Kindergarten students experience the power of storytelling

CORALVILLE — Bringing the magic of storytelling to life, KinderTales at The Iowa Children’s Museum offers a unique learning experience for kindergarten students in the Iowa City Community School District.

Funded by the Foundation for the ICCSD’s "Any Given Child" program, more than 53 sections from 21 elementary schools and 1,000 children will participate in this program during the 2022-2023 school year, gaining teamwork and communication skills through a unique storytelling-themed adventure.

"As a district, we are so fortunate to be able to partner with the Iowa Children's Museum,” said Shimek Elementary Principal Chris Pisarik. “The KinderTales experience is one that our students and teachers really look forward to. The creative space that the structure allows our children to learn in is hard to replicate. It offers our students the opportunity to explore and engage with one another in ways that all of us love and appreciate."

KinderTales enhances Iowa City Community School District’s arts education, specifically in language and dramatic arts. Inspired by the book “Idea Jar” by Adam Lehrhaupt, students first learn the building blocks of a story. Then they explore the museum, gathering ideas for their story’s setting and characters as they play. Using this inspiration, students work together to create a story of their own, helping them find their voice and explore the joys of storytelling.

“This year's KinderTales program is particularly special as it is providing many students with their first museum experience and first field trip experience overall,” said Aimee Mussman, assistant director of The Iowa Children’s Museum. “Many students lost opportunities to go on field trips or visit museums in the last few years, so we’re finding that KinderTales has been especially important for introducing students to these valuable life experiences.”

This field trip is free thanks to the generosity of MidWestOne Bank and the Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District’s “Any Given Child” program. Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child is a program with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This program uses local arts resources to provide equitable access to diverse, interactive, and inspiring arts experiences during the day for every K-8 student in the Iowa City Community School District.

The Iowa Children's Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing children with hands-on, interactive learning experiences. Located in Coralville, Iowa, the museum offers exhibits, programs, and events designed to spark imagination, curiosity, and a love of learning.

The museum's exhibits focus on a wide range of subjects, including science, technology, engineering, art, and math, and are designed to be educational, engaging, and fun.

With more than 100 diverse community partner organizations, The Iowa Children’s Museum is cultivating broad community support for play as the foundation of academic success, healthy development and artistic expression.

The Foundation for the Iowa City Community School District connects the community with Iowa City schools to ensure every student has extraordinary learning experiences. The foundation empowers teachers and district staff and inspire students to learn.