November 15, 2007

News Release

The Planets Partnership

Increasing Student Learning and Higher Level Thinking
Through Cross- Disciplinary Collaboration

A Partnership Between: Tyler Independent School District’s Science and Visual and Performing Arts Departments, The Discovery Science Place, East Texas Symphony Orchestra, and the Exploratorium

Tyler ISD, The Discovery Science Place, and East Texas Symphony Orchestra, in partnership with the Exploratorium, are responding to the growing call within education for students who can process information effectively as they learn.  An important part of this response is the Planets Partnership, an opportunity for TISD fifth grade students to apply learning to multiple contexts.

“The arts help children better understand concepts measured on various tests. The arts help teach shapes, color recognition, size differentiation, letter and number recognition, mathematical concepts, phonic recognition, sequencing, following directions, hand-eye and motor coordination, and direction and location,” said George Faber, Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Tyler ISD.

“These are the knowledge and skills a child needs to have in order to be ready to start and succeed in school,” said Faber.  “These are what a child needs to learn to learn.”

The partnership uses inquiry, the arts, and concept integration to increase student engagement and learning in earth science. Based on research and years of classroom experience, this hands-on, learner-centered approach involves students in TEKS-based earth science investigations.

Students and their teachers first visit The Discovery Science Place for inquiry investigations concerning astronomy and geology. While there, they apply their knowledge to the Exploratorium’s Weather Watcher exhibit.  This experience prepares them for the East Texas Symphony Orchestra’s school concert, The Planets. This performance of Gustav Holst’s masterpiece will feature musical representations of planets along with NASA video footage and animations, which will build on the students’ classroom preparation. Also preparing the students will be additional teacher study guides for classroom and music teachers that will integrate the students’ earth science learning with life science, physical science, and the arts. Throughout this process, students develop a conceptual understanding of earth science and increase their ability to process information.

This partnership extends the Exploratorium training that TISD elementary teachers have received into the classroom. Teachers who have participated in this groundbreaking initiative will be applying their new skills in the classroom using the Planets Partnership.