Hands On Children's Museum

Hands On children's Museum will develop an initiative to increase meaningful math and science experiences for young children, including those from at-risk and underserved families, their parents and caregivers, and preschool and early elementary teachers. The model programming will be implemented through workshops, fieldtrips, and an interactive makerspace exhibit. This two-year project will offer tinkering, building, and investigation activities to engage children during the preschool years when their brains are most receptive to learning math and logic. Research reveals that nearly one in five kindergarten students in Southwest Washington enter school having difficulty with basic math concepts and that this challenge is more intense for disadvantaged students. This initiative will not only engage early learners and their families, but will also provide training for caregivers and preschool teachers, ensuring a community-wide approach to inspiring early STEM education.