Kindergarten Information for the Tompkins County Public Library
Kindergarten Information for the Tompkins County Public Library
Kindergarten Information for the Tompkins County Public Library
KDT! Resources for Teachers
This website contains a compilation of the most successful ideas and activities related to Kids Discover the Trail! field experiences. The ideas were gathered from local teachers and Discovery Trail educators. We hope this website will serve as a "how to" manual for those new to KDT! and a repository of good ideas for more experienced educators. Please write to us with ideas, comments and feedback!
Where Kids Go to Discover the Trail!
Pre-Kindergarten, Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell
“Learning to Look, Looking to Learn”
KDT! BOOKS:
Shapes: A Shape Visit to the Johnson Museum by Education Department Interns / Bartels Scholars Sammy Perlmutter and Veronica Franzese
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Kindergarten, Tompkins County Public Library
“Celebrating Stories”
KDT! BOOK: Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein
First Grade, Museum of the Earth
“Discovering Earth’s Mysteries”
KDT! BOOK: Fossils by Aliki
Second Grade, Sciencenter
“Going Places”
KDT! BOOK: Going Places by Paul and Peter Reynolds
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Third Grade, Cornell Botanic Gardens
“Wildflower Exploration”
KDT! BOOK: Wildflowers: A Peterson’s First Guide
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Fourth Grade, The History Center
“Eight Square Schoolhouse: 19th Century Life”
KDT! BOOK: The Secret School by Avi
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Fifth Grade, Two Sites
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
“Biodiversity Surveys”
KDT! BOOK: Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America by Roger Tory Peterson
Cayuga Nature Center
“Team building and Leadership”
KDT! BOOK: The Climb, by Gordon Korman
What is KDT!?
Program Goals
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Enhance classroom learning through experience-based programs.
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Provide equal access to Discovery Trail sites.
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Promote understanding and respect among elementary students from different neighborhoods.
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Expand community awareness of the resources of the Discovery Trail.
Kids Discover the Trail! is a program that takes Pre-K through 5th grade students on curriculum-based field experiences to the eight Discovery Trail sites in Tompkins County.
Discovery Trail educators work with classroom teachers to coordinate student experiences in the field with pre-trip and post-trip classroom activities, refining curriculum as needed to align with the New York State Learning Standards for each grade. Every student receives a take-home book and a pass to return with their family for free, to sites that charge admission.
In Ithaca, schools are linked, and most visit their Discovery Trail sites together. The goal is for students to get to know others from different geographic and cultural parts of our district so when they meet in middle school there is more understanding, respect and connection.
Grade Level Information
Johnson Museum of Art
Kindergarten
Tompkins County Public Library
First
Museum of the Earth
Second
Sciencenter
Third
Cornell Botanic Gardens
Fourth
The History Center
Fifth
Cayuga Nature Center
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
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