Spark an imagination! Light up a mind!

“We create memorable learning experiences through the joy of play in hands-on exhibits and programs.”

Spring 2015

Dear Dr. King

Go Bananas with Curious George

Black History Celebration

Have a Snack with the Cat in the Hat

Teacher Workshop

The Inside Scoop

Outreaches

School Programming at CMOM

Permanent Exhibits

Group Visit Basics

Inside this issue

CMOM

.COM

Educator’s Guide

At The Katherine and John Dobbs Family Center

Learning Journeys

The Place Where Play IS Learning!

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Go Bananas with Curious George! February 9-13, 10:30 & 11:30am

Let’s monkey around together. Let your students’ curiosities run wild as they explore key concepts in math and science with Curious George. Thanks to Houghton Mifflin and Harcourt publishing, Curious George will help us promote the love of math and science as we present wild and wacky science experiments and play math games based upon our inquisitive little friend’s adventures. After each demonstration, George will stop by to help us celebrate by presenting each child with a gift book and a banana as he reminds his new friends that there is a little George in all of us. Plan your field trip today. This program is a free addition to your field trip when you tell the reservationist that you and your students will be monkeying around with us this week. Call 901-458-2678 or email keosha.williams@cmom.com to book your reservation today.

Dear Dr. King - Kid’s Dream Project 2015Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. took a courageous stand for unity and equality for all people. Following the non-violent teachings of Gandhi, his example of peaceful demonstrations made a powerful impact on the fight for civil rights. King’s fight for justice was a fight which also included justice for children. In honor of his great accomplishments and to continue his stand for peace and equality for all people, we present the Kid’s Dream Project 2015.So how do children today relate to the concept of equality and unity since King’s death? Children are asked to write letters, draw pictures, and make video recordings to express their visions and dreams of what peace and unity looks like today through their eyes. This year we are also asking students to write poems, oratorical monologues, and other forms of creative messaging to perform on the open mic stage during the Dr. King celebration. This project gives children of the Mid-South the opportunity to share their thoughts and ideas of peace, unity and equality as seen from their perspective. In addition, it allows a platform for teachers to discuss racial injustice, bullying, diversity, and self-identity with students. Participants of all ages have the opportunity to enhance letter writing and critical thinking skills. All entries must be received by the close of business on January 15. Please send or bring entries to The Children’s Museum of Memphis, 2525 Central Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee, 38104.We will display at least 100 entries in the Dear Dr. King - Kid’s Dream exhibition at The Children’s Museum during the Ignite the Dream Celebration on January 19. The public is invited to participate and attend. Visitors will enjoy making crafts to commemorate the day and decorating squares of hope to be added to our ever growing peace quilt. Be sure to add your hand print to the hands of hope graffiti wall on display. Don’t miss the spectacular neon light puppet show presented by the puppet ministry of Kirby Woods Baptist Church, the “I Have a Dream” speech from Matthew Kelley of Kate Bond Elementary School, and stories of the struggle by The Story Troopers from the University of Memphis under the leadership of Dr. Lawrence Blackwell. We are also pleased to present, Cory Maclin, Jr. and Catrell Maclin, the sons of the late local sports anchor, TV announcer, and Memphis wrestling personality, Cory Maclin Sr. as they follow their father’s path to broadcast from the event through a live radio feed from our website at www.cmom.com. Go to our website for further instructions for links to Facebook, Instagram, etc. It’s more than a celebration of fun; it’s a celebration with meaning and purpose.For further information please contact the Director of Education and Programs, Felicia Peat at felicia.peat@cmom.com or 901-458-2678 ext. 230.

We’re remembering the contributions that African Americans have made to our country by exploring the importance of Negro Spirituals and the hidden messages within the songs. Book a group visit during the 9:30 or 10:30 time slots and participate in this wonderful presentation with local recording artist/poet/writer, Benita Lewis. She will entertain with music and song as well as educate us about the history of Negro Spirituals. This is one fantastic interactive presentation that you will not want your students to miss. Watch them light up as they listen to and even sing old Negro spirituals and songs from the civil rights movement. Space is limited. Call 901-458-2678 or email keosha.williams@cmom.com to book your reservation today.

Black History Celebration: The History of Negro Spirituals and the Message in Song

Friday, February 20, 10 & 11am

African American males have been at the center of research and practice related to teaching, learning and schooling for decades. However, much of the research, writings, and practices view the target population as hopeless, caring nothing about their education, communities, and futures. The ways in which these boys and young men, especially those who reside in urban cities, are consistently portrayed negatively in media and elsewhere, affects schools’ and society’s expectations of them, and at times, how they see themselves. Attitudes toward, and beliefs about them, are almost universally negative. For example, they are expected to be the perpetrators of school violence and at the bottom of every statistical metric of educational excellence. This ongoing deficit-view of African American males serves to maintain a depressing, one-sided narrative about their educational and social outlook. They deserve to be seen and understood differently. The purpose of this workshop is to introduce teachers to a counter-narrative, specifically using a “voicing” analytic technique to examine the identities expressed by high achieving young African American males in one urban school. This technique empowers educators to change how they think, talk, teach and engage this population beyond these pervasive deficit-views. For more information contact the Director of Education and Programs at felicia.peat@cmom.com or 901-458-2678 ext. 230.Presenter: Dr. Brian L. Wright is an Assistant Professor in the Instruction & Curriculum Leadership Department in the College of Education, Health & Human Sciences at the University of Memphis. His research examines the role of racial-ethnic identity in the school achievement of successful African-American males in urban schools in the United States.

Teacher Workshop: Situated and Situational Identities of High Achieving Young, African

American Males in an Urban School

Saturday, March 21, 10 – 11:30am

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Have a Snack with the Cat in the HatMarch 2-6

In honor of Read Across America Day, The Cat in the Hat will be here all week during the 9:30 and 10:30 group visit times to help us celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday. We’ll decorate cookies as we sing Happy Birthday to the man of honor. Your students will hear a story by Dr. Seuss and make fun Cat in the Hat crafts. Each child will be given a book to take home and each class will have an opportunity to take a picture with The Cat in the Hat. We’re licking our paws ‘til we see you here. Make your reservations today to join us. Call 901-458-2678 or email keosha.williams@cmom.com to book your field trip.

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As our children learn through play at CMOM, here are a few of the benefits of our new Outdoor PlaySpace!

• Playgrounds are a place for play and learning where children develop physical and cognitive skills, and where they build valuable social relationships.• The great outdoors is still the number-one spot for truly unstructured play. Free play allows kids to do what comes naturally to them—make up their own games, develop their own rules, explore their world with gusto.• Kids playing outside are more apt to stretch their imaginations along with their muscles.• Handicapped accessible activities are being installed. The merry-go-round, see-saw and one of the zip-lines will be handicapped accessible.• In addition to being a sensory-rich, visual tactile experience, this will be great for developing fine motor skills.

The Inside Scoop!

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Tailor-Made School Programs!So you’ve looked all around town for a special program to beef up your curriculum and you can’t find the right program anywhere. No more worries, we have the solution for you with our custom designed programming. You give us the subjects, your educational objectives and just two weeks, and we will create a whimsical hands-on program for your classroom learning. You may add the program to a group visit or we can bring the program to your classroom. You dream it up and let us provide the classroom fun. Call (901) 458-2678 today for more information.

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Friday, October 16, 2015 – Teachers’ Night Out: Mark your calendars and join us from 4 to 6 pm for this annual event as we honor our teachers with fun activities, good food, give-a-ways, and prizes.Friday, October 30, 2015 – Mad Science Monster Bash: students can dress as non-scary characters and participate in a series of mad science experiments and enjoy a magic show full of science presentation.

Look What’s Coming in the Next Issue of Learning Journeys!

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The Children’s Museum offers outreach programs that are exciting,

hands-on and inquiry-based. Each program is aligned with Common Core and Next Generation Standards. All classes are $100 for up to 25 students with discounts for subsequent programs within the same day. Mileage fees may apply.

911: Good Sense in a Pinch (Pre-K-1): Health/MathStudents engage in role-playing and a game that teaches when and when not to call 911. All students will be given a “911: When Life is on the Line” t-shirt. Thanks to the Shelby County 911 project!

Air Heads (1-3): Science/Math/Language ArtsYou can’t see it or touch it. Are you really sure that air exists? Students conduct experiments that explore the properties of air, prove that it exists and that it has substance, weight and power.

Animation Station (3-6): Math/Science/ArtEver wonder how your favorite cartoon characters come to life? Learn the basics of animation and the science behind how animation “tricks” the eye. Explore early animation techniques like zoetrope and create your own animation.

Bricks 4 Kidz (K-6): STEM The Children’s Museum of Memphis and Bricks 4 Kidz team up to provide a STEM focused hands-on learning experience designed around specific themes of your choice such as laws of motion, simple machines, and inventions. Students will work in teams to build engaging LEGO models to support the theme and trained Bricks 4 Kidz educators will provide engaging instruction tailored to the curriculum objectives based upon the grade level.

Build-A-Bridge (4-6): Science/Social StudiesStudents become engineers for a day and work in teams to build a bridge using K’Nex pieces. They must follow specific design criteria regarding dimensions and strength and stick to a schedule and budget.

Coordination Station Olympics (Pre-K-4): Physical Education/Health Education/Science (K-4)/Physical Development/Language Development (Pre-K)/Math (K-4)Students explore fine motor development and hand-eye coordination. Competitors engage in three fast-paced “Olympic events” that test their abilities to work together as a team while developing speed and agility.

Motion Commotion (3-6): Science/MathIn this fast-paced program, students are challenged to work in teams to design a gravity-powered car that goes the greatest distance. This hands-on program reinforces concepts about the scientific method, engineering, independent research, data collection, graphing, and the laws of motion and energy transfer.

Rat-A-Tat-Tat (Pre-K-2): Language Arts/Math/MusicExperience fun and funky rhythms while learning about patterns. This handclapping, foot-stomping escapade uses percussion instruments and everyday objects to thump, drum and bang the way to an exciting learning commotion.

Spanish Fiesta (KK-3): SpanishEverybody loves a party, but there is no party like a party with a little Latin flavor. Your students travel to Mexico as they listen for specific Spanish words and meanings in music, make no-bake Spanish cookies and create colorful piñatas while learning the Spanish alphabet and basic Spanish words.

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, And Nothing But The Tooth (1-4): Health/ScienceSmile for the camera… the intra-oral camera that is. In this fun, hands-on, interactive workshop students photograph close-up pictures of their own teeth as they order Mr. Gross Mouth to go away. Special attention focuses on the importance of proper dental hygiene, the jobs of the teeth, good nutrition and more.

The CMOM Express

Experience a School Outreach Program In Your Classroom!

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School Programs at CMOM!Maximize your group visit by adding a School Program. Your students will love these exciting, dynamic and memorable learning experiences. A variety of

School Programs are available to match the learning needs of your class. If you need more information about any of our School Programs, please contact Felicia Peat, director of education, at 458-2678, ext. 230, or felicia.peat@cmom.com.School Program fees are $3 per student with a minimum of 20 students. A $50 nonrefundable deposit is due two weeks prior to the program to confirm your reservation. Adult chaperons are required in a ratio of 1:10.

Visit CMOM.COM for a quick guide to our School Programs, including curriculum, Common Core and Next Generation Standards, and exhibit connections.

Preschool & Primary School Programs911: Good Sense in a Pinch (Pre-K-1): Health/MathStudents engage in role-playing and a game that teaches when and when not to call 911. All students will be given a “911: When Life is on the Line” t-shirt. Thanks to the Shelby County 911 project! 45 minutes; 50 students maximum.

Air Heads (1-3): Language Arts/Science/MathYou can’t see it or touch it. Are you really sure that air exists? Students conduct experiments that explore the properties of air, prove that it exists, that it has substance, weight and power. 45 minutes; 30 students maximum.

Coordination Station Olympics (Pre-K-4): Physical Education/Health Education/Science/Math (K-4)/Physical Development/Language Development (Pre-K)

Students explore fine motor development and hand-eye coordination. Competitors engage in three fast-paced “Olympic events” that test their abilities to work together as a team while developing speed and agility. 45 minutes; 50 students maximum.

Hello, Stuffee! (Pre-K-3): ScienceAn inside-out look at our anatomy. Learn about the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems from Stuffee, a seven-foot-tall rag doll that unzips to reveal what’s inside our insides. 45 minutes; 50 students maximum.

Rat-A-Tat-Tat (Pre-K-2): Language Arts/Math/MusicExperience fun and funky rhythms while learning about patterns. This handclapping, foot-stomping escapade uses percussion instruments and everyday objects to thump, drum and bang the way to an exciting learning commotion. 45 minutes; 50 students maximum.

The Tooth, The Whole Tooth, And Nothing But The Tooth (1-4): Health/ScienceSmile for the camera… the intra-oral camera that is. In this fun, hands-on interactive workshop students photograph close-up pictures of their own teeth as they order Mr. Gross Mouth to go away. Special attention focuses on the importance of proper dental hygiene, the jobs of the teeth, good nutrition and more. 45 minutes; 50 student maximum. Sponsored by Delta Dental.

Intermediate School ProgramsAnimation Station (3-6): Art/Math/ScienceEver wonder how your favorite cartoon characters come to life? Learn the basics of animation and the science behind how animation “tricks” the eye. Explore early animation techniques like zoetrope, and create your own animation to take home. 45 minutes; 40 students maximum.

Bricks 4 Kidz (K-6): STEM The Children’s Museum of Memphis and Bricks 4 Kidz team up to provide a STEM focused hands-on learning experience designed around specific themes of your choice such as laws of motion, simple machines, and inventions. Students will work in teams to build engaging LEGO models to support the theme and trained Bricks 4 Kidz educators will provide engaging instruction tailored to the curriculum objectives based upon the grade level. 45 minutes; 25 students maximum.

Build-A-Bridge (4-6): Science/Social StudiesStudents become engineers for a day and work in teams to build a bridge using K’Nex pieces. They must follow specific design criteria regarding dimensions and strength and stick to a schedule and budget. 50 minutes; 50 students maximum.

Candy Composing (3-6): Math/Music/Language Arts/History/ScienceBecome a composer! Your students will enjoy this fun and educational experience as candy is used to learn how to compose music. Listen and learn about the oboe and observe how pitch relates to lines and spaces on a staff. We will use candy, rhythm sticks, and the accompaniment of the oboe to learn about music on the small and large scale. You don’t want to miss this opportunity to broaden your horizons—and to have a whole lot of fun! 45 minutes; 25 students maximum.

Hot Headz Academy (3-6): Injury Prevention & Safety, HealthFire Safe Frannie and her little stuffed Dalmatian, puts on the southern charm as she leads your class through this program of personal health and wellness. Students are educated on fire safety and burn prevention through a series of life saving demonstrations and fire hazard investigations. All students receive a certificate of honor diploma after successfully role-playing an escape plan from a simulated “real” fire in a room filled with safe non-toxic smoke. 45 minutes; 25 students maximum.

Motion Commotion (3-6): Math/ScienceIn this fast-paced program, students are challenged to work in teams to design a gravity-powered car that goes the greatest distance. This hands-on program reinforces concepts about the scientific method, engineering, independent research, data collection, graphing, and the laws of motion and energy transfer. 60 minutes; 30 students maximum.

Spanish Fiesta (3-6): SpanishEverybody loves a party, but there is no party like a party with a little Latin flavor. Take a virtual trip to Mexico to help Bubbles the clown plan a fiesta. Your students will dance the Hokie Pokie while learning the parts of the body in Spanish, make no-bake snacks to eat, and create colorful piñatas while learning the Spanish alphabet and everyday Spanish words and phrases. The party is definitely happening over here! 25 student maximum 7

To Make a Reservation:Call 901-458-2678 Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm, or go to CMOM.COM anytime.

Group rate: $5.50 per person for organized groups of 10 or more school children. School groups include public and private schools only. Other organized groups pay $6 per person for 10 or more children. Other organized groups include churches, daycares, summer camps, etc. Advance reservations are required in order to receive the group rate! School Programs require additional fees.

Adult chaperons are required in a ratio of 1:10 and are admitted free of charge with an advance group reservation. For the best educational experience, we suggest a ration of 1:5. Adults over the 1:5 ratio are $5.50 or $6 each depending on group type. Teachers are counted as chaperons.

Museum visits for groups are two hours and are scheduled during the following time slots: 9:30-11:30; 10:30-12:30; 11:30-1:30; 12:30-2:30; 1:30-3:30; and 2:30-4:30. Please arrive 15 minutes early for a brief orientation.

If you make a reservation seven days in advance, you will receive a written confirmation, including a packet of important information for your group.You are invited to use our grassy front lawn for brown bag lunches (picnic

tables are available on a first-come basis). Food and drink may only be consumed in designated areas and outside the museum buildings. The museum has a Kid’s Cafe where you can purchase lunch for your groups with advance notice. Mention your interest in this when you book your reservations!

We are proud to offer a smoke-free environment both inside our buildings and on our grounds. Please inform all adults in your group. Thank you for your cooperation!

The museum is accessible to all. So that we may better serve you, let us know if anyone in your group requires extra assistance or accommodations.

In order to make a reservation, please provide the following information:•Date, time slot and any school program for which you are making your reservation•Name and title of group leader•Name, complete address and phone number of the school or group•Number of children and adults in your group•Age(s) and/or grade(s) of children in your group•Any special needs

Group Visit Basics

Permanent ExhibitsBankWrite a check, use an ATM and learn all about money and finance.

Campground/Rock WallClimb in the CMOM mountains or explore the tunnels and slides in the playhouses.

Chicken CoopWatch chickens eat, roost and socialize and learn more about them.

CMOM-TVBroadcast the news, give a weather forecast or star in a music video.

Creative ConstructionsBuild your imagination with thousands of building blocks to choose from, let your mind explore and create.

Earthquake SimulatorBuild a structure and see how an earthquake affects it.

Engine House 18Hop on a police motorcycle, dress up as a firefighter or “drive” a sheriff’s car.

GarageDrive the safety mini-van, take a virtual tour of Memphis or change a tire.

Going PlacesSit in a real airplane cockpit and get a hands-on lesson in the science of flight.

Great American AirwaysAir is everywhere and it is powerful. Learn the physics of air at the NEW “Great American Airways” exhibit – the largest of its kind in the world!

Healthy HabitatChildren get to perform “surgery” on a patient in the operating room, learn about proper nutrition,

see how arteries become blocked with fat, learn why exercise is important and much more from P.D. Parrot!

Honeybee HivesSee inside two live honeybee colonies and take apart an indoor hive.

Incredible Milking CowLearn fun barnyard facts and see if you can milk a cow.

Kid’s MarketShop for grocery items in a kid-sized grocery store.

LighthouseA miniature outdoor lighthouse is a fun addition to the landscape.

Midtown HomesEach house contains an activity station including a tube & ball wall, a giant clock with working gears and light tables to make colorful patterns and 3D “sculptures.”

Playscape ParkIf you’re four or younger, this is a place just for you!

Safety Train StationListen to an owl sing, play the guitar and talk to you about train safety.

SeesawLearn to balance with a friend on the musical seesaw.

SkyscraperClimb up through the eight stories of this vertical maze.

Smiles, Inc.Pretend to be a dentist and learn about tooth health.

Time Square/Sir Dance-A-LotGo under the giant clock tower to a disco to dance and sing along with music.

Tornado GeneratorUse a mist generator, fans and uniquely shaped structure to produce an indoor tornado.

Tree HouseWalk into the forest and learn about natural resources and conservation.

WaterWORKS!Get your hands wet as you discover the essential role of water.

©2015 The Children’s Museum of Memphis