Educators

CMEE is an exciting destination for schools and community groups, with a focus on children ages 12 and younger. As a theme-based museum, CMEE honors the diversity of the eastern end of Long Island – from the farms to the fields to the sea and to the communities, with their small town feel and variety of architectural styles. Many of the exhibits focus on the history of the East End, on the “then & now”, examining how things have changed over time. Visitors have the opportunity to interact with low-tech exhibits, many which are hands-on and include various role-playing activities. CMEE’s innovative exhibits stir the imagination and spark a child’s natural curiosity. Children have fun as they investigate, explore and learn in this exciting environment.

Presently, CMEE offers various options for educators wishing to use CMEE as a resource. We offer guided group visits, which are well suited for field trips and include hands on directed activities. We also offer pre and post museum experiences in the classroom. Future plans include lesson activities and teaching kits, which will bring hands-on, object based learning from the museum into the classroom. These options provide the opportunity for teachers to explore new and challenging ways of integrating a wide variety of experiences into the classroom curriculum, allowing students to make meaningful discoveries as well as connections that go beyond the classroom.

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Guided Group Visits

Exhibits at CMEE are interactive and hands-on and focus on the unique history and diversity of the eastern end of Long Island, making CMEE an exciting destination for visiting groups. Visits to CMEE are available to schools and community groups and include guided tours of the museum, which are led by qualified museum educators. Through discussion, question and answer activities, readings and hands-on projects, visitors have the opportunity to explore various aspects of the museum environment and learn about the world in which they live. During a visit, children are introduced to new ideas, new skills and new ways of looking at the history and character of their local community and the exciting world around them.

As visitors are guided through the museum, they have the opportunity to interact with challenging, low-tech exhibits, many of which include various dress-up and role-play activities that stir the imagination and spark a child’s natural curiosity. Some exhibits have a “then & now” component, and during the guided visit, visitors are directed to examine and experience how things have changed over time. Visitors have the opportunity to explore their community from a completely different perspective, giving them a sense of history and place. The guided visit engages the visitor in a world both familiar and excitingly new.

School Groups

School group visits are 90 minutes in length and generally include three experiences: a guided tour with a museum educator, self-guided exploration of the museum (under the supervision of the classroom instructor) and a hands-on activity in the studio classroom. The guided tour portion of the visit focuses on a theme selected by the instructor in advance of the visit from the list of thematic tour options below. Tours can be adapted to fit the ages/grade levels of the visiting group and can be modified to fit classroom studies and curricular needs. All tours and activities meet N.Y. State Learning Standards. During the group visit, students are encouraged to interact with the tour educator and utilize problem solving skills as they explore the museum.

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Scheduling a Group Visit to CMEE

Tour Schedule, Group Size & Admission Fees

School group visits are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays of each week only. There are two time options available for group visits: 10:00 am – 11:30 am and 12:30 pm – 2:00 pm. Group visits are booked on a first come, first served basis, and it is advised that teachers book more than three weeks in advance of the date desired.

There is a minimum requirement of 10 children for a group visit to CMEE and a non-refundable $50.00 deposit, which reserves a time and date for your group. Group size is limited to 35 children maximum on Tuesday’s (when the museum is closed to the public) and 22 children on Thursday’s. Group visits are priced at $4.00/per child and $6.00/per instructor and adult chaperone. No passes or memberships of any kind are accepted as entrance admission fees for group visits. CMEE requires that at least two adults must be present for every ten children and they must accompany the group at all times. Groups of children ages 5 and younger must have at least 3 adults for every 10 children.

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Scheduling & Reserving a Group Visit

All group visits must be scheduled and reserved in advance - pre-registration is required. CMEE suggests reserving group visits at least 3 weeks prior to the date of preference as visits are booked on a first come, first served basis. To schedule a visit, call or e-mail the CMEE Director of Education with a variety of tour date options desired. Once a date and time are agreed upon, instructors will be required to fill out a Group Visit Registration Form and to send back the completed form along with a non-refundable, $50.00 deposit. Although the deposit is non-refundable, it is applied to the total fee for the visit.

The registration form and deposit must be received by CMEE prior to a visit - both are required to secure a visit to CMEE. A group’s visit is temporarily scheduled, but only reserved and secured after CMEE receives the registration form and deposit. When CMEE receives the registration and deposit, instructors will receive a confirmation form from CMEE which reserves and secures the group’s visit. CMEE reserves the right to cancel any visit if the $50.00 deposit is not received at least 2 weeks prior to the visit date and if a confirmation form is not received on the date of the visit. Remaining payment for the group visit must be submitted upon arrival on the day of the visit.

To schedule a group visit, please call Daphne Trakis, School Tours Coordinator at (631) 537-8250 or e-mail her at daphne@cmee.org.

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Tour Themes: Options Available for Visiting Groups

When scheduling a visit, instructors are asked to choose one of the thematic tour options that are available from the list below. The theme selected will be the focus of the group visit, and each theme relates to a different aspect of the museum’s exhibitions. All visits and tours can be adapted to the needs of the visiting group and meet NY State Learning Standards in English Language Arts, Visual Arts, Mathematics, Science & Technology and Social Studies.

#1 – The Builder Tour
The Builder Tour is geared for students to hone their observation skills regarding natural structures, architecture and the built environment while learning some of the science, design, materials and uses for human-made structures.

#2 – Be a Naturalist Tour
In this tour, students closely examine the various natural landscapes represented in the museum and learn about the differences and similarities of human-made and natural-made structures and environments.

# 3 – Be an Anthropologist Tour
The focus of the Anthropologist Tour is to be a museum detective and, using clues, try to find out as much as possible about the habits and people who inhabit various areas of the museum.

#4 – Be an Explorer Tour
The Explorer Tour gives students a glance into the how’s and why’s of travel, geography and the skills and tools needed to learn about different  places and people in the world.

#5 – CMEE Discover My Community
(please note, this option is available after 11/26/07)
This tour focuses on the temporary exhibit in CMEE’s Legacy Tree Gallery, “CMEE Discover My Community”. In this tour, students will learn about 4 different community organizations and how they enrich their neighbors lives.

Payment

The Director of Education will handle all payments and receipts for group visits and tours. A deposit of $50.00 is required in advance of a visit. The remaining payment due, in full, must be paid upon check-in at the museum on the day of your visit. Payments can be made with a credit card, cash or a check -please make all checks out to “Children’s Museum of the East End” (CMEE).

Arrival at the Museum and Bus Drop-Off & Parking

Busses can drop off all visiting groups at the front entrance to CMEE, following signs at the museum entrance. A museum educator will meet the visiting group in the lobby of the museum. Instructors are asked to register their group and to present visit confirmation forms and payment at this time. Busses may park in the area reserved for busses. All others, including chaperones and instructors, may park in the visitor’s parking lot. Please arrive at your scheduled time. Visiting groups that arrive late may receive condensed tours.

Lunch, Vending Machines and Gift Shop

Although the museum does have a restaurant or cafe, arrangements can be made for visiting groups to bring their lunches with them. These arrangements must be planned for in advance of the visit and must be scheduled with the Director of Education. Vending machines are available in the museum, supplied with cold drinks and snacks. There is a gift shop on premises, with a variety of souvenirs and gifts for all ages.

Reminder – no food or beverages are permitted in the galleries.

Cancellations

If you are unable to keep your reservation, please call the Director of Education as soon as possible. There is a cancellation fee of $50.00 for all cancelled or missed tours

Important Information

• Strollers are not permitted inside the exhibition spaces and must be checked at the door.
• Please arrive on time. Groups that arrive late will receive a shortened visit.
• Groups arriving early may be asked to wait before entering the building.
• Free exploration of the museum before or after the scheduled time is not permitted.
• Food and beverages are not allowed in the museum exhibits.
• Confirmation letters will be mailed as soon as CMEE has received a deposit and registration.
• Groups that arrive without a confirmation will not be admitted.
• Programs can be modified for students with special needs.

Pre and Post Museum Experiences in the Classroom

Pre and post museum visits to the classroom are available to groups and are adapted to fit curricular needs. Fees for pre and post classroom visits are per visit and are generally 40 minutes in length. To discuss adapting classroom visits and activities to specific curricular needs and to schedule pre and post classroom visits, instructors should contact :
Daphne Trakis, School Tours Coordinator at (631) 537-8250 or e-mail her at daphne@cmee.org.

Lessons & Activities

Coming Soon! This is where you will be able to access lesson plans and activities specifically formulated to be used in tandem with CMEE programs and exhibits. Teachers and instructors will also be able to access other resources, such as books and audio information. Please look for lessons and activities in the near future.

Teaching Kits

Teaching kits will bring CMEE directly into YOUR classroom! CMEE Discovery Kits for the road will be interdisciplinary and will focus on themes from the CMEE exhibits that can be used for further exploration in the classroom. There will be a variety of kits to choose from, and each kit will contain focused activities, artifacts, material lists and lesson plans.

For more information about Education programs at CMEE or if you would like to schedule a visit, please contact the Daphne Trakis, School Tours Coordinator at (631) 537-8250 or e-mail her at daphne@cmee.org.