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An Interview with Jenny Kalvaitis, Museum Educator at the Wisconsin Historical Museum
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Tell us a bit about yourself
If you are a teacher who visits the Wisconsin Historical Museum, I am the person trying to minimize the chaos. My official title is Museum Educator, and I spend my days organizing the logistics for our school tours and our outreach events.Outside of work, I am a happy rural Wisconsinite. I have six goats and spend most of my free time on the muddy shores of Lake Koshkonong.
What's the best part of your job?
Scraping gum off the carpet. Kidding! The best part of my job is getting kids excited about history. I love history. Igniting a flame of enthusiasm in students for Wisconsin history is rewarding and ridiculously fun. I especially love the history we tell in our museum. Wisconsin history is our history. Each and every student has a place in our history.
What projects are you working on?
I am working on getting organized for another school year. We are booking tours (call or email us now!), training tour guides, checking content, and rethinking teaching collections.
What's next?
Soon we will see classes! It has been a great summer of cleaning, paperwork, family programming, and day camps. I look forward to the energy teachers and students bring to the building.
Anything else?
I run our awesome Facebook page. You should like us!
Contact Jenny with your Tour related inquiries here.
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The Wisconsin History Tour
As the Wisconsin Historical Society embarks on the "Wisconsin History Tour: Sharing Wisconsin's Stories One Community at a Time," we have hopes to spend time and share stories of the past with communities throughout the state. The "Tour" represents a major, multi-year outreach effort.
During the stay the Society will bring a handcrafted exhibit in order to share pieces of collections we have gathered since our founding in 1846-ranging from a Civil War soldier's letter home, to early 20th Century photographs of Door County, to maps dating back to 1513, to the Racine story of malted milk, to maritime stories of shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.
The statewide trek is currently in Waukesha at the Waukesha Public Library. For more information on the Wisconsin History Tour, please visit our website. |
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The Wisconsin Historical Society Educator Update curates news from the Wisconsin Historical Society and beyond for the community of educators in Wisconsin.
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Yours in Education
Kicking it (New) School (Year) Style!
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| | Photo by Kurush Pawar via Wikimedia Commons |
Where did the summer go? As you ramp up your classroom selections for the coming year, we've got ideas and activities suitable for all ages of students at the Wisconsin Historical Society, the sites, and the Wisconsin Historical Museum.
Like Us on Facebook or Follow Us on Twitter
Like our Facebook page to see highlights and tips for educators. Catch the latest "#tweetinghistory" image or follow us on Twitter (@WHSEducation) to see the latest quips and bits! 
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The Museum on the SquareA New Season Awaits!
Have you made your guided tour reservation yet? Whether coming this fall for a Native People tour or hoping to get in this spring for Why History Matters, the best dates fill up quickly!
Our hands-on inquiry based approach to museum education will give your students an experience they can't get in the classroom. Hop aboard our tractor; explore the lead mine; feel the furs of the Fur Trade era, twirl the Babcock tester; test your cycling knowledge...the Wisconsin Historical Museum is a simple email or phone call away (608-264-6557).
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New from the Press
Native People of Wisconsin: Revised and Expanded Edition by Patty Loew
An essential title for the upper elementary classroom, Native People of Wisconsin fills the need for accurate and authentic teaching materials about Wisconsin's Indian Nations. Based on her research for her award-winning title for adults, Indian Nations of Wisconsin: Histories of Endurance and Survival, author Patty Loew has tailored this book specifically for young readers.
Native People of Wisconsin tells the stories of the twelve Native Nations in Wisconsin, including the Native people's incredible resilience despite rapid change and the impact of European arrivals on Native culture. Young readers will become familiar with the unique cultural traditions, tribal history, and life today for each nation.
Complete with maps, illustrations, and a detailed glossary of terms, this highly anticipated new edition includes two new chapters on the Brothertown Indian Nation and urban Indians, as well as updates on each tribe's current history and new profiles of outstanding young people from every nation.
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New at Old World
Attend Old World Wisconsin for a special self-guided field trip day on Friday, October 16, 2015! If you are interested, make your reservation now to try out this new field trip idea at Old World Wisconsin by calling Ann Selkie at (262) 594-6312.
On this special date you can tour at your own pace, arriving and departing as you choose. Your visit is self-guided with the bonus of using our train transportation, allowing you more flexibility than our standard field trip options. We recommend touring in groups of 10 students with a minimum of one chaperone per group of 10. We are over 600 acres, which is 600 football fields of historic farm and village life to explore. Do not expect to see it all in one trip, but with a little planning you can get a taste of everything.
Meet with period-clad interpreters and enjoy the same interactivity featured in our structured elementary field trips. Take the opportunity to visit your choice of areas, including the Crossroads Village, the German area, and the Norwegian area. We also have exhibits in our Finn, Danish, African-American, and Polish buildings as well as our new cycling exhibit, Catch Wheel Fever.
We continue to offer our great staff-led programs in the fall as well, Tuesdays-Fridays. If you prefer our regular staff-led programs, please call Ann Selkie at 262-594-6312 or click over to our website and hit "Field Trips" to begin your reservation process.
For more information, visit our website or call 608-326-2721. |
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Thank you for reading our newsletter. Welcome back!
Sincerely,
Kurt Griesemer
Director of Education
Wisconsin Historical Society |
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