VIEW GALLERY | Collins Middle School Earth, Moon and Sun Museum Challenges Students to Collaborate, Coordinate
SALEM (May 13, 2026) – The City of Salem is not at a loss for museums, mainly those dedicated to witches, pirates, maritime history. For one day in April, the City added one more museum in Room 231 of the Collins Middle School.
The Earth, Moon and Sun Museum, a unit of the five classes of grade 6 science educator Rosemary Larkin, was opened for one day only on Apr. 17 and featured an array of interactive displays and models of all things related such as tides, eclipses, seasons and myths and legends.
Perhaps as impressive as the displays, the Museum had a curator, coordinator and a logistics staff to oversee project requirements and assist other students to reach deadlines, help set up displays and arrange the room strategically. Additionally, tickets were presented at a check-in table and the room was organized enabling the flow of visitors – Grade 7-8 students, staff and Salem Public Schools leadership – to move through seamlessly and be more educated.
As part of the lesson, concept to opening day took only three days, which fostered focus, coordination and collaboration between students among Ms. Larkin’s five classes – more than 100 students – via a Google sheet.
“Each class knew they had to get a lot done in a short time frame,” Ms. Larkin said. “They knew they had to produce because other classes were getting it done.”
Student projects had rules: They needed to be models with an interactive component, and, like all museums, students had to expertly explain projects and displays to visitors – even if said projects and displays weren’t theirs.
“I think they did really well,” said Ms. Larkin. “They were nervous, but they sharpened up their speaking skills and learned to communicate their understanding of their content. They had to coordinate with other classes and had to explain a model or poster that someone else made.”
Among the projects were displays on the seasons, rotation of the Earth, sun and moon as it relates to lunar and solar eclipses, ever changing times of sunset and sundown; as well as different models of tides, including an interactive quiz.
The Earth, Mood and Sun Museum was emblematic of the District’s Strategic Plan, particularly its core tenets of elevating learning and centering belonging.
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts, a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens through which we view our work. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff unconditionally serves each of our 4,000 students across 11 schools regardless of ability or language.
