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Museums, Learning, and Families

Intrigue. Inspire. Amaze. Teach. These are just a few of the words that describe the effect museums can have on us when we visit them. Whether you're interested in art, music, natural history, science and technology, or a specific topic like spaceships or famous writers, chances are there's a museum somewhere just waiting for you. For children and their families, museums can provide the perfect opportunity to learn and have fun at the same time.

Museums & Learning: A Guide for Family Visits, a new booklet from the Smithsonian Institution and the U.S. Department of Education, suggests ways to make museum visits enjoyable learning experiences for families with children between the ages of 4 and 12. In addition to providing basic information about museums and how they relate to learning, the booklet includes:

• activities for children and families to do before, during, and after the museum visit;
• ways to inspire children to use their thinking skills;
• ideas for how families and schools can work together to help children learn from museum visits; and
• resources for families, children, teachers, and schools.

To order Museums and Learning, send your name, address, and 50 cents for each copy to the Consumer Information Center, Department 376E, Pueblo, Colorado 81009. The publication also is available at the Department's Web site at http://www.ed.gov/pubs/Museum/

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