Idaho Museum of Natural History offers kids classes for ESL students

The Idaho Museum of Natural History is presenting a unique opportunity for children for whom English is not their native language, commonly known as English as Second Language (ESL) Learners. The classes are a special project produced in conjunction with graduate students at the Idaho State University College of Education.

Earth Alive: Plants & Animals is for children who have completed first through third grades and will be taught by ESL educator Rhea Raper. Participants will learn about the earth, plants, and animals as they focus on how living things develop and adapt themselves to their habitats. The classes will be held June 22 – 26, 2009 from 9:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Thomas Briggs, a College of Education graduate student, has set in motion an expeditionary class to introduce learners to several topics in depth. Expedition Science is intended for children who have completed fifth through eighth grades and will give them the opportunity to investigate—not just learn about—science in this exciting class. Getting out of the museum and into nature, they will be outside learning about botany, recycling, aeronautic engineering, anatomy, and geocaching. These classes will be held June 22 – 26, 2009 from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Additionally, IMNH offers its traditional line-up of summer classes for children including Pint-Sized Science Academy for preschoolers, Summer Science Snack for children in first through sixth grades, Art on the Road for the creative scientists, and Forays into the Field for young women.

Registration materials and the complete schedule of classes, dates, times, and fees are available on the Museum’s website at http://imnh.isu.edu. For more information, contact Rebecca Thorne-Ferrel, IMNH Education Manager, at (208) 282-2195 or thorrebe@isu.edu.

IMNH is located on the campus of Idaho State University at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Dillon Street in Building #12. The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.