"Differentiated teaching" at its best

“Differentiated teaching” is a fancy term for teachers to address different learning styles. Students learn in their own way, so it is imperative a teacher designs lessons that appeal to a wide range of styles. Learning incorporates all five senses, and the Kentucky Derby Museum strives to create these opportunities for all of our visitors.

On June 20, the Museum hosted 21 students from the Southeast Regional Transition Institute for the Deaf and Blind. These high school students have varying stages of deaf and blindness, so our mission was to create an educational experience to meet the unique needs of the students.

Each student was joined by an interpreter and family members to experience the Museum with their hands, noses, taste buds and varying degrees of hearing and seeing. At six different stations throughout the Museum, students handled equine grooming tools, climbed onto a “horse” in the starting gate, felt buckets of dirt from the racetrack, tried on Derby hats, smelled roses and handled a replica Derby trophy. They even tasted samples of hot browns and burgoo in the Derby Café!

The students watched and experienced “The Greatest Race,” the Museum’s 360-degree high-definition show, before heading outside to meet and pet our friendly Resident Thoroughbred, Risen Warrior and Miniature Horse, Winston. The visit concluded with a trip to the Churchill Downs Racetrack not just watch a race – but to smell it, listen to the hooves and crescendo of the crowd as the horses came nearer and nearer, and feel the excitement and energy as the horses battled to the finish line.

It truly was a special day for many at the Museum. We have something exciting to share at the Kentucky Derby Museum, and we strive to meet the needs of all of our guests so they can experience a little of the “Greatest Two Minutes in Sports.” We are honored by the opportunity to do so for this very special group of individuals.

Watch this slideshow of photos from the day: