Spring 2014 Newsletter by Bay Area Discovery Museum

Newsletter

Spring 2014

letter from the director

Our Mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all children. 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA 94965 BayKidsMuseum.org Please note: Dates, times and prices are subject to change. Please check out our website for the most up-to-date listings.

In this Issue 1 Creativity Talks 2 Playdate 2014 3–4 Who We Are 5–6 Classes & Programs 7–8 Programs & Tours 9–10 Calendar 11–12 All About Art 13–14 Performances & Events 15–16 Creativity News 17 Connections Update 18 Exhibitions & Council Corner Ages The Museum serves children 6 months to 8 years old, their families, educators and caregivers. Admission Admission: $11 Infants under 6 months: free Members: free Phone Number Main Line: (415) 339-3900 Fax: (415) 339-3901

Special Hours In preparation for our annual Playdate fundraiser, we will be closed to the public on Friday, May 2 and will open at noon on Saturday, May 3. Closed Easter Sunday, April 20

is the e most about my job One of the things I lik at we can do s be thinking about wh opportunity to alway intaining the re of — all while ma better, different or mo mbers and rience that keep our me familiar, everyday expe ovative and inn after year. To remain must visitors retur ning year we e, the Museum experienc do. increase the value of we at th d reflect on the work continually examine an an in d we have been engage Since last November, with the goal ng mi ram og pr r of ou exhaustive evaluation 6 months nities for children ages of maximizing opportu aluation, ev is ilies. Informed by th to 8 years and their fam ys to wa of ilies with a variety eup we strive to provide fam lin nt e our curre different levels. Whil at d an m eu us d M an e s th engage with ing camps, classe add to our award-winn d times, both on-site is fantastic, we want to oic ter array of ch es an ea gr a ide ov pr to s performance ve you, our visitor. joining one and off, to better ser amazing experience, an is m eu us M e th to or Science Lab, or Although just coming ily Prog rams, like Art Da e or fre , ed r-l ato uc asses, like Messy Ar t of our ed ly or After School Cl mi Fa u may id Yo pa . r ht ou lig in w ng ne a participati e Museum in th see to gin be ll wi u r prog rams Young Ar tist Series, yo r exhibits, the way ou ou d hin be lity na tio en how our begin to notice the int er of their learning, or nt ce e th at ren ild ch ur ned to engage children are designed to put yo -ended questions desig en op l de eir mo rs ato uc skilled ed sts them, and ignite th into what truly intere tap gs, din un rro su in their . creative thinking skills xt six months and our work over the ne of its fru e th see ll t perspective. I expect that you wi useum from a differen M e th see d an -in op I encourage you to dr Regards,

Open Monday, April 14

CEO & Executive Di

rector

Regular Hours Tuesday − Sunday: 9 a.m. − 5 p.m. Closed most Mondays

Directions

The Philosophical Baby: What children’s minds tell us about truth, love and the meaning of life

From the North/East Bay: Take the Alexander Ave. exit just before the Golden Gate Bridge. Follow the signs to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Fort Baker.

Alison Gopnik, Ph.D.

From San Francisco: Take Alexander Ave. exit. Follow the signs to the Bay Area Discovery Museum and Fort Baker.

Free First Wednesdays: Free First Wednesdays sponsored by:

March 5 April 2 May 7

Thursday, March 13 6 p.m. Free Reception 7 p.m. Free Lecture Discovery Theatre Register online at BayKidsMuseum.org/creativitytalks Creativity Talks is the Museum’s evening lecture series for parents, grandparents, caretakers and educators on important early childhood topics.

Alison Gopnik, Ph.D. will outline some of the new discoveries and their implications for the way we think about young children and ourselves. She’ll show that childhood — our long period of helplessness — is responsible for our uniquely human consciousness and our ability to learn, imagine and love. Presented by:

who we are

Not-A-School is the first licensed preschool in a museum in California.

Friends develop a sense of ownership at the Museum.

Where Curiosity Meets Creative Thinking By Heather Posner, Public Programs Manager, Not-A-School

One of the great joys of working in early childhood education is experiencing the wonder that surrounds children’s daily experience; each crunchy leaf crushed underfoot, stray feathers blown in the wind or block tower stacked higher than ever before is cause for celebration and investigation. As we set out to create curriculum in Not-A-School, we take an approach which at the core respects the natural curiosity that overflows from young children. As our mission here at the Museum states, we work to “ignite and advance

creative thinking for all children.” The focus in our classroom-laboratory hybrid is to reveal the nature of creative thinking as it intersects across all of the areas in which our students are developing — language, literacy, cognition, logical-mathematical reasoning, scientific inquiry, artistic expression,

social skills, and emotional growth. We are in a unique position to embrace the spirit of innovation and create a program where transformative learning unfolds in exciting ways, fueled by curiosity. The theme of curiosity is also highlighted in the work of the Center for Childhood Creativity (CCC), the Museum’s researchbased, educational platform. The CCC describes the intersection between creativity and curiosity as an environment where students’ curiosity and interest areas influence the development of the curriculum, fuel robust conversations and guide ongoing classroom explorations. Curiosity is also being considered throughout the wider field of education as Susan Engel has written in the Harvard Educational Review, “The evidence is quite clear: when children are curious, they learn. It turns out that curiosity in school is not merely a nicety but a necessity.”

“ Not-A-School is an extremely unique program that literally brings tears to my eyes when I think of how incredible and special the program and the instructors are. Like most things in life, it’s the people who really make a difference and the staff is absolutely top-rate when it comes to creativity, commitment to their craft as well as commitment to the kids, and their own continuing education. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the Not-A-School community and to be able to offer our daughter the experience of developing into a young human being in a supportive, creative, energetic environment.” – Not-A-School parent, January 2014

3 SPRING 2014

BayKidsMuseum.org

In Not-A-School, we follow the children’s interests by documenting their learning and thinking about what directions this curiosity may lead. We embody a process described by Catherine Gripton in the newly published book, Child Initiated Play and Learning as, “…planning for endless possibilities, [where] we do not ask what it is but what it could be.” From this vantage, curiosity becomes the catalyst through which all topics may be rendered; planning for possibilities, as opposed to closed-ended outcomes, breeds curiosity and nurtures creative thinking.

breadth of learning that takes place in an open-ended, child-directed environment. The teachers and I are continually working to reflect on and refine our approach in order to, as Gripton writes, “…do more than create an environment in which children can ask big questions but where children do ask big questions.” We named our program Not-A-School after one of our favorite children’s books, Not-A-Box by Antoinette Portis, as a way of celebrating the possibilities of what schools can be, and to honor the curiosity children bring to the world each day.

This year we have collaborated with the children to follow their curiosity about building (with real tools!), map making and gift giving. Each of these possibilities has naturally inspired many of the children to express their thoughts and ideas through writing, planning, problem solving and teamwork. By following the children’s curiosity, we have seen the wide

For more information: Engel, Susan. “Children’s need to know: Curiosity in schools.” Harvard Educational Review. Volume 18. No. 4 Winter. 2011. 625- 645. Gripton, Catherine. “Planning for endless possibilities.” Child-initiated play and learning: Planning for possibilities in the early years. Ed. Annie Woods. London and New York: Routledge, 2013. 8 -21.

Not-A-School Creative Enrichment Program is designed to nurture young children’s creative thinking as they explore the arts, the sciences and the environment through play and guided inquiry at the Bay Area Discovery Museum. Not-A-School is the first licensed childcare center in a museum in California, and features a staff of fully qualified teachers.

NEW! Not-A-School for 5-year-olds Now enrolling for our specially designed afternoon program just for friends who will be 5-years-old by October 1, 2014. Collaborati

rt ve Flow Cha

Applications for the 2014 – 15 school year are now being accepted.

Willow and her rocking horse

To submit an application or schedule a tour please visit BayKidsMuseum.org /notaschool

A Peek into the Classroom:

FROM THE DAILY UPDATE EMAILED TO PARENTS

Scheduling options include:

• Monday – Friday • Monday, Wednesday & Friday • Tuesday & Thursday

We headed back to the classroom for our morning meeting. During our meeting we did some reflecting on all the work we have done with building and tools and presented the idea of working together to build something more permanent that would maybe be a part of the Museum. The friends had a few ideas to share. Willow suggested we build a rocking horse. She started working on some incredible project planning for her rocking horse idea. She decided on the words she wanted to add to a big chart and Danielle helped her spell them. Her writing really blew us away and she had the great idea of adding circles and lines like a flow chart! Some other friends noticed Willow’s project and joined. Huck, Sierra and Daphne joined the area. Huck worked on spelling the words of some items and materials in the classroom like paper and cap. Sierra wrote all the letters she knew. Daphne helped the friends identify the letters and sounds and did some of her own writing. Jayne joined the friends and did some big drawings. Zoe did some mark making too on a small piece of paper. She showed me and explained, “I write this.”

BayKidsMuseum.org

SPRING 2014

9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Optional Extended Care, 1 – 4 p.m. Ages 2.9 – 5 years

For more information, please call or e-mail: Heather Posner Public Programs Manager (415) 339-3982 hposner@badm.org *Facility number 214005255

family classes

Museum classes encourage divergent thinking through open-ended, child-directed projects.

Family & After School Classes

membe

SAV Ers

Explore art, music, movement, culture and more in our Family and After School Classes. Family Classes encourage participation between parents and caretakers with their children. Our After School programs are specially designed to engage older children with art and science. Each series offers multiple sessions for deep engagement with a range of topics, and includes Museum admission for one adult and one child. Pre-registration required and class sizes are limited. Register online at BayKidsMuseum.org/classes.

Latin American Painters

Family Classes

10-week series introducing Spanish language and culture Tuesdays, April 1 – June 3 10 a.m. Ages 18 months – 3 years with caregiver Members $200; General $245 Additional sibling $180

Exploring Together Collection 3-week sessions of exploration Ages 2 – 4 with caregivers Members $50; General $75 Additional sibling 50% off

Take an exciting adventure with the most famous Latin American painters of classic and modern times. This workshop offers a full immersion of Latin American culture and early exposure to Spanish language. Spanish fluency is not required; however Spanish will be spoken 100% of the time.

The Exploring Together classes are developed and taught by our Public Programs Team, specially designed for small groups of about 10 children. These active classes highlight our open-ended, child-directed educational philosophy and offer adults a chance to meet other caregivers. You can learn fun activities to try at home and be exposed to new facilitation techniques to promote creativity.

Outdoor Learning

Get Ready to Get Messy

Engage in art activities without worrying about making a mess. Thursdays & Fridays, 10 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m.

Color Experiments

Thursdays, March 27, April 3, 10 Fridays, March 28, April 4, 11 Saturdays, March 29, April 5, 12

Explore the wonders of our natural surroundings through play in three Fort Baker locations: the Museum’s Outdoor Learning Lab, Coast Guard Beach and Fort Baker Parade Grounds. Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, 10 a.m.

Session 1

Thursdays, April 24, May 1, 8 Fridays, April 25, May 2*, 9 Saturdays, April 26, May 3*, 10

Session 2

Thursdays, May 15, 22, 29 Fridays, May 16, 23, 30 Saturdays, May 17, 24, 31 * Please note: Museum is closed to the public on May 2 and will be closed until noon on May 3.

5 SPRING 2014

hop.skip.twirl. 10-week series of early childhood movement & dance Fridays, March 28 – June 6 (No class May 2; Museum closed) 10 a.m. Ages 2 – 4 years with caregiver Members $200; General $245 Additional sibling $180 Each class, taught by Tutu School, creatively explores movement through games and activities that focus on key areas of motor skill development and rhythmic awareness, as well introducing concepts of physical storytelling. BayKidsMuseum.org

After School Classes Our afternoon programs for older kids, ages 5 – 8, offer big kids deep engagement while their parents and caregivers experience other parts of the Museum with younger siblings. Young Artist Series

4-week series of art exploration Tuesdays, April 22 – May 13 3:30 p.m. Ages 5 – 8 year with caregiver on-site Members $70; General $100 Additional sibling 50% off Let your young artist experiment with new materials and processes related to sky with the Arts Program team as they incorporate inquiry and projectbased approaches.

Imaginibbles by Bean Sprouts Café & Cooking School

5-week sessions of cooking classes 9:30 a.m. Ages 2 – 6 years with caregiver Members $100; General $122.50 Additional sibling $90

Session 1

Tuesdays, March 25 – April 22 Saturday, March 29 – April 26

Session 2

Dig Deeper: Art + Science Creative Enrichment Drop-Off Program

3-week series of adventures in art & science Wednesdays, March 5, 12, 19 3 p.m. Kindergarten – Third Grade Supporting Members $75; General $100

Tuesdays, April 29 – May 27 Saturdays, May 10 – June 7 Imaginibbles is Bean Sprout’s signature 5-week class series, as seen on Parents Connect by Nickelodeon. Each class features yummy, good-for-you recipes that focus on playful presentation and recipe steps.

Dig Deeper is the ultimate “choose your own adventure” program, as the kids work with staff from our Not-A-School and award-winning Discovery Camps to plan the activities for their session of the program. We use our Museum curriculum planning process–starting with exploration, observation, documentation, “I notice” and “I wonder” statements, idea mapping and planning for possibilities–to make each experience unique, open-ended and child-directed.

Music Together® Maracas Collection

Music Together classes are based on the recognition that all children are musical provided that their early environment supports such learning.

10-week session of early childhood music Wednesdays, April 2 – June 4 10 & 11 a.m. Ages 6 months – 4 years with caregiver Members $235*; General $265* Additional sibling $160 Music Together is an internationally recognized early childhood music and movement program for children. It pioneered the concept of a researchbased, developmentally appropriate early childhood music curriculum that strongly emphasizes and facilitates adult involvement.

BayKidsMuseum.org

*Tuition includes a beautifully illustrated song book and two-CD set, along with a parent education guide.

Music Together art & logo design © 1992-2013 Music Together LLC. Music Together is a registered trademark. Music Together Marin is licensed by Music Together LLC. For more locations: www.musictogether.com - (800) 728-2692

2014 SPRING 6

donate today

Summer is a critical time in a child’s development. Research suggests that many children lose knowledge and skills during summer vacation if not exposed to enriching learning experiences. This is especially true for children from low-income families who might not have access to educational resources throughout the summer.* Every child deserves a summer full of high-quality learning experiences, and through gifts to our Annual Fund, we are able to offer children the opportunity to enjoy our summer camps through our Summer Camp Scholarship program. Last year, we were able to give scholarships to 100% of the families who requested camp tuition assistance. Please help us do the same again this year by donating to our Annual Fund. Your gift will help us carry out our mission to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children. Donate by visiting BayKidsMuseum.org/donate or by calling (415) 339-3954. * BayKidsMuseum.org /summercitation

SPRING BREAK CAMP Imaginar y Worlds: Witches, Wizards, Knights and Princesses April 15 – 18 (Four days) 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Ages 4 – 8 years Supporting Members $375; General $400 (Additional $10 materials fee) Please note, we are not able to offer AM or PM extended care. Pre-registration required. Register online at BayKidsMuseum.org/camps Dragons, mermaids, unicorns and kings welcome, too. Imagination rules in this camp for fairy tale fanatics of all stripes. Children will weave a tale around characters they create, drawing from unlimited options.

SUMMER CAMP Don’t miss out on our exciting themes designed to nurture creative thinking through every discipline including Art Attack, On the Bay, Fort Building and our exclusive camp just for 3-year-olds, Big Discoveries. Plus we’ve added a new camp just for big kids called “Inventing with Art” and a cool Junior Counselor program for children ages 9 – 12. Don’t miss out on our new lunch delivery from Bean Sprouts Café and Cooking School available for an extra fee upon registration.

To register and for more information, visit BaykidsMuseum.org/camps.

programs & tours

Daily Programs & Tours Creative Labs As part of our quarterly programming, this season our Creative Labs will focus on sky. We will experiment, tinker and test ideas about the weather, birds, kites, planes and more!

Art Lab, Idea Spot

Wednesdays & Sundays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Delve one step further into the techniques, media or concepts related to our featured Spotlight artists. This season our artists include Van Gogh, Vollis Simpson and Audubon.

Science Lab, Outdoor Learning Lab

Thursdays, 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Hypothesize, experiment, investigate, evaluate... repeat! Create your own experiments to build a foundation of the scientific process and inquiry-based learning.

Nature Lab, Outdoor Learning Lab

Saturdays, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Delve into the many characteristics and wonders of the natural world. Set in our Outdoor Learning Lab, we will examine found natural materials and the infinite ways in which they can be combined to ponder the concepts of the sun, wind and birds.

Tours Look at the Museum in new ways with these facilitated investigations.

Nature Walks with Ranger Lucy, Lookout Cove Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. March 19, April 16, May 21 Each month, Ranger Lucy leads a nature walk around Lookout Cove. Learn more about the plants and animals that live at Fort Baker with our very own National Park Ranger.

Collaborative Programs We offer scheduled opportunities for children and adults to play with our Discovery Guides and other families in our exhibit halls. Check our Daily Programs Chalkboard in Satterlee Way each day for specific themes and pop-up play opportunities with our Discovery Guides around the Museum.

Toddler Circle Time, Tot Spot

Tuesdays – Fridays, 9:30 – 9:45 a.m. Toddler Circle Time is an opportunity for our youngest visitors to practice language, movement, and making new friends.

Storytime, Various Locations

Tuesdays – Fridays, 11 – 11:30 a.m. Saturdays – Sundays, 3 – 3:30 p.m. Explore new worlds and go on amazing adventures through our interactive storytimes.

Make-believe Playtime, Lookout Cove Tuesdays – Fridays, 2 p.m. Saturdays – Sundays, 11 a.m. Jump into spontaneous, imaginative play opportunities inspired by our exhibition spaces. These are based on the age range and number of participants each day.

Special Exhibition Explorations Our educators and visitors explore various activities inspired by our latest special exhibition.

Super Kids Save the World!, Lookout Cove Fridays, 3:30 – 4 p.m. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Remake: Recyclable materials surround us in the everyday environment. Inspired by Super Kids Save the World, we will be using tape and a variety of recycled and repurposed objects to build, connect, and sculpt. Help us find inspiration in the shapes, colors, and textures in these often discarded objects as we reimagine their purpose into magical works of art. All programs are subject to change. Please check our on-site program chalkboard for updates.

BayKidsMuseum.org

Group Visits Self-guided Visits (2.5 hour visit) Through a self-guided tour, your group will enjoy 2.5 hours of open-ended, free-choice play and learning in our unique exhibitions spaces. New this year: • Extended exploration time • Additional times to visit • Informal programming during visit

Enriched Visits (3.5 hour visit) Enriched visits, which are now aligned with Next Generation Science Standards, include an hour of specialized programming and 2.5 hours to explore the Museum and have lunch. Program topics include: Birds of the Headlands and their Homes (March – May) Learn more about Group Visits at BayKidsMuseum.org/groupvisits

“ I’ve been bringing my first graders here for at least five years. Always loved it but really love the addition of the enriched visit! So much fun for the kids!”

– FIRST-GRADE TEACHER

2014 SPRING 8

mon

tue

wed

Museum Closed

Alison Gopnik, Ph.D.

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Imaginibbles $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Latin American Exploration $ Imaginibbles $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Latin American Exploration $ Imaginibbles $ Member Playdate: Naomi Hart

Toddler Circle Time

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Get Ready to Get Messy $

Not-A-School Parent Tour Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Get Ready to Get Messy $

fri

Toddler Circle Time Storytime

sponsored by:

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $

13 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $ Young Artists $

Toddler Circle Time 6 Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $ Young Artists $ Member Playdate

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $

May

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $ Nature Walk with Ranger Lucy

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $ Nature Walk with Ranger Lucy

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Art Lab Music Together® $

Special Exhibition opens on May 24

29 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $ Young Artists $

22 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $ Young Artists $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $

Spring Break Camp

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $

Latin American Painters $ Imaginibbles $ Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Member Playdate

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Science Lab Outdoor Learning $

15 Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Science Lab Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Outdoor Learning $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Science Lab Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Outdoor Learning $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Science Lab

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Science Lab Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Get Ready to Get Messy $

Make-believe Playtime Science Lab Artist-in-Residence: Suzie Buchholz Get Ready to Get Messy $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Outdoor Learning $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime hop.skip.twirl. $ Outdoor Learning $

Outdoor Learning $ Playdate 2014: Jet Set to Rio $ Museum Closed

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Outdoor Learning $

Toddler Circle Time Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Get Ready to Get Messy $

Toddler Circle Time

Make-believe Playtime Special Exhibition Exploration hop.skip.twirl. $ Get Ready to Get Messy $

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Outdoor Learning $

Broken? Fix It! VIP opening Storytime Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Outdoor Learning $ Broken? Fix It! opens

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Outdoor Learning $

Storytime Nature Lab Outdoor Learning $ Museum Opens at Noon

Friday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. Buy tickets online now

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Outdoor Learning $ GC & DC Springtime Adventure

Native Story Telling Create-with-Nature Imaginibbles $ The Corner Laughers $ Snail People Earth Day Celebration

Storytime Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Get Ready to Get Messy $ Rick Huddle $

Make-believe Playtime Nature Lab Imaginibbles $ Get Ready to Get Messy $

all about art

Our Mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all children.

ring 2014

SKY

Spring 2014:

MARCH – Night & Day APRIL – Humans & the Sky MAY – Weather & Birds

Photo by Abe K via Flickr.com

Photo by Steven Damron via Flickr.com

SKY

Look up! This season we are exploring the sky. Visitors will consider and experiment with ideas about the sun, moon, weather, birds, kites, planes and more. Each month this spring, we will feature a new concept related to the sky:

Donor & Supporting Member

Exclusive Art Excursions Mosaic Tile Steps of San Francisco Sunday, March 9 10:30 a.m.

Mark di Suvero at Crissy Field Sunday, May 18 10:30 a.m.

The sky’s the limit when you join our special field trip to the secret tile steps of San Francisco. We will look for the sun and moon as we climb to new heights, learn about mosaic art making and create our own ceramic-inspired work.

For the past year in a temporary exhibit by SFMOMA, Mark di Suvero’s massive steel sculptures have sat atop Crissy Field, reframing the skyline and surrounding landscape of San Francisco and Marin. Join our facilitated program of observation and art around these monumental pieces in the exhibition’s final week.

Space is limited; registration is required. To RSVP, contact Lauren Cooper, Member Manager, at (415) 339-3954 or lcooper@badm.org. Interested in attending these special events but not a Supporting or Discovery Circle member? Upgrade your membership or join today by contacting the Membership department at (415) 339-3954 or online at BayKidsMusuem.org/join.

11 SPRING 2014

Monthly Member Play Dates On the first Tuesday of every month at 10:30 a.m., members have the opportunity to engage with our talented educators in an intimate setting and try out new activities and programs. Member Play Dates are free for all Museum members and are for children of all ages and their caregivers. No registration is required. Check the chalkboard at the Front Desk for the exact meeting location. UPCOMING MEMBER PLAY DATES: March 4, April 1, May 6 Contact Lauren Cooper, Membership Manager, with any questions at (415) 339-3954 or lcooper@badm.org.

BayKidsMuseum.org

Rags to Riches by Suzie Buchholz

Artist-in-Residence Thanks to a generous donation, we have recently re-launched our Artist-in-Residence program to offer a wide variety of arts experiences to our young visitors and their families. Our resident artists — painters, sculptors, performers and more — will help bring our thematic programming to life.

Naomi Hart, Winter 2014

Dust in the Desert by Naomi Hart

Celebrate the conclusion of Winter Artist-in-Residence Naomi Hart’s residency by joining us on select days to meet the artist and view her work. Throughout February, Naomi worked with visitors to turn our Bridge Room into an immersive dust bunny. By taking samples of dust and dirt around the Museum, she magnified and translated what she found into a large scale drawing on the walls. Saturday, March 1, 2 – 3 p.m. Sunday, March 2, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. *Special Monthly Member Play Date

Suzie Buchholz, Spring 2014 To complement our theme of Sky, we are pleased to welcome Sausalito-based artist Suzie Buchholz. For the past 15 years, Suzie has been making kites out of found objects and recycled materials. For Suzie, kites represent unfettered freedom, the absence of limitations and the abundance of possibility. Using our Bridge Room as her studio, she will create a series of 17 kites that will hang in our Entry Pavilion. April 1 – May 20, Tuesdays & Thursdays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Check our website for additional workshops. Flying Lesson by Suzie Buchholz

Are you an artist? Visit BayKidsMuseum.org /artistinresidence for more information on proposal themes, deadlines, and application information.

Artist-In-Residence Selection Committee Interview We recently caught up with the selection committee to get a behind-the-scenes look at the process. The committee consists of Heather Jain, Pascuma, Katie Rothschild and Brandy Vause. With extraordinary academic credentials in art history, art education, visual arts administration and museum studies, they have decades of combined experience in the art world. Here’s a snippet of what they had to say: MUSEUM: Tell us about the selection process. BRANDY: We meet to review all the proposals, select the top three to five to invite come to the Museum for an interview, and then make our selection based on their presentations. MUSEUM: What are three words that come to mind when you think of the program? KATIE: Immersive. Unique. Innovative. MUSEUM: How have you drawn upon your experience in the art world in selecting the Museum’s Artists-in-Residence? HEATHER: As a curator and collector, I have seen a tremendous amount of art. I have learned to appreciate and evaluate work on its own terms, regardless of whether I personally like it or not. I’ve also met and spoken to many artists about their work, so I am sensitive to the fact that their strength is in creating something in their chosen medium, not necessarily talking about it. MUSEUM: What is the committee looking for in selecting an artist to be in residency at the Bay Area Discovery Museum? HEATHER: We really want a project that will grab the attention and imagination of our visitors. Something that children can connect with, but that pushes the boundaries of what they might have thought possible. MUSEUM: Any tips for parents who want to introduce art to their kids? DANNI: Come visit the Art Studios! Each month, we design special programming to explore the work of our Spotlight Artist. You can also check out Art Lab, our interactive art workshop, on Wednesdays and Sundays at 3:30 p.m. Finally, be on the look out for the artists who will be in residence at the Museum throughout the year. For the full interview and to learn more about the Artist-in-Residence program, visit BayKidsMuseum.org/artistinresidence.

2014 SPRING 12

March 1 – April 19 All shows on Saturdays at 11 a.m. Discovery Theatre Ages 6 months & up Members $5; General $16 (includes Museum admission)

Purchase tickets online at BayKidsMuseum.org/performances

The Tree and the Donkey Who Wanted To Sing with Cascada de Flores

March 1 In this bilingual program, Cascada de Flores tells the story of a donkey who dreamed of singing. It is filled with rhyme, clever acting, lovely music, fun instruments and sweet characters. www.cascadadeflores.com

Chris Molla and the Rolleos

March 22 The Rolleos are a family-friendly, folk-rock band formed by Chris Molla with his wife, Jessica and their daughter, Rosie. With their upbeat singing, playful lyrics and quirky instrumentation, their songs and melodies are infectious. www.fingerpaintmusic.com

13 SPRING 2014

The Adventures of Phineas McBoof with Dr. Noize Unplugged

Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show

March 8

Gustafer Yellowgold is a little yellow coneheaded fellow who traveled here from the sun—and the brainchild of musician/ artist Morgan Taylor. This show combines whimsical animation with live music and storytelling to create a wholly imaginative and creative experience. www.gustaferyellowgold.com

Doctor Noize is back with the latest adventure of the mischievous monkey, Phineas McBoof. With his guitar, his voice, his kazoo and his boundless energy, Doctor Noize inspires young audiences to be musicians and creators themselves. www.doctornoize.com

The Bug Family Band

March 29 The Bug Family Band plays tunes that get kids and former kids dancing, laughing and maybe even thinking. They combine great vocals with an array of instruments from guitar to ukulele to the glockenspiel. thebugfamily.tumblr.com

March 15

Arrr! Pirates Have Feelings, Too! with Rick Huddle

April 12 Set off on a pirate ship with comedianmusician Rick Huddle and get marooned on a desert island. We’ll sing shanties, swab the deck and come up with new answers to the age-old question, “What Would You Do with a Grumpy Sailor?” www.rickhuddle.com

BayKidsMuseum.org

performances & events

Saturday, April 19 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Join us for Earth Day as we create art with nature and recycled materials, sing and dance to the paid theatre performance by The Corner Laughers or free performance by Snail People, and catch a special story telling of wildlife adventures filled with respect and appreciation for Native culture. Together we’ll celebrate the natural beauty of our environment, and help children along the path to environmental stewardship.

Latest and Greatest Books membe

SAV E 10%

George Saves the World by Lunchtime

George, Flora and Grandpa demonstrate that by taking simple steps, families can become eco-friendly superheroes in their own communities. $10; Members $9

Snail People

The Corner Laughers Members $5; General $16 (Includes Museum admission) 11 a.m. Discovery Theatre

Free Performance 1 p.m. Festival Plaza

Steam Train, Dream Train

Earth Day is generously supported by

Donor and Grandparent Circle

Springtime Adventure Saturday, April 26, 3 p.m. We invite Donor and Grandparent Circle members to join us for our fifth annual Donor Circle Springtime Adventure. Our expert educators will lead the way as we explore the beach, play with sand and identify wildlife. Adults and children will have an opportunity to collaborate on building and designing boats made out of natural materials, which you can take home and enjoy.

From the creators of Goodnight, , Construction Site is a new bedtime book all about trains. Sweet (and silly) dreams are guaranteed for every train enthusiast. $16.99; Members $15.29

My Big Train Book With lots of words to read and pictures to talk about, this book is perfect for kids who love finding out about trains. $7.99; Members $6.19

Tyler Makes Spaghetti

Explore how food gets to your table. Take a trip around the world to find the ingredients for spaghetti and meatballs. $17.99; Members $16.20

To RSVP, contact Lea Wood at (415) 339-3952 or lwood@badm.org.

Visit the store anytime. No Museum admission required.

BayKidsMuseum.org

2014 SPRING 14

YOUR PURCHASE SUPPORTS THE MUSEUM

CREATIVITY FORUM 2014

creativity news

An Excerpt from

Shared Discoveries: Creativity Forum, the Museum’s premier thought leadership luncheon, puts the Museum’s mission into action by promoting creative thinking as a critical 21st century skill. On February 7, Tim Brown, CEO & President of IDEO, highlighted the demand for creative thinking in generating an innovative workforce. A podcast of Mr. Brown’s presentation is available on our website at BayKidsMuseum.org/Forum. Funds raised at the event support the Museum’s work in early childhood education, from on-site exhibitions, programs and community outreach to the CCC’s professional development and research initiatives.

The success of Creativity Forum was led by event co-chairs: Linda Chong, Board of Trustees Adrianne Yamaki, Board of Trustees Suzy Hyer, Discovery Council Amy Morgan, Discovery Council

A special thank you to our corporate sponsors: Adobe Credit Suisse Deutsche Bank Dodge & Cox Goldman Sachs Good Eggs Instacart Jawbone McKinsey & Company ScholarShare College Savings Plan Sensato Investors TPG UrbanSitter Wells Fargo

Positive Parent-Child Relationships and Child Development A Center for Childhood Creativity White Paper Helen Hadani, Ph.D., Author Stephanie Rafanelli, Contributor and Editor Elizabeth Rieke, Contributor and Editor Erica Fortescue, Project Advisor Sarah Kahle, Research Fellow Jonas Miller, Research Fellow Christine Carter, Ph.D., Academic Reviewer Mark A. Runco, Ph.D., Academic Reviewer This research was made possible by the generous support of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts

T HE RELATIONS HIP BETWEEN A PARENT A N D C H I L D HA S AN ENORMOUS IMPAC T ON EVERY A S P E C T O F T HE C HILD’S DEVELOPMENT. FROM THE VERY BE G I N N I N G , T HE TYPES OF S HARED EX PERIENC ES , AC TIV I TI E S , A N D B E HAVIORS THAT PARENTS AND C HILDREN EN G AG E I N TOGETHER S ET THE S TAGE FOR C HILDREN’S C O G N I TI VE , SOCI AL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT. Researchers from numerous fields including psychology, sociology and education have documented and investigated the impact of parent-child interactions beginning in infancy through adolescence and into early adulthood. The findings from this diverse body of research support the conventional wisdom that parents have a profound and enduring impact on their child’s development and path to success in school and beyond. Positive parent-child interactions — how parents and children communicate through language, shared experiences, and mutual discovery — powerfully influence how children learn, grow, and thrive. One of the most useful theoretical perspectives in this area is that of Lev Vygotsky. Vygotsky was one of the first 15 SPRING 2014

psychologists to view development as embedded in social context where much of development takes place through participation in shared activities. In contrast to most other major theories of

Positive parent-child interactions — how parents and children communicate through language, shared experiences and mutual discovery — powerfully influence how children learn, grow and thrive.

BayKidsMuseum.org

The CCC is the Bay Area Discovery Museum’s research-based educational platform.

development, sociocultural theories emphasize that development takes place through direct interactions with other people — parents, teachers, siblings, friends — who support and guide children’s cognitive and social activities.

creativity news

To foster cognitive development and learning:

A core principal in sociocultural theories is guided participation, a process in which a parent, teacher, or more knowledgeable individual organizes an activity in ways that allow children to participate at a higher level than they could manage on their own (Rogoff, 1990). Parents and children participate in these types of interactions in everyday activities such as putting together a puzzle, learning to ride a bike, and discovering how bees make honey. Children, most of the time, are the learner in these interactions, but they can also serve as the teacher. A related concept that we explore in this paper is shared participation (or shared discovery), which emphasizes the role of both the child and the parent in the learning and development process.

Ask your children lots of open-ended questions (e.g., “Why do you think that happened?”or “Is there another way to…?”) to stimulate conversations. That is, try to ask questions that have more than one answer. Instead of asking “What color is that truck?”, say, “Tell me about the truck that you are playing with.” Look for experiences that you can share with your child that allow for rich conversation, such as a visit to a museum, science center or park.

The three themes that emerged from the research are cognition and learning, informal learning environments and play, and social and emotional development. In this paper, we survey some of the most recent and noteworthy research in the following topic areas: language acquisition, motivation, executive function, academic engagement, freechoice learning and informal science environments, play, prosocial behavior, peer relationships and emotion regulation.

To nurture children’s social and emotional development:

To read the entire paper, please visit CenterforChildhoodCreativity.org/ research.

For more recommendations, please visit CenterforChildhoodCreativity.org/research

BayKidsMuseum.org

To support children’s free-choice learning and play: When visiting the Museum as a family, engage in rich conversation with your child about what they are observing, feeling and thinking. Provide opportunities for them to become immersed in an exploration that is driven by their own interests.

Try explicitly bringing emotion into conversations with your child as you read picture books or discuss the day. Develop a relationship with your children in which children feel that they can rely on you when they need you. Children’s perception of their relationship with their parents often serves as a model for how they learn to interact with others.

2014 SPRING 16

connections update

2014

Heather Miller, Connections Manager

CONNECTIONS PARTNERS

Launched in 2008, Connections is a comprehensive partnership program which creates sustainable relationships between the Museum and the diverse communities of the Bay Area.

CONNECTIONS AT THE MUSEUM Through the generous support of our sponsors, the Museum provides free transportation and admission for partner preschools to visit five times annually. Children, together with their teachers and parents, experience child-directed play in our immersive exhibitions. During field trips, Museum educators deliver a series of hands-on programs with a special emphasis on scientific inquiry and nature exploration.

CONNECTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY Connections’ reach extends far beyond the Museum’s physical location. Our dedicated Connections staff travels to all 35 partner preschools to build relationships and support our partners throughout the year. We visit children in their classrooms, provide professional development for teachers, facilitate play workshops for parent and collaborate with preschool directors and supervisors.

WHO ARE THE CONNECTIONS PARTNERS? The Connections partnership network is comprised of subsidized preschools in San Francisco, Contra Costa and Marin counties. Preschools in the Connections program serve a high proportion of low-income families and children of color, recent immigrants, and English-language learners. The Museum has chosen to work with preschools that have a strong practice of family involvement and an ability to commit to multi-year partnerships.

THE CONNECTIONS PROGRAM IS MORE THAN JUST FIELD TRIPS FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. Through Connections, early childhood educators and Museum staff form authentic long-term relationships. The aim is that through our partnership we work together to improve learning opportunities for families with young children throughout the Bay Area. Our goals are to enrich learning opportunities in subsidized preschools and increase access to the Museum for children and families. Today, the first Connections children are completing third grade. To date Connections has served close to 5,000 children and their families. In the 2013-2014 school year we anticipate providing close to 9,000 unique field trip visits and over 1,200 hours of outreach to Novato, North Richmond, the Bayview district of San Francisco and neighborhoods in between. After six years, we have come so far and yet this work has only just begun. In spring of 2014, the Museum will renew our multi-year commitment with the subsidized preschools with whom we partner because we can’t afford not to invest in early childhood when the capacity to ignite and advance creative thinking is greatest. Learn more at BayKidsMuseum.org/connections.

Thank You Since its founding, the Connections Program has been generously supported by the following: Ernst & Young Foundation Gap Inc. JPMorgan Chase & Co. Macy’s Anonymous Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation Fullerton Family Foundation James Family Foundation Kreitzberg Family Foundation Mimi and Peter Haas Fund

The San Francisco Foundation Thomas J. Long Foundation The Bernard Osher Foundation Irene S. Scully Family Foundation Silicon Valley Community Foundation Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation Dean Witter Foundation Southern Marin Mothers Club Charles Slaughter and Molly West

Donate today. Contact Brandy Vause, Director of Development and Engagement at (415) 339-3956

17 SPRING 2014

1 MARIN Marin Head Start San Pedro Marin Head Start Hamilton Marin Head Start Greenfield Marin Head Start Bahia Vista Marin Head Start Bayside/MLK Marin Head Start Lynwood Hamilton Children’s Center Novato Children’s Center Old Gallina’s Children’s Center Canal Child Care Center 2 CONTRA COSTA George Miller III Head Start Las Deltas Head Start Brookside Head Start 3 SAN FRANCISCO Cross Cultural Family Center Marcus Garvey Cross Cultural Family Center Richmond Cross Cultural Family Center Turk Cross Cultural Family Center Leland Cross Cultural Family Center Tucker Yerba Buena Gardens Child Development Center Judith Baker Child Development Center FranDelJa Enrichment Center Good Samaritan Family Resource Center Compass Children’s Center Excelsior Guadalupe Early Education School Bret Harte Early Education School Las Americas Early Education School Wu Yee Golden Gate Wu Yee Generations Wu Yee New Generations Wu Yee Lok Yuen BayKidsMuseum.org

council corner & exhibitions

Council Corner We’re so excited to have Kristen Frank Chaudhry co-chair Playdate, our largest fundraiser of the year, we decided to spend a few moments to catch up… Kristin is excited for Playdate and so much more:

Why did you get involved with the Discovery Council?

What’s your family looking forward to at the Museum in 2014?

I joined the Council three years ago because a close friend had been volunteering as a Council member and loved it. The Council is a perfect balance for me; I meet other moms with similar interests and raise money for an incredible place that my children love. And, as a former teacher, early childhood education is deeply personal for me.

My whole family is excited for the Museum’s special exhibit: Super Kids Save the World. The exhibit is based on the book George Saves the World by Lunchtime and encourages children to become good stewards of the environment. The environment and energy conservation are very important issues for our family. My husband works at Opower, a company that helps utility providers around the world to promote energy efficiency — they’re an exhibit sponsor.

Of all the organizations you can support in the Bay Area, you chose the Museum, why? The Museum’s focus on education and hands-on exploration has really benefitted my children. And, I see the impact the Museum has on the broader Bay Area community. Last year 54,000 children and families from underserved communities visited the Museum. When friends and family visit the Bay Area, I always put the Museum on my list of ‘must sees’!

Super Kids Save the World! Soars away on Sunday, May 4 Super Kids Save the World gives kids (and their parents) the power to go green! Designed with “green” materials and practices, this super exhibit givers kids real superhero training starting with the four R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle! Support for this exhibition generously provided by:

Katie & James Rothschild

This extract is from George Saves the World by Lunchtime, by Jo Readman and Ley Honor Roberts. Reprinted by permission of The Random House Group Ltd. Text copyright © Jo Readman, 2006. Illustrations copyright © Ley Honor Roberts, 2006. Photographs copyright © Eden Project with thanks to Ley Honor Roberts, Bernie Hawes, Dan Ryan and Glen Leishman. Glass and Newsprint photographs reproduced by kind permission of Rockware Glass and Ayesford Newsprint respectively. All rights reserved. Super Kids Save the World is a hands-on traveling exhibit created by The Magic House and made possible by a grant from the Crawford Taylor Foundation and Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

New Special Exhibition May 24 – September 8

Featured in the New York Times, this hands-on exhibit contains more than 200 objects that will spark children’s curiosity and problem solving skills as they learn about how every-day things work. Broken? Fix it! was developed by the Long Island Children’s Museum with the support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Broken? Fix it! VIP Opening Party Saturday, May 24, 8 – 10 a.m.

The Museum is opening an hour early for Supporting and Discovery Circle members to celebrate the opening of our exciting new exhibition, Broken? Fix it! Along with special access to the Museum and new exhibition, guests will enjoy special programming, activities and breakfast. Space is limited so please RSVP to Lauren Cooper, Membership Manager at lcooper@badm.org or by calling (415)339-3954. Interested in special events like these but not a Supporting or Discovery Circle member? Upgrade your membership today by contacting the Membership department at (415)339-3954. Upgrade online at BayKidsMuseum.org/join.

NON-PROFIT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID OAKLAND, CA PERMIT NO 259

Fort Baker 557 McReynolds Road Sausalito, CA 94965 BayKidsMuseum.org

Birthday Parties at the Bay Area Discovery Museum Let us take care of all the details and the clean-up!

BayKidsMuseum.org/birthdays

Enjoy Bean Sproutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; yummy good-for-you food at your next party. Ask about our HapPEA Birthday Cooking Add-on!

Prefer r Museu ed Catere m r Bir thd for a Pa r t i e y s