Curiosity Corner - Bristol

Curiosity
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
REMIT #242
BRISTOL CT
Corner
One Pleasant Street
Bristol, CT 06010
Summer 2015
Imagine Learning
Bright Logic Floor
Butterfly Garden
Air Tunnel
This summer, reacquaint yourself and the children in your life with the
power of tactile interactions with nature. Stand outdoors on a rainy day to
feel the raindrops on your faces. Walk barefoot through wet grass and
mud. Use your hands to dig in sand, warm to the touch on the surface,
then cooler the deeper you dig. There are an infinite number of learning
opportunities for children when exploring the natural world.
We know that sensory stimulation plays a critical role in brain
development. “Research in neuroscience and social science confirms that
our identity develops from our experiences of the environment as well as our
genetic history. We develop our senses and cognitive abilities through
interaction with our environment…each sense activating other senses…As a
result, the child’s environment cannot be seen just as a context for learning
or a passive setting for activities; it is an integral part of learning and helps
define their identity.” (Zini, 2005, p. 22)
Citizenship
Museum Open:
Summer
Hours
Thank
You!
Open
Enrollment
Tuesday-Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm (7/7-8/18)
Sunday 11:00am-5:00pm
Museum Closed: Saturday, July 4th
Monday, August 24th - Sunday, August 30th
(Annual shutdown week)
Early Learning Center Closed: Friday, July 3rd
Monday, August 24th - Friday, August 28th
We would like to thank the J. Walton Bissell Foundation for its generous
support and thoughtful investment to the museum and helping to inspire
children with tangible, interactive learning experiences. As a non-profit
organization Imagine Nation is grateful for broad-based community
support. Generous donations from corporations, public agencies,
foundations and individuals provide funding for outreach programs,
operations, studios, and education programs.
Attention Bristol Residents! Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning
Center has a full-day, full-year, NAEYC accredited School Readiness
preschool program. Spaces will be available as our graduates move on to
kindergarten. Call 860-582-1480 for more information. An annual family
membership for the museum is FREE with enrollment.
Of course, with nature play there may be splinters, scratches, bumps and
bruises. Assessing the environment for safety concerns beyond these
common and typical occurrences is important. Play safe and have fun!
Celebrate
Imagine the fun you’ll have celebrating your child’s birthday at Imagine Nation!
Cool off indoors in our air conditioned private party room or at our nostalgic
1940’s soda fountain. Add on a special program: Animal Encounter, Bubble Fun
or Gobs of Goop.
New this summer – Luau & Tie Dye themed
birthday parties in our Outdoor Learning
Park. Cool off in our water play area.
Book today! For details contact:
860-540-3164 or [email protected]
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center is a division of the Boys & Girls Club of Bristol
Family Center
Interactions
July
Wednesday, 1st: Imagination Playground Build-A-Thon Day
10:00am-4:00pm
As a Partner in Play we have an abundance of blocks to let your creativity loose on.
To enter, send a photo of your build. For more information visit
www.imaginationplayground/build-a-thon.html
Friday, 3rd: Patriotic Day
9:30am-5:00pm
“Bristol Shows Its Colors” with American flag weaving honoring Betsy Ross as well as
With art provocations and ongoing activities throughout the summer.
Saturday, 4th: Independence Day
Closed
Tuesday, 7th: Extreme Ice Cream Day
9:30am-5:00pm
July is National Ice Cream Month. Enjoy a single scoop sugar cone
for $1.00 or order our special extreme ice cream treat. Create
ice cream inspired art and make your way through our
“Carry the Cone Challenge”.
Sunday, 12th: Sensory Sunday
10:00-11:00am
An hour prior to public hours, just for children with special needs and their families.
Tuesday, 21st: Bounty of Blueberries
10:00am & 11:00am
Bristol Pediatric Center is a participating practice of ProHealth Physicians. Together they’re offering this
Healthy Me program. Learn to select, store and prepare blueberries. Enjoy creating and tasting a fresh treat.
Friday, 24th: Family Fun Night (IN Member Event)
5:00-7:00pm
Pack up your pirate gear, chairs, blankets and some grub if you like. Join us
for merry making as part of the Picaroon Princess Crew! We’ll sing songs as
we sail the high seas alongside the captain, first mate and purser.
Grub will also be available to purchase from food trucks parked on site.
$10/family (up to four people, $3/extra person).
Reservation required.
Summer Workshop Series 10-11:30am & 12:30-2pm
Ages 3-8
$10/child/workshop (museum admission is additional). Adult must be on site, participation is optional.
Workshops encourage and support literacy, music, science and art. Registration required.
Thursday, 9th: Insect Mania – Investigate the unique characteristics of insects as we hover, hiss and hop.
Tuesday, 14th: Pack Your Passport – Travel the world, see amazing sights, make music and learn a dance.
Thursday, 16th: Mask Makers – Celebrate cultures through the art of making masks.
Thursday, 23rd: Cupcake Ala Mode – Bake a healthy treat and top it off with hand-made ice cream.
Tuesday, 28th: Clay Play – Using authentic clay tools, learn to seam, score, smooth and vent your sculpture.
Thursday, 30th: Mobile Masters – Manipulate wire and assorted materials into a free-hanging work of art.
August
Wednesday, 5th: Imagination Playground Build-A-Thon Day
Read Interactions for July 1st for details.
10:00am-4:00pm
Saturday, 8th: Wacky Water Day
9:30am-5:00pm
Get wet and wacky in the water all day long in our outdoor learning park.
Sunday, 9th: Sensory Sunday
10:00-11:00am
An hour prior to public hours, just for children with special needs and their families.
Wednesday, 12th: Achievement Day (INELC Event)
The culmination to a year of inquisitive and imaginative learning.
6:00-8:00pm
Thursday, 13th: Meet The Author
10:00am-12:00pm
Author, Donna LeBlanc will join us to share book one of Explorations of Commander Josh
“In Space”. Four story sessions will take place, one half hour each.
Saturday, 15th: Kids Zone at Rockwell Park Festival
10:00am-4:00pm
Join staff, volunteers and community partners for family fun outdoors with an obstacle
course, art station, activities and games. Sponsored by Liberty Bank. The museum is also
open 9:30am-5:00pm this day.
Wednesday, 19th: Field Day Jump & Jam
11:00am-2:00pm
Head outdoors for field day, complete with a bounce house, games, activities and face painting.
Free for members. $5/person non-members. Museum admission is not included.
Summer Workshop Series 10-11:30am & 12:30-2pm
Ages 3-8
$10/child/workshop (museum admission is additional). Adult must be on site, participation is optional.
Workshops encourage and support literacy, music, science and art. Registration required.
Thursday, 6th: Pond Pals – Experience water play as we investigate life in and around a pond.
Tuesday, 11th: Puppetry – Design a character, create a story and perform the leading role.
Friday, 15th: Creative Costumes – Who are you? Tell a story through the costume of your character.
Tuesday, 18th: Push, Pull Power – Test your muscle strength through exercises and moving objects.
Friday, 21st: Great Chefs – In chef hats and aprons, you’re ready to prepare, cook and enjoy pizza kebabs.
Monday, 24th-Sunday, 30th: Annual Shutdown Week
Closed
Refresh, renew, revitalize…that’s our mission throughout this week. Staff sets to work on
messy projects and attends to details in classrooms and museum studios. The Early Learning
Center re-opens Monday, August 31st. The Museum re-opens Wednesday, September 2nd.
September
Monday, 7th: Labor Day
Closed
Sunday, 13th: Sensory Sunday
10:00-11:00am
An hour prior to public hours, just for children with special needs and their families.
Friday, 18th: Imagine Nation’s 11th Birthday Celebration
10:00am-12:00pm
Enjoy entertainment, make a birthday hat, decorate a cupcake and take home a balloon.
Thursday, 24th: Bring Your Family To School Day (INELC event) 9:00-11:30am
Visit your child’s classroom and participate in the Parent Advocacy Lunch (PAC)
Extended Learning – Connecting at Home
Try this
at home!
Patterns in Nature
Investigate the world around by looking for patterns
in everyday objects. Do you recognize the image to
the right? If you said Kiwi you are right. What other
fruits do you eat that have a pattern when cut in half?
Does cutting it in different directions change what
you see? Experiment and record your findings.
Inspiration
Information
Imagine Nation
A Museum
Early Learning Center
One Pleasant Street
Bristol, CT 06010
“We value space, to create a handsome environment and its potential to
inspire social, affective, and cognitive learning. The space is an aquarium
that mirrors the ideas and values of the people who live in it.”
Loris Malaguzzi, founder of the Reggio-Emilia educational philosophy.
“The environment as the third teacher” is a phrase often used to describe
the set up and display of materials used for learning, as well as the
distinctive Reggio-Emilia inspired aesthetic, color palette, and use of
unique natural and found materials. The use of natural light, focused light,
light tables, digital images, and technology in this educational approach
helps foster curiosity, investigation, and creativity in children. Enhancing
the use of light with reflective surfaces helps children see things in different
perspectives and allows for experimentation with light, shape, shadow,
distortion, reflection and color.
Our “Light and Reflection Studio” is one of the newest museum spaces
under development. Exploring materials such as clear Legos on a light
table or a light cube gives a whole new experience to building! Looking at
themselves in a curved mirror makes children wonder why their images
are different than when they
look in a traditional mirror.
Climbing through a mirrored
triangle causes children to
look up and around at
multiple reflections of
themselves. Looking into a
giant kaleidoscope makes
shapes, colors, and patterns
come alive in a way that
causes children to wonder,
“How does that work?”
Coming this summer to our Light and Reflection studio is a collection of
Hand-held kaleidoscopes and an interactive light floor!
Mission Statement
Imagine Nation, A Museum Early Learning Center is committed to the
development of inquisitive and imaginative life-long learners. Our unique
environment inspires young children and families to investigate tangible,
interactive learning experiences. The Imagine Nation community
encourages and supports curiosity, critical thinking, creativity,
confidence and citizenship.
Museum
Imaginenation.org
860-314-1400
Hours:
Wednesday-Saturday
9:30am-5:00pm
Sunday
11:00am-5:00pm
Early Learning Center
Togetherwenurture.com
860-582-1480
Hours:
Monday-Friday
6:30am-6:00pm
Additional Information:
Administration
Coral Richardson ext. 180
Doreen Stickney ext. 160
Sara Castle ext. 179
Admission & Membership
Reception ext. 199
Birthdays & Celebrations
Rentals ext. 164
Early Learning Center
Registration ext. 179
Education & Group Visits
Coordinator ext. 163
Volunteer Opportunities
Operations ext. 161
Keep Connected
Integration
Early Learning Center
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Serving Infant/Toddler & Preschool age children
NAEYC accredited & school readiness program
Enrollment includes annual museum membership
Parent Advocacy Council (PAC) to enhance parent involvement, communication & collaboration
Membership
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Annual family membership includes two adults and all children in the household under age 12
Invitations to exclusive member only events
Caregiver/Grandparent add-on available at an additional cost
Reduced pricing for special programs and events, and 10% discount in our gift shop
Self-Discovery Field Trips
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Students and chaperones enjoy self-guided exploration
Ten studios on three floors with interactive exhibits meeting NAEYC and CT-ELDS standards
Available Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am-4pm (groups under 50 students)
Available Tuesdays 9:30am-2pm (groups over 50 students)
Lab Workshops
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30 minutes in length, they may be added to a self-discovery field trip
Content appropriate for Pre-Kindergarten through 2nd grade
Designed using the universal standards in quality set forth by NAEYC & CT-ELDS
Additional cost per student applies
Outreach Workshops
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Bring the same great content as our Lab Workshops right into your classroom
Available Monday-Friday 9:30am-4pm
Soda Fountain
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Vintage 1940’s soda fountain open to the public and does not require museum admission
Serving ice cream, hot & cold kids lunch selections, beverages & snacks
Indoor & outdoor seating available
Museum Rentals & Birthday Celebrations
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Rent the museum for special occasions such as weddings, showers, receptions and meetings
Celebrate your child’s birthday with our Museum Madness, Soda Fountain or Outdoor party
Contact: 860-540-3164 or birthdays @imaginemuseum.org
Volunteers
Imagine Nation is looking for energetic people who want to make a difference. We offer college credit
internships and accept volunteers age thirteen to adult looking to build their resume, give back to their
community or complete volunteer requirements. Volunteers may interact with visitors, assist educators,
perform clerical duties and prepare for special events. For more information contact 860-540-3161.