Exhibit Teaching Guide for Parents and Educators

Here are some suggestions for getting the most out of your visit to the Target America exhibit with your children or students.

Before Your Visit

• Read the most Frequently Asked Questions for Target America.
• Look at the Drug and Terrorism Facts and Information.
• Open and print the exhibit-specific Permission Form (PDF format) to give to parents and caregivers.
• Open and print the Self-Guided Exhibit Tour (PDF format) to take with you to the exhibit. Read it before you go to familiarize yourself with the organization of the exhibit.
• Open and print the Target Activity (PDF format) for your children or students to work on while they are at the exhibit.
• Open and print one or more of the following Making Connections Questionnaires for your children or students to fill out while they are at the exhibit (all are in PDF format).
• Making Connections Questionnaire A (short answer, 9 questions)
• Making Connections Questionnaire B (short answer, 9 questions)
• Making Connections Questionnaire C (true/false, 12 questions)
• Questionnaire A with Answers
• Questionnaire B with Answers
• Questionnaire C with Answers

During Your Visit

• Follow the Self-Guided Exhibit Tour you printed in the pre-visit steps above.
• Have your children or students complete the Target Activity you printed in the pre-visit steps above.
• Have your children or students complete the Making Connections Questionnaires you printed in the pre-visit steps above.
• Have your children or students record their experiences, thoughts and feelings in the they assembled before the visit.
• Be prepared to discuss any question honestly and openly. Relate to personal experiences or stories you may be familiar with.
• Do not expect to know everything. You too can be surprised by what you learn. In fact, this might be an easy way to talk to children. Begin by saying, “Did you know…..?”
• Be honest with your own feelings and values but be open to each child’s reactions.
• At the end of the exhibit you will have a chance to write a response. This is a good time to comment and summarize thoughts and feelings.

After Your Visit

• Open and print the Post-Exhibit Questions (PDF format) to give to your children or students.
• Have your children or students complete the final step in the process they began in the pre-visit steps above. This step involves compiling a personalized book that tells the story of their Museum experience.
• Do the Role-playing Through a Puppet Show activity found on The Anti-Drug Web site with your children or students. This activity is good for all levels but must be adjusted for grades 10-12. Role-playing is an effective tool in teaching teenagers the many ways they can say no to drugs. In this program the teacher or parent can eliminate the making of puppets and have the students work in groups. For middle school children, however, the puppets work well.