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BOSTON, MA – May 19, 2011 – Boston Children’s Museum today announced that it has received a $40,000 grant from National Grid. The Museum will use these funds to create a new teaching kit designed to improve teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) among young children and their educators and childcare providers.

Kits are interdisciplinary teaching units, packed with artifacts, hands-on activities, supplies, videos and photos.  Kits for Teachers program provides Museum kits free of charge to Massachusetts public school classrooms.  

“We are thrilled to further strengthen our relationship with National Grid and applaud their critical support to help the youngest students prepare for success in school,” said Carole Charnow, President & CEO at Boston Children’s Museum. “The National Grid Early Childhood Science, Technology and Engineering Teaching Kit will be connected directly to the Museum’s Early Childhood corridor which includes Peep’s World exhibit and the Countdown to Kindergarten exhibits.”

The kit will be geared primarily for use in early childhood in family child care, preschool, Head Start settings, as well as in K0 and K1 public schools.  The lessons and activities will focus on building science, technology and engineering skills both for the children and their teachers through simple and engaging activities.  The early childhood science kits will provide unique objects, such as encased insects, as well as everyday tools (scissors and magnifiers) to help students learn the most basic scientific methods: observation, testing, and exploration while also encouraging providers and teachers to do these foundational activities with children.

The kits will circulate to preschool classrooms and will be used in the Museum during school readiness programs conducted for children, families, educators and childcare providers.  The kits will be used in different settings in order to reinforce and extend the informal learning that takes place in the exhibits.  The kits will expand the capacity for the adults to support STEM learning among the children.

“We are proud to team up with organizations like Boston Children’s Museum and to have the opportunity to support teachers as they develop the future work force of our country,” says Marcy Reed, president, National Grid Massachusetts.  “There is a projected shortfall of engineers, and working with programs that reinforce those basic skills ties-in so well with our ‘Engineering Our Future’ initiative, which is designed to inspire youth to pursue science, technology, engineering and math skills.”

National Grid is an international energy delivery company that supports education & skills and energy & environment initiatives to meet local community needs.

National Grid has supported Boston Children’s Museum since 2006.

About Boston Children’s Museum
Boston Children’s Museum exists to help children understand and enjoy the world in which they live.  It is a private, non-profit, educational institution that is recognized internationally as a research and development center and pacesetter for children's exhibitions, educational programs and curriculum.  Boston Children’s Museum incorporates two strategies – engaging families and building communities – to impact five outcome areas for children: Creative Kids, Curious Kids, Global Kids, Green Kids and Healthy Kids. More information about Boston Children’s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org.

Hours and Admission
The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Fridays until 9:00 p.m. Adults, $12, children (1-15) and senior citizens, $12; children under 12 months and Museum members are always free. Fridays 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., all visitors $1.

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Media Contact:      Jo-Anne Baxter
617-426-6500 x246
baxter@BostonChildrensMuseum.org