Minnetrista on-site experience or a stand-alone experience. See page 26 for more details. Cost: Free for package participants; $150 per performance stand-alone.

On Site Classroom Experience – available Spring 2016Time to put what has been learned into practice. Building off of the knowledge gained, students will be taken on a tour of their own school to identify stormwater management needs and develop their own plans for management. Cost: Free for package participants. Not available as a stand-alone.


plan yourPre-school tour

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Orchard Shop Courtyard

johnny appleseedSeptember–NovemberPre-School

Johnny Appleseed knew that tiny seeds had great potential. On this tour, students will learn that although small in size, an apple seed has the potential to grow into a magnificent tree. Each seed and apple holds great possibility to become many different things.

What will my students do?• Meet Johnny Appleseed in person• See a modern cider press; use a hand-crank press to

make cider, then taste-test the results• Use their five senses to learn about different apples

and the trees they grow on• Receive an apple to take home*

What will my students learn?• Understand that Johnny Appleseed was a real figure

in history• Use their five senses to determine differences in

both trees and apples• Examine and understand how machines have

changed over time• Understand that a tree and the fruit that grows on it

is a living thing*While supplies last.

call 765.287.3558 to book your adventure!7

amazing me!September–JunePre-School

What will my students do?• Meet traveling circus performer Sam Still who is

having difficulty balancing his act• Play a matching game to understand which foods

fit into which categories from “My Plate”• Choose physical activities that help us create a

balance with the foods that we choose to eat

What will my students learn?• They can make healthy choices for themselves• Balancing their food and activities is important• Physical activities are various and can be super

FUN! • Foods and categories

Who doesn’t love the circus? Enjoy a one-man circus show as Sam Still struggles through his balancing act because of an unbalanced lifestyle. Students will enjoy games and activities that will empower them to balance their own routines.

Minnetrista is pleased to

provide programming in

support of America’s Move

to Raise A Healthier Generation of Kids.

discover: gardensMid-April–JunePre-School

Minnetrista’s beautiful gardens and grounds are great for exploration! Students will use their five senses to discover the natural diversity of plants and insects and their importance to our lives. Your class will be active and have fun while learning about Indiana native insects and plants.

What will my students do?• Stroll through Minnetrista gardens and play a game

of eye spy• Plant a seed to take home• Taste food that no longer looks like the plants they

are made from• Search for bugs within nature

What will my students learn?• Realize that even plants have much diversity.• Plants are an important part of our lives• Plants are living things that need soil, water, and

sunlight to grow and stay alive• Exploration of nature can be fun

Colonnade GardenBird and Butterfly Garden Waterfall

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plan yourk-2nd Grade Tour

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johnny appleseed seasonSeptember–NovemberGrades K–2

Goes great with: Creepy Crawlies My Plate: The Musical

Johnny Appleseed’s stories and antics will captivate your class. Your students will not only discover why apples are an important part of the Ball family and Minnetrista history, but why they’re important to people.


What will my students do?• Meet Johnny Appleseed in person• Compare Minnetrista’s old growth apple trees to

those from the younger apple orchard• See a modern cider press; use a hand-crank press.

to make cider, then taste test the results• Explore the life cycle of an apple

What will my students learn?• Realize that small things have great potential• Understand that Johnny Appleseed (actually John

Chapman) was a real figure in history• Use their five senses to determine differences in

both trees and apples• Examine and understand how machines have

changed over time and have impacted how we get the goods we need and want

• Understand that a tree and the fruit that grows on it is a living thing with many parts

creepy crawliesSeptember–November; Mid-April–June Grades K–2

Goes great with: Habitat Hunters, Garden Science Habitat-tat-tat

Kids are often afraid of spiders, touchy about insects, and cringe at things that crawl. This program will bring your students up close and personal with the amazing and important world of nature’s most prominent, yet misunderstood animal populations.

What will my students do?• Search for live creepy crawlies in our garden spaces• Identify the differences between insects, arachnids,

and other crawlies with our model crawly collection• Buzz around from flower to flower while playing the

pollination game• See real preserved specimens in metamorphosis

stages and run in the metamorphosis relay• Identify how insect communication and senses are

different from our own

What will my students do?• Students will understand that not all creepy crawlies

are the same• Identify anatomical differences• Examining models can help us to better understand

creatures• Students will discover the life cycle differences of

various crawlies• Identify basic characteristics used for scientific

classification• Follow instructions in the correct order to assemble an

end product• Identify the role that creepy crawlies can play in our

lives and ecosystems

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eat well, play well September–June Grades K–2

Goes great with: Johnny Appleseed My Plate: The Musical

Good-bye food pyramid, hello My Plate! Your class will have fun playing healthy choice games and learning that diet and daily decisions play a large role in their health and safety. Hands-on activities will help your students discover ways to balance food and activity for a healthier lifestyle.

What will my students do?• Enjoy a live theatre performance emphasizing

balance and healthy choices• Play a game in which students classify foods into

proper categories using the My Plate model• Explore one aspect—sugar—of some of our

favorite snacks• Choose physical activities that can help to balance

food intake with energy burning

What will my students do?• We can make choices that will help our bodies stay

healthy• The My Plate diagram is a tool we use to help us

eat the right kind, and the right amount, of food• How to balance their sugar consumption• Focus on multiple aspects of foods to determine if

they are healthy or not• Exercise can be fun AND beneficial






What will my students do?• Dissect a seed• Plant a seed to take home• Stroll through our gardens and find out how people

use plants for everyday life• Explore the anatomy of a flower through the use of

models, diagrams, and dissection

What will my students learn?• A plant is a living thing that needs soil, water, and

sunlight to grow and stay alive• Plants are an important part of our lives—for

aesthetics, food, medicine, and more• Different parts of a plant perform different functions—

there is a system

garden scienceMid-April–JuneGrades K–2

Goes great with: Creepy Crawlies, Habitat Hunters Habitat-tat-tat

Your students will become botanists for a day, digging into the science of flowers while discovering the gardens as Minnetrista. Your class will experience a fun, sensory walk exploring the gardens’ most pungent and pretty flowers.

Gardens at Minnetrista

Gardens at Minnetrista

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habitat huntersSeptember–November; Mid-April–June Grades K–2

Goes great with: Creepy Crawlies, Garden Sciences Habitat-tat-tat

Explore three of Indiana’s natural habitats in the Minnetrista Nature Area—tallgrass prairie, woodland, and pond. By using observation skills, scientific tools, and playing games, your students will discover the importance of each of these habitats and the plants and animals that call them home.

What will my students do?• Explore the prairie using magnifying glasses and

bug nets • Look for aquatic life with dip nets• Search high and low for wildlife in the woodland

using binoculars• Play a game to learn the homes of native animals

and plants• Explore the food chain and how animals and plants

in different habitats are connected

What will my students learn?• Identify the three dominant habitats in Indiana• Understand that habitats are interconnected• Realize that living organisms include plants AND

animals• Tools can help us to better observe and understand

the world around us• Exploration is a fun and scientific process


What will my students do?• Play a game where they will need to utilize cardinal

directions to get around.• Explore how community rules help everyone get

around. • Design a community that has many of the

important buildings needed for community function.

• Play a game where students learn about the common good for the community.

What will my students learn?• Cities have many important parts that help them

function. • Understanding cardinal directions help us get where

we want to be. • Taking care of our community is important for

everyone in the community.• People in a community need to follow common rules

for the good of the whole.

community workYear RoundGrades K-2

Goes great with: Habitat Hunters Jill’s Giant Adventure

Communities have many parts and norms that keep them going. Help your students gain understanding about what makes up a community and helps make communities work.


plan your3rd-5th grade tour

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CALL 287-3558 TO REGISTER!

What will my students do?• Work together to build a model community as a

group• Observe how a community changes over time • Identify the importance of rivers to early communities• Use artifacts to understand how life in the early 1900s

was different from and similar to today

community growthSeptember–JuneGrades 3-5

Students will take a look back in time at the history of our community. They will use models and simulations to understand how communities are built and how different roles in a community interact with one another.

What will my students learn?• People in communities depend on one another• Communities change over time as resources and

population distribution changes, but pieces of a community’s origins often remain

• Models and simulations help us to understand and see real things by providing a visual aid

• We are all part of a community


What will my students do?• Explore a prairie with bug nets• Look for aquatic life with dip nets• Search high and low for wildlife in the woodland

using binoculars• Play a game about animal adaptations.• Become part of the web of life

nature connectionsSeptember–November; Mid-April–June 6Grades 3–5

Goes great with: Habitat-tat-tat

Explore three unique habitats in Minnetrista’s Nature Area: pond, woodland, and tallgrass prairie. By using observation skills, scientific tools, and having fun, your students will discover the importance of each of these habitats and how both plants and animals adapt to them. Learn about producers, consumers, and decomposers in nature.

What will my students learn?• Understand that habitats are interconnected• Living organisms include plants and animals;

animals range from small to large• Exploration is a fun, scientific process• All living organisms have various adaptations that

help them survive and live better in their respective habitat

• When environments are changed, living organisms in those environments are forced to adapt, move, or become extinct

Nature Area at Minnetrista


plan your

6th-8th grade tour

Rose Garden Gazebo at Minnetrista

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plan your

6th-8th grade tour

What will my students do?• Make a common substance out of everyday minerals • Work as a class to plan an efficient, sustainable city• An activity that demonstrates the purpose of a green

roof• Investigate properties of soil to determine if it is

good for plant growth

earth mattersSeptember–November; April–JuneGrades 6–8

Natural resources play a key part in all of our lives. How students use them will have a large effect on how much longer they will be here for our use. Students will explore Minnetrista locations to see how we help protect our natural resources.

What will my students learn?• Examine the role rocks and minerals play in our

daily lives• Use and examine models that help us understand

how things work• Understand how we can each make personal

decisions that impact the environment, ourselves, and others within a community


What will my students do?• An activity that demonstrates how even small

changes can impact the environment• Work as a team to explore alternative energy sources. • Play a game to see how personal decisions can impact

the environment

energy explorationSeptember–November; April–JuneGrades 6–8

Students will learn that everyday choices can have a big effect on the environment. They will discover how to manage the energy and resources that they use.

What will my students learn?• Identify the ways in which alternative energy

methods can be implemented• Decipher what impact each person has on their

daily carbon footprint• Using and examining models can help us under-

stand how things work• Scientific exploration and observation can be

interesting and fun

CALL 765.282.4848 TO REGISTER!

plan your

theatreshow!

Minnetrista Theatre Preserves

minnetrista theatre preservesTheatre Comes to Your School!Minnetrista Theatre Preserves provides theatrical performances addressing educational standards. Using props, costumes, sets, and professional actors, your students will be spellbound as MTP weaves stories around textbook subjects. Enjoy this highly interactive experience where your students will sing, dance, and imagine in ways they never have before. Meeting state educational standards, Minnetrista Theatre Preserves supports classroom learning in fun memorable ways.

There are two ways to experience Minnetrista Theatre Preserves! At Your SchoolMinnetrista Theatre Preserves will come to your location. Our van is loaded with sets, props, costumes, music, and actors, all ready to fill your auditorium with interactive theatre experiences. You just provide the space and the audience!

As Part of Your Minnetrista VisitAll of the fun of a show at your school, and we provide the space too! Your students are already immersed in a topic, now further their experience on the same day with an interactive show.

PricingPrices are based on performance locations within the East Central Indiana Region. Additional shows fees are for same day performances at the same location.

First Show: $275Additional Shows: $150 County locations: Delaware, Blackford, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, WayneOutside this region? Contact us for additional pricing details.

To book your Minnetrista Theatre Preserves performance contact Josh Moore, Theatre and Outreach Manager, at 765.287.3588 or mention you want a theatre show when you book your school visit.


for elementary schools jill’s giant adventure A Minnetrista OriginalAvailable June 1, 2015 – June 7, 2016For Grades K–5

You know the story of Jack and the Beanstalk, now discover Jill’s side of the story through this thrilling adaptation! Journey with Jill as she helps her brother, Jack, escape from the giant’s castle. Through this interactive theatrical production, Jack and Jill learn what skills and resources they need to handle bullying. Spectacular sets, interesting characters, and charming puppets engage children as they experience this enchanting adaptation of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Performances are 45 minutes—followed by a 15-minute Q & A session with the actors.

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What will my students do?• Enjoy this fun adaptation of the original Jack and the

Beanstalk• Actively participate as a whole and selectively with

responses and actions that aid the characters in the show

• Help Jill manage her anger• Assist Jill with helping Jack escape from the giant• Enjoy outlandish sets, thrilling puppetry, and wacky

costumes

What will my students learn?• Appropriate methods in handling anger• What defines bullying behavior• Skills and tools they can use when they or someone

they know is targeted by bullying• The difference between passive voice, aggressive

voice, and assertive voice

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habitat-tat-tatSeptember 9, 2015–June 7, 2016Grades K–5

King Gerg’s kingdom is in shambles. In an effort to do something about it, he has sent out three servants to seek stories of true greatness. Today is the day of their return and the day of King Gerg’s retirement. Will the servant’s stories save the kingdom? Will King Gerg do something truly great before he retires? And who will be the next king? With the help of masks and large-scale puppetry, the King and his court explore what it means to be truly great.

Performances are 45 minutes long followed by a 15 Q & A session with the actors.

What will my students do?• Join in teaching the King the four elements of a

habitat• See professional large scale puppetry, created by one

of the Broadway show Lion King’s puppet creators• Utilize their imaginations as they experience mask

acting• Ask questions about theatre, producing a show, and

possible careers in theatre• Follow characters as they transform into many new

and exciting characters

What will my students learn?• That food, water, shelter, and space are the

necessary elements of a habitat• What it means to have character and help your

friends• What work is needed to make a theatre production

exist

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my plate: the musicalSeptember 9, 2015–June 7, 2016Grades K–5

Running from the planet-gobbling alien called GLUT, Captain gNosh of the USS MYPLATE II crash lands his spacecraft on a nearby planet due to a fuel shortage. Fortunately for him, gNosh finds himself in the middle of an Inter-Galactic Farmers Market run by the friendly aliens known as the Nom Noms. Quickly, gNosh must learn how to fill up his ship, which is fueled by food, with a balanced nutrition if he has any hopes of dueling the GLUT and saving earth from total destruction. Allow your students to dance, sing, and show gNosh how to balance a healthy plate in this highly interactive theatre production. Developed in conjunction with ChooseMyPlate.gov and the “Let’s Move” initiative. Performances are 45 minutes—followed by a 15-minute Q & A session with the actors.

What will my students do?• Dance along with the actors to help fuel the space

ship• Name different foods within each of the food groups.• Sing a song about balancing nutrition• Teach Captain gNosh that overeating and eating too

much sugar is not healthy• Ask questions about theatre, producing a show, and

possible careers in theatre

What will my students learn?• The five food groups in the My Plate diagram• Different foods that go in each of the food groups• That too much sugar is not healthy• That overeating induces sleepiness rather than greater

energy• That half of the plate should be filled with fruits and

vegetables• That exercise gives you energy and can be a lot of fun

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for middle and high schoolstales from the mouth of a ball jarOctober 1, 2015–June 7, 2016Grades 6–12

If objects could talk, what stories would a Ball Jar say? This production gives voice to two tales from the mouth of two historic Ball Jars from the Minnetrista Heritage Collection: the “United Methodist Orphanage Home jar”, and the “KKK Jar”. While historic in nature, these stories remain relevant today, challenging audiences to reflect on their own character. Would they have the courage to answer the questions that a simple Ball Jar could pose? What would they have done?

Working Man’s ResponsibilityThe year is 1924 and a young worker at the Ball jar glass factory discovers a jar that never should have been made: A jar molded with the crest of the Ku Klux Klan. All he wanted to do was finish his shift to go out with his friends, but now he has a decision to make. Does he report the jar to his manager and run the risk of creating animosity with his peers? Does he stay silent? Follow Sam’s struggles with how the Klan affects his town, his work life, and America as he deals with his personal conflict of how to handle a jar he never wanted to find.

BountyLillian is working in her kitchen at the height of the Great Depression, intent on preserving the harvest like her grandmother did so she can feed her family through the winter. In the middle of the bustle sits a jar she received at church with instructions to fill the jar with her own food to donate to the orphanage home. With her husband out of work, Lillian struggles with giving the little food that she has to other children, when her own might go hungry. In this time of need, should she still give to others?

PurityPurity tells the story of a 1930s era teen and factory worker, Jimmy, and his struggles with his employer’s impact on local water quality, which happens to be also impacting his favorite fishing hole. The production will combine historic themes relevant to East Central Indiana heritage with natural resource management. The show will raise questions for classroom discussion, such as “Who is responsible and who benefits from cleaner water?”, “What motivates people to act on environmental issues (yesterday and today)?”,”What difference can one person make?” and “Is innovation always progress?”. Can Jimmy keep his job and save his beloved river?

The pieces can exist as individual 20-minute shows for one classroom or combined as a 45-minute performance for a school assembly. To enhance the students’ experience, after the show there will be a 15-minute talkback session where the students will be able to reflect and discuss the concepts presented in the performance.

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call 765.287.3558 to book your experience today!

Documents

Educators Planning Guide 2015-2016