Marbles Kids Museum

"THE STEAM PARA TODOS PROJECT WILL TRANSFORM A PROMINENT EXHIBIT IN THE MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM INTO A VIBRANT SPACE THAT FOSTERS CULTURALLY RELEVANT STEAM LEARNING AND EXPLORATION FOR ALL MUSEUM VISITORS, PARTICULARLY THE GROWING HISPANIC, DUAL-LANGUAGE LEARNER POPULATION IN WAKE COUNTY, N.C. THE THREE-YEAR PROJECT WILL INVOLVE RESEARCH, TESTING, DESIGN, INSTALLATION, AND EVALUATION. THE MUSEUM WILL WORK WITH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, STEM PARTNERS, THE LOCAL ARTS COMMUNITY, AND ORGANIZATIONS ENGAGED WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY TO DEVELOP THE EXHIBIT. GUIDING THE PROJECT WILL BE A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, COMPRISED OF MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS; RESEARCHERS WITH EXPERTISE IN STEAM EDUCATION, DUAL LANGUAGE LEARNERS, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INFORMAL LEARNING; PARTNERS FROM STEM BUSINESSES; CREATIVE ARTS ORGANIZATIONS; THE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM; AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE EXHIBIT'S INTENDED AUDIENCE. PROJECT PARTNERS INCLUDE WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, QUE PASA, US2020, VISUAL ARTS EXCHANGE, NORTH CAROLINA SOCIETY OF HISPANIC PROFESSIONALS, AND GOOGLE FIBER."

THE MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM WILL DESIGN AND INSTALL AN IMMERSIVE EXHIBIT FOCUSED ON ENGAGING IN CAREER EXPLORATION THROUGH HANDS-ON PLAY. THE 3,000-SQUARE-FOOT SPACE WILL OFFER ACTIVITIES AND DISPLAYS THAT REFLECT INDUSTRIES THAT ARE EXPANDING IN NORTH CAROLINA AND RELY ON A DIVERSE AND CAPABLE FUTURE WORKFORCE, SUCH AS BIOTECHNOLOGY, CONSTRUCTION, MANUFACTURING, AND TRANSPORTATION. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE ASSEMBLING A CAREER EXPLORATION COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WITH STAFF FROM OTHER SCIENCE AND CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS, PROTOTYPING ACTIVITIES AND EXHIBIT COMPONENTS, DEVELOPING THE DESIGN, AS WELL AS FABRICATING AND INSTALLING THE COMPONENTS. AS A RESULT, THE MUSEUM WILL CONTRIBUTE TO LOCAL AND REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS THROUGH HANDS-ON, IMAGINATIVE PLAY EXPERIENCES, AND SHARE THEIR FINDINGS AND BEST PRACTICES FOR CAREER EXPLORATION PLAY IN A CHILDREN’S MUSEUM SETTING.

MARBLES KIDS MUSEUMS WILL WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO IMPLEMENT A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE STAFF TO IMPROVE CULTURAL COMPETENCE ACROSS ALL DEPARTMENTS OF THE ORGANIZATION. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSEMBLING THE PROJECT TEAM AND ENGAGING A TRAINING CONSULTANT; DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE NEW PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING PROGRAM; AND EVALUATING AND REFINING TRAINING MODULES TO ENSURE THEY ARE MEETING STATED GOALS. THE RESULTING TRAINING INITIATIVE WILL EQUIP MUSEUM STAFF WITH THE SKILLS TO CONFIDENTLY INTERACT WITH PEOPLE FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE ALL VISITORS FEEL MORE CONNECTED AND COMFORTABLE WHILE VISITING THE MUSEUM.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM WILL DEVELOP TOOLS AND STRATEGIES TO TRAIN ITS STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND INTERNS TO ENGAGE INFANTS, TODDLERS, AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN ACTIVITIES AND CONVERSATIONS THAT LAY THE FOUNDATION FOR CRITICAL EARLY MATH SKILLS. THE STAFF CAPACITY-BUILDING PROJECT WILL DEEPEN THE MUSEUM STAFF'S UNDERSTANDING OF EARLY MATH SKILLS, HOW TO FOSTER THOSE SKILLS, AND WHY INVESTMENT IN EARLY MATH IS CRITICAL TO LONG TERM SUCCESS IN SCHOOL. WITH A CONTENT COACH, THE MUSEUM WILL RESEARCH AND DEVELOP EARLY MATH RESOURCES, ACTIVITIES, AND EXHIBIT ENHANCEMENTS THAT ENGAGE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM WILL SEEK TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY NEEDS RELATED TO EARLY MATH LEARNING, AND CREATE CONTENT FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIDEO MODULES. THE MUSEUM WILL MODIFY THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT MODULES TO CREATE CAREGIVER WORKSHOPS FOCUSED ON FOSTERING EARLY MATH LEARNING THROUGH EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES AND PLAY AT HOME. MUSEUM STAFF WILL SHARE TOOLS AND LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH A REGIONAL MUSEUM CONVENING AND AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

THE MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM IN RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, WILL EXPAND ITS FULL CIRCLE ACCESS PROGRAMS TO PROVIDE ENRICHING, HANDS-ON LEARNING FOR UNDERSERVED CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN WAKE COUNTY MOST IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM WILL DISTRIBUTE PLAY PASSES TO FULL CIRCLE PARTNER AGENCIES SO FAMILIES CAN VISIT WHENEVER THEIR SCHEDULES ALLOW, AND IT ALSO WILL HOST SPECIAL EVENTS FOR FAMILIES SERVED BY PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS TO VISIT AS A GROUP DURING EXCLUSIVE HOURS. CAREGIVERS WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS RELEVANT TO THEIR FAMILIES WHILE CHILDREN ARE ENGAGED IN SUPERVISED PROGRAMMING AND PLAY IN THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBITS. THE MUSEUM WILL PROVIDE FREE AFTER-HOURS PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES AND THEIR FAMILIES.