District News

East Hill Elementary teacher awarded Target grant for museum field trip

 

Dec. 22, 2011

 

The entire fifth grade class at East Hill Elementary School will visit the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown in April thanks to a Target Field trip grant awarded to teacher Joan Kolodziej. She calls the trip a "Native American Sampler," because the students will see the Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, real Native American artifacts, and a bark house. They will also make baskets.

"Native Americans are part of our history in North America, and studying them is a part of the curriculum," Mrs. Kolodziej said.

" I think that it's going to be great. The students will remember more from this than anything they’ve ever read. These are authentic artifacts, and how often can you see things that are real?"

Mrs. Kolodziej applied for the $700 grant (which pays for admission to the museum) in the early fall. Since launching the program in 2007, Target has awarded $9.76 million in grants which provide students the opportunity to enhance their studies in the arts, math, science and social studies.

If money from the grant remains, Mrs. Kolodziej said she plans to take her students to eat lunch with Tom Porter, an author and Mohawk Elder of the Bear Clan.

"We haven't set a date for that yet, but Tom will teach the kids Native American dances and he'll also lead an art activity," Mrs.  Kolodziej said.