School Spotlight: Northport Elementary Partners with The Works Museum

Northport Elementary School in Brooklyn Center recently won a grant through Xcel Energy for a series of workshops with students facilitated by The Works Museum.

“We’re so excited that The Works partnered with us and offered us the opportunity to apply for this grant and bring science to life in our classrooms,” said Lisa Barnholdt, principal at Northport Elementary.

The Works Museum is an interactive children’s museum located near the Mall of America in Bloomington. Barnholdt says instructors from The Works will be in classrooms at multiple times through the year teaching workshops.

“The teachers were able to pick from a variety of different lessons, so they were able to really tailor it to what works for their grade level and it dove-tailed perfectly with what they were teaching,” said Barnholdt. “The student engagement is amazing when they come in. I walked in to those classrooms and I see every kid engaged in the lesson. It’s hands on. It’s relating to what they want to do.”

Alex Tran shows off his kaleidoscope that he made at Northport Elementary.

Third-grader Alex Tran certainly enjoyed the workshop where students learned about the science of light.

“I made a kaleidoscope,” said Tran. “I decided to do green and pink because green is my favorite color and my cousin likes pink and she’s my favorite cousin.”

Familial favorites aside, Tran hopes to be an engineer someday so he can “craft items, make things and make the world better.”

This lesson empowered Tran to expand his knowledge and learn with his hands.

“It is bringing out learning to life,” explained Barnholdt. “What we’re about is trying to create positive experiences for the students, where it empowers them to create this culture of learning. That’s what we are about here at Northport, creating a culture of learning and this is the perfect partner.”

See also:   Northport Elementary Third Grader Writes Book About Bravery

Brooklyn Center

School Spotlight