The Little Scholars Program is embedded throughout the exhibition spaces of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. The pilot program is designed to support first through fifth grade students in the Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD) with their virtual learning needs. Teachers will provide participants with facilitation and guidance in their required FWISD lessons in safe, engaging environments within the biggest physical asset of the Museum: its spacious building. In addition to assisting with online lessons, additional science and history-based enrichment explorations and activities will be provided by the Museum's staff. The Museum provides a unique and enriching environment for learning, including observation and interaction with the Museum's large teaching collection of scientific specimens and historic artifacts, visits to Museum exhibits and the Noble Planetarium and engagement with the Museum's scientific personnel. Not only will students have lesson interaction with qualified teachers, they will have the additional opportunity to continue to grow socially and intellectually in a stimulating setting while at the same time observing prevention and control measures to ensure the safety of children and staff while at the Museum.
The goal of the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History Little Scholars Program is to provide much-needed daily support for students who do not have the required technology to do their virtual class assignments from home and whose parents work outside of the home. Students who have not received a computer from their home campus will be provided one so that they can fully function in their school's virtual program.
Students will be organized into groups, aka "pods," of ten (based on grade and home campus) and meet Monday through Friday. Each pod will have a teacher and an assistant to facilitate their course work.
The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History is committed to providing a safe learning environment by maintaining social distancing and rigorous sanitization measures, while also providing extraordinary enrichment, supporting FWISD students as they navigate today's remote learning.
In addition to assistance with virtual lessons, transportation to the Museum will be provided on a need basis from predetermined schools. Breakfast, lunch, and a snack will be provided daily by the Museum's Stars Café. Financial assistance in the form of scholarships is available for qualified students. As a pilot program, the Little Scholars Program will run from October through the end of 2020. Depending on demand and the situation with in-person learning at elementary schools, the program may be extended through 2021.
More information is available by visiting the Museum's website, https://www.fwmuseum.org/learn/little-scholars-program/ or by emailing littlescholars@fwmsh.org or calling 817-255-9416.