DCM at Fox Valley Mall Opens Friday!

Join us for the opening of
DCM@The MALL
February 6th from Noon – 8 p.m.
DuPage Children’s Museum will be open seven days a week. It will be staffed by employees and DCM volunteers. The new location offers free parking and will be a Pay As You Will admission. 

Visitors will experience DCM on a smaller scale. It will include the well-known and favorite “Neighborhoods” right in our backyard!

Exhibits Include
Ramps & Rollers
Unit Blocks
Creativity Studio
Young Explorers
Magna-Tiles©
A Special Thanks to Scott Samson
a DCM member and General Manager of Westfield Fox Valley Mall
Shower us with your Support…

#eatout4DCM

As you’ve likely heard, a burst pipe flooded DuPage Children’s Museum on January 8^th, causing severe damage to all three floors. We are working hard to come back stronger and better than ever, but we need your help. 

We are partnering with local restaurants to raise money for the Museum. #eatout4DCM starts February 5^th and runs for several weeks. When you #eatout4DCM, the restaurant will donate a percentage of your check to the Museum.

Click here for the website that lists all dates, restaurants, and details. To make your meal count, don’t forget to bring the flyer or show it on your phone!

#eatout4DCM kicks off Thursday, February 5^th at Giordano’s. Check your social media for updates along the way.

Thank you for your support as we work to reopen DCM this spring!

Warmly,

Susan Stellmacher
Director of Development

P.S. If you would like to make a personal contribution, click here. We need you now more than ever!

Algebra at DuPage Children's Museum?! Part II.

Math Connections can be made at home or at the Museum! Young children who engage in pattern play, mathematical situations, models of quantitative relationships, and activities that encourage awareness of change are practicing skills that lend to algebraic learning. 

In this second post in a two-part blog, we focus on the development of algebraic reasoning. Author, Educator, and Curriculum Developer Jennifer Taylor-Cox offers insight regarding the central ideas of algebra and illustrates how they can be applied through daily experiences.

Central Idea #3: Models of quantitative relationships

"'Explore models of quantitative relationships in a real-life context"

Throughout Math Connections, children can push individual or sets of beads or manipulatives together to represent different values.

Try this: As you play with manipulatives, narrate the child's actions. You might say, You pushed 5 red beads and 2 white beads; that's 7 beads! Ask questions like, What other ways can you make 7?

Think about this: What kind of items can you use at home to emphasize quantitative relationships? Collect 5 cereal pieces in one bowl and 2 crackers in another; that equals 7! Use snacks to determine other ways to get to 7.

Central Idea #4: Change

"'The understanding that most things change over time, that such changes can be described mathematically, and that changes are predictable'"

In Math Connections, children can explore change related to size, shape, and measurement.

Try this: Encourage children to use words like bigger/smaller, shorter/taller to describe objects, structures, or creations. You might ask, How many blocks tall is your tower?

Think about this: How can you incorporate math words into your daily routine? When driving and observing you might ask, Which building is taller? How long do you think it will take us to get to the store? 

While at home or during your next visit, facilitate play and learning by engaging in these challenges! What a fun way to lay the groundwork for future mathematics learning!

Extreme Temperatures Cause Pipe to Burst at DuPage Children's Museum

DuPage Children's Museum staff arrived at work last Friday morning to be greeted with water spilling from the building. It was soon discovered that a pipe had burst before 7 a.m. and caused water to flood into each level of the Museum. Media outlets have been covering the devastating news of the flooding and water damage that occurred.

Currently, Museum staff and consultants are working diligently to repair any damage to the building. We are also taking this opportunity to do some extra cleaning and maintenance. Given the damage, this process is likely to take several weeks--we want to be sure that the Museum will be safe and ready for an April 2015 reopening featuring a you-wouldn't-want-to-miss-it kind of party. Check the website frequently for updates and information about this one-of-a-kind celebration!

As always, the Museum is grateful for the kind words and support received from members, visitors, and the community at large. Your patience is appreciated as we prepare to reopen the Museum with exhibits and programs that are even better than ever!

The damage is extensive--when you get into a remediation project like this, expenses often surface that can be staggering. If you would like to consider a donation designated for the clean-up and repair effort, please contact Susan Stellmacher at sstellmacher@dupagechildrensmuseum.org or 630.637.8000.

Algebra at DuPage Children's Museum?!

Algebra in the early years establishes the necessary groundwork for ongoing and future mathematics learning. -Jennifer Taylor-Cox

In February, the travelling exhibit  XOXO will move out of the upper level and Math Connections will move back in! You will certainly find some new features, however; the introduction and exploration of algebra concepts will be back! But what does algebra look like at DuPage Children's Museum?

In the article "Algebra in the Early Years? Yes!" author Jennifer Taylor-Cox describes the central ideas of algebra and illustrates ways they can be applied to young children's activities and experiences. These concepts, "enhance children's natural interest in mathematics and their disposition to use it to make sense of their physical and social worlds."

The central ideas of algebra described in the article are also the core concepts of many exhibits and activities found in DCM's Math Connections neighborhood. Take a look at some of the algebraic connections present in DCM's Math Connections Neighborhood using insight from Taylor-Cox's article.

Central Idea #1: Patterns

"'Recognizing, describing, extending, and translating patterns'"

In Math Connections, children can explore symmetry, create patterns with shape and color or create 2-D or 3-D patterns.

Try this: Encourage children to point to each color or shape as they "read" patterns throughout the neighborhood. For example: red, blue, red, blue, red, blue. 

Central Idea #2: Mathematical Situations and Structures

"'Experiences with mathematical situations and structures through representations and analyses of equality'"

Encourage children to explore representations and the concept of equality in Math Connections. 

Try this: As you explore the neighborhood, use words like equal/not equal, same/different, more/less, balanced/unbalanced.

Return next week for central ideas #3 and #4, Algebra at DuPage Children's Museum, Part II. 

Puzzle Learning

Have you ever tried to put together a jigsaw puzzle? Puzzle play, at any age is not only entertaining, it can also provide a variety of learning opportunities.

Puzzles exercise memory. Notice how a child delights in remembering how to put together a familiar puzzle. At times, children will talk about how pieces fit together. Verbalizing to themselves or a play partner is a way to aid memory skills.  

Puzzles help develop fine muscle movements. The control of fine muscle movements develop slowly and are dependent upon a lot of practice. Fine muscle coordination aids in activities such as writing, self-dressing, using a keyboard, and more.

Puzzles help eye-hand coordination. Children look for visual cues such as patterns and colors to help match pieces together. This process strengthens coordination by using eyes and hands simultaneously, as well as thoughts with actions.

Puzzles increase mathematical awareness and problem-solving skills. A puzzle can teach a child how parts fit together to form a whole. In addition, problem-solving skills can be supported when an adult gives directions such as, "All the red pieces go here," or "This piece is curved." The opportunity to practice a skill over and over again enhances problem-solving abilities. The problem solver also gains a sense of intrinsic reward when they complete a puzzle.

As children grow and gain competency, you may notice that they begin to concentrate more deeply—often they move on to complete increasingly complex puzzles.They quickly learn to rotate and slide pieces right into the fitting location! While engaging in tactile puzzle play, children reap the learning benefits of manipulating pieces, critically thinking about placing those pieces, and developing problem-solving skills. 

Practice your own problem-solving skills by looking for puzzle play opportunities at the Museum during your next visit! 

News from the Creativity Studio!

Fabric Bound Books: 

Creativity Studio Drop-In Engages Guests in                         Creativity & Literacy Fun! 

Guests who visited a Creativity Studio drop-in late last summer learned a new skill… simple book binding.  We explored a number of different binding options, from basic yarn sewing to more advanced needle and thread techniques.  After learning about binding their pages together, kids took the lead to personalize their books.  Some children wrote stories about animals, their family, alien octopuses, a sunny day, and their visit to DCM.  Others turned their books into illustrated art books, photo albums, and even a dictionary!  This is a great skill building activity that  fosters immense creativity and story-telling as well.  

Blogger Katie Fodor is a Program Developer at DuPage Children's Museum. Katie has an MA in Art History and Museum Studies from Case Western Reserve University. Katie joined DCM’s team in the summer of 2013.  

Inside Fun for Everyone!

Are cold temperatures keeping you inside? Have you run out of ideas to help keep the children active? If you are looking for ways to keep the young ones engaged in hands-on, interactive, playful learning at home, try these easy and fun-for-the-whole-family activities!

Hallway Bowling 

A hardwood hallway can make a great lane for bowling! No hardwood hallway? No worries! Any floor surface, some empty plastic bottles and ball--even a roll of socks will work.Ten pins are standard, yet six will do. 

Play with math skills! Count the pins; subtract them as they fall; add them as you reset. You can even keep score and challenge young ones to consider how many different ways they can add to ten.

Indoor Obstacle Course

This one may be over the top for some parents, yet there are so many opportunities for gross motor development, agility, and movement right in your home. If you are a parent that allows climbing on furniture, jumping from a footstool, or climbing under the table, the indoor obstacle course can be a blast! 

This activity offers math fun too! Get out the stop watch and estimate. How long will it take Mom to get through the course? How about Dad? 

Get creative with your obstacle course design. Add a limbo section and a spot for jumping jacks. What about a reading nook at the end?

                                                     Forts

Building forts is an               old-fashioned favorite that never goes out of style! Grab some clothes pins, a few blankets or sheets, and strap over the couch, table, or chairs. Engage the architect and critical thinker in your young one by drawing out your own blue prints before you begin. Designs can be intricate or simple. Everyone loves a hideaway! 

If you just can't shake cabin fever, plan a trip to the Museum! School's Out Camps, Creativity Studio drop-ins, and our guests Anderson's Insect Zoo promise fun and learning for all ages.

Instilling a Sense of Giving

Back when no curbside recycling existed, my sisters and I used to help our mother collect recycled materials to take to the recycling center. Although this experience started me on a philanthropic path, at the time I only knew it as a way of life. We looked at the adventure as fun!

Instilling a sense of giving can start early! Children three and under are primarily focused on themselves. A sense of giving is learned by watching         grown-ups. When children observe adults share, listen, or be kind to others, they learn compassion. “Giving” can mean your time or treasures. In this season of giving and helping those less fortunate with food or gifts, you are modeling compassion! Even very young children can help shop, assemble, and wrap donated items.

Support your philanthropic ideals via picture books, too, like The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, The Giving Box by Fred Rogers, or the classic Stone Soup.

By the time children start school, they are ready to be more involved in their own philanthropic adventures, usually centering on their own interests. A few years ago, two second graders learned about our Champions campaign and donated the proceeds from their lemonade stand to the Museum! Children’s charitable involvement contributes towards raising self-esteem, developing social skills, fostering an introduction to the greater world, and encouraging kids to appreciate all that they have.

Make giving a family affair by encouraging your children’s interests and working together. By allowing them input and decision-making, you will start them on the path of lifetime giving!

Content originally shared by Jayne Carpenter, M.S., former Early Childhood Specialist with DuPage Children's Museum. 

Math Young Explorers at DuPage Children's Museum

As many of you know, XOXO: An Exhibit about Love and Forgiveness moved into the upper level of DuPage Children's Museum (DCM) in October. When traveling exhibits visit, we rearrange and adjust space to fit the needs of the exhibit components. Since XOXO offered so much, we moved several exhibits to storage and some to other areas of the Museum. Some of our Math Young Explorers exhibits moved into the Family Resource Center (FRC), a small room in the back corner of the upper level. Here we share information about the math exhibits now located in the FRC.

The Peekaboo Bridge offers gross motor skill development coupled with the fun of a childhood favorite, peek-a-boo. Our young explorers love the element of surprise that comes along with a game of peek-a-boo! Children explore geometric shapes and color as they crawl, toddle, or run across the bridge. If we can get them to stop along the way, we have the opportunity to draw attention to the identification of shapes or the way color can change the look or perspective of what we see! 

Large and smaller Lego™ pieces also draw children to make math connections. Watch spatial development skills in action with shape building/stacking pieces and Legos™. Spatial activities encourage children to distinguish a characteristic of a single object while determining the relationship between two objects at the same time. As they build, children have to consistently determine the size and shape of one object relative to another, how those objects will fit together, and if it meets the goal of what they are attempting to accomplish. Building with Legos™, and bigger Lego™-like blocks for younger ones, is spatial reasoning at work! 

In addition to math skill building, the FRC is home to several special activities including a story time with Ben Webber every Friday, Music My Way with Nancy Culp each third Thursday of the month--the Naperville Public Library also visits on select Wednesdays to host a program. During your next visit see what is happening in the FRC!

Make it Move Young Explorers at DuPage Children's Museum

How does a ball roll? Is there a reaction when I stomp on the floor? What is that blowing my hair? This week we continue our exhibit focus by turning our attention to Make it Move Young Explorers. In this exhibit space young ones can focus on exploring how things move as well as the effects of forces like their own body weight and the fluidity of air! Take a look at some of the experiences offered.

Make it Move Young Explorers is located just behind the Moser Construction House on the main level of the Museum. This area hosts exhibits that engage younger guests in many different levels of movement and activity. 

Walkers can jump on tiles and watch colors move beneath them--this helps young learners begin to recognize the effect of their own body weight. Jumping on the tiles gives a more dramatic effect. This "splash" is illustrated by a rapid movement of the color beneath their feet that comes with the force of their jump!

Crawlers and walkers alike can feel the effects of moving air from pvc piping that blows from the floor beneath them. It is engaging and enjoyable to feel the air moving around the body and blowing through the hair or in the face! Cover the hole and explore by feeling the pressure of the air!

Colorful balls fill a small ball pit too! Our youngest guests usually sit among the balls and feel the tactile sensations of being among spheres that pop up and around them as they move about! They also enjoy developing the motor skills that come along with throwing and kicking these safe, lightweight, hollow balls.

Look for more on DCM's Young Explorers Neighborhoods next week! We will find out more about Math Young Explorers. Where did it go when XOXO moved in?