THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240215
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 83 lines
The Museum of the Albemarle has found a way to keep small children excited while learning history.
Show them a relic or two. Give a brief history. Then have some fun.
During the school year, museum staff sponsor preschool programs on subjects from scrapbook memories to cooking with the Algonquian Indians to life on the farm.
The most recent program featured snowflakes and snowmen.
``We base our programs on items from our collection, regional history or things specific to our geographic region,'' said Brenda O'Neal, education coordinator for the museum. The museum has held these programs for five years. They are offered at least monthly.
Belinda Simpson, a museum volunteer, also is a veteran of the preschool activities.
``They're all memorable,'' Simpson said with a hint of light-hearted sarcasm. O'Neal and Simpson never know what responses they'll get from the children.
On a recent clear and chilly Friday morning - no snow in sight - O'Neal stood before 13 children, eight adults and two infants to talk about snow. The children seated themselves in one of the larger display areas of the museum. Mothers stayed in the background. O'Neal began:
``Did you have a good Christmas?'' she asked the group.
``Yes,'' said the children in unison.
``What kinds of weather do we get here?'' asked O'Neal.
``Snow,'' said several, evidently primed by Mom about the day's topic.
The response was the perfect cue for O'Neal.
``What can you do in the snow?''
``Build a snowman,'' said one child.
``What do you put on a snowman?'' said O'Neal.
``A carrot.''
``What for?''
``For the nose.''
``What else?'' asked O'Neal, trying to get her fidgety listeners to verbalize their visions of a snowman.
``Eyes.''
``What can you use to make eyes?''
``Eyeballs.''
With that, O'Neal proceeded to the next part of the program. She demonstrated turn-of-the-century skates and a sleigh sitting on a table in front of the children. The historical pieces were just a quick introduction to what a museum is about.
Off to the side sat a tray full of paper, glue, crayons and scissors - promising something really messy and fun for a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds.
First, O'Neal turned on a 30-minute video called ``The Snowman.'' Similar to Frosty's story, a little boy builds a snowman that comes to life. The characters do not speak. The action speaks for itself.
The snowman tours the boy's house during the night and afterward they fly to the north pole to meet Santa Claus. The snowman returns the boy home before daybreak. Shortly after sunrise, the snowman melts.
``Excuse me. Can we watch another one?'' asked one child.
Not enough time for that. In a few minutes, O'Neal has the children making snowmen from construction paper. It was the next best thing to actually playing in the snow.
``I liked it,'' said Crandall Story, 4, still gluing balled up bits of paper on his snowman for a 3-D effect. ``I liked all of it.''
``We don't have the room for more than 15 children at a time,'' said O'Neal. ``If we have four or five on a waiting list we'll hold another one on the same subject.''
Because of its popularity, the museum will hold another snow program Jan. 30. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
Children and parents made snowmen out of construction paper during a
Museum of the Albemarle program.
Graphic
AT A GLANCE
WHAT: The Museum of the Albemarle in Elizabeth City sponsors free
programs for pre-school students at least monthly.
WHEN: A snow program will be held Jan. 30. And a valentine
program on the gifts of love is scheduled for Feb. 14.
For more information, or to register for a program, call
335-1453.