Submitted by Hands On Children’s Museum
The Hands On Children’s Museum announced today it earned a significant Museums for America federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services to support its innovative Young Makers program for the next two years.
The museum’s Young Makers program encourages tinkering, building and investigation as a way to build meaningful math and science experiences for the earliest learners, including tens of thousands of at-risk or underserved children in the community.
The program was introduced at Hands On Children’s Museum in 2014 thanks to a grant from Thrive Washington and was expanded with funding from the Aven Foundation in 2015.
By introducing these experiences early, families can take advantage of a small window during the preschool years when the brain is most receptive to learning math concepts, which research shows is the greatest predictor of future success in school.
“At Hands On we are enthusiastic about engaging young children, their families and educators in the burgeoning Maker Movement as an accessible way to enhance science, technology, engineering and math learning in the early years,” explains Patty Belmonte, the museum’s executive director. “This is the first time we have won a Museums for America grant. It is a very high honor and a wonderful acknowledgement of the museum’s important work in early learning.”
The institute said it received 481 applications and gave 160 awards for the Museums for America grant program. The program supports “the unique ability of museums to empower people of all ages through experiential learning and discovery. Successful projects provide high-quality, inclusive educational opportunities that address particular audience needs.”
The Museums for America grant, along with a second grant from Thrive Washington, will support the museum’s efforts to build on the success of its Young Makers program and extend these early learning experiences to rural and Title I schools, rural preschools and at-risk audiences.
Also, it will allow Hands On to create an interactive Mobile MakeSpace exhibit, which will be featured in the museum and throughout the region.
For more information about the museum’s Young Makers program, visit http://www.hocm.org/young-makers/.
