The Verde Valley Archaeology Center has launched a Virtual Educational Field Trip program designed to share the archaeology, culture and history of Native Americans and the Southwest to students across the globe, starting with the fourth graders of one elementary school in Pennsylvania.
The program was initiated by Mary Beth Youngblood, a fourth grade teacher at Woodland Elementary in Eagleville, Pennsylvania, a town located approximately 25 miles northwest of Philadelphia. Youngblood had reached out to numerous museums across the Southwest, yet her call was only returned by VVAC’s Executive Director Monica Buckle.
As part of the Methacton School District curriculum, Youngblood’s class learns the different regions of the United States in the 4th grade.
“I wanted to enhance the materials we already had in place,” said Youngblood. “Over the summer, I worked really hard to research different places around the country to try to bring some real life learning into our classrooms from people and facilities of those regions.”
“When I received that message, I was instantly overjoyed because I love working with students,” said Buckle. “I love branching out of the physical museum space and bringing the museum to not just students, but people of any age and background through the virtual space.”
The enthusiasm of Youngblood led to a partnership with Woodland Elementary and a pilot program for VVAC’s virtual field trip series with the school’s fourth grade class.
Buckle and Youngblood worked on creating a lesson appropriate for the students’ age and curriculum. The fourth grade students learn an understanding of the basic concepts of each region such as the landforms, climate and major landmarks, with a large focus on culture and how it developed in each region.
Buckle starts the virtual field trip by giving context to Arizona, the Verde Valley, Ancestral Hopi and the heritage and cultural sites of the region, before introducing the museum and the collections it conserves and preserves. Buckle then uses her personal laptop to walk around the museum and show the students the different galleries and artifacts.
“It's just me and my personal MacBook going through the galleries,” explained Buckle. “It would be amazing if we had the technology, proper cameras and equipment.” Fortunately, VVAC's Board President, Ed Goodwin assisted Buckle with the virtual lessons and ensured the tech component ran efficiently.
Buckle has a background in art business holding a Master's Degree from Sotheby's Institute of Art - New York. She takes her experiences from the commercial art industry and applies her business acumen to the non-profit sector. In 2023, Governor Hobbs of Arizona appointed Buckle as a Commissioner to the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Additionally, Buckle has worked extensively with children, providing equine therapy sessions for youth, adults, and veterans with disabilities and special needs at Pegasus Therapeutic Riding in Brewster, New York.
“I worked with fourth grade aged students and I'm familiar with what their interests are and their learning process, so I really tailored the presentation to what would pique their interest and resonate with them, and also what's appropriate for fourth grade students,” said Buckle.
“They loved it,” said Youngblood about her students. “They all want to go to Arizona! They want to see Miss Monica and the museum. That's exactly the reaction that I wanted!”
The children were very engaged and asked many thoughtful questions in the Q&A following the presentation. Buckle stressed that when doing this kind of work, it’s important not to end the conversation when the presentation ends, but to encourage questions and discussion. Ed Goodwin also helped out discussing meteorites and answering geology related questions. In addition to serving as VVAC's Board President, Goodwin is an active Docent at Montezuma Castle National Monument, Tuzigoot National Monument, and Montezuma's Well.
“In 33 years of teaching, Monica's lesson was the most impactful as far as real life learning and making history come alive in the classroom,” said Youngblood. “That's something to say, because I've taught everything from pre-kindergarten to sixth grade. I've taught every kind of subject. I've had all kinds of guest speakers, and I think the student engagement was absolutely incredible. You could hear a pin drop.”
VVAC has done three virtual field trips so far with different fourth grade classes at Woodland Elementary.
“The kids really enjoyed it,” said teacher Rick Joers, whose fourth grade class also virtually visited VVAC. “She [Buckle] was really good taking questions with the kids, spending 15-20 minutes answering some questions. We had a really nice time. There were even a few tourists in there who were visiting the museum, and we got introduced and welcomed to Arizona.”
“I thought it was very well done, and they were very patient and helpful to our kiddos and all of their questions,” said teacher Hannah Klein. “They shared background knowledge using PowerPoint slides, then showed us around the gallery, and were pointing things out and made it really interactive and fun.”
After the first field trip, the students at Woodland Elementary sent a package filled with thank you notes, appreciation letters and drawings from each student.
“I'm overwhelmed with the feedback from the students and what they've learned,” said Buckle. “It's really enriching knowing that we can connect with these students and that they're very much engaged, interested and want to learn more. That's what's really inspiring. It's all about the next generation.”
VVAC would like to continue this partnership with Woodland Elementary and pursue future collaborations, including a follow-up in the spring.
“Working in the art world, the museum space and teaching equine therapy, I recognize when someone else has a similar passion of wanting to uplift and inspire others,” said Buckle. “Mary Beth possesses those qualities, and I think that her students, Woodland Elementary, the school district and the students’ parents should be very grateful that they have an instructor that went out of her way. She didn't have to do this. She went out of her way to cold call several museums in the Southwest, and spent her time with me meticulously going over all the details and the logistics. It's so amazing to see instructors going the extra mile for their students.”
The next steps in the Virtual Education Field Trip program will be to reach out to schools within Arizona, especially those that aren’t able to physically visit due to financial restraints.
Buckle shared that service to others was instilled in her at a young age and has been formative in her professional and personal life.
“There is always time to serve others,” she continued. “This program with Woodland Elementary is all pro bono. We want to make the museum accessible in person or virtually. It's essential that museums have the ability to enhance learning, curiosity and understanding. Every time a student group visits the museum, it’s pro bono.”
The importance of education is ingrained into VVAC’s mission alongside conservation and preservation. The center recently had a homeschool group of over 25 students visit, and works with both public and private schools to bring in student groups.
VVAC was able to share the history and culture of the Indigenous groups of the Southwest during Native American Heritage Month, further exemplifying the intersection of cultural learning that can take place with these virtual programs.
“The world has gotten so much smaller, in a good way, because we're able to connect virtually,” said Buckle. “It is amazing that here I am in rural Arizona connecting with Mary Beth and other instructors at the school and their students through this program.”
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