<back

Press Releases

CHICAGO CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AWARDED NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRANT

CHICAGO, July 2005 - The relationship between play, learning and adult involvement will be studied and enjoyed at Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) on Chicago's Navy Pier, thanks to a  $1.6 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) that will go towards an expansion of the popular Under Construction exhibit. CityScape, a 2,500 sq. ft. permanent exhibit, will reflect the Chicago skyline and will help visitors make the connections between their building activity and the engineering that goes into creating a major skyscraper. This is the first NFS grant awarded to CCM in ten years.

"This project will develop a culturally-sensitive exhibit and program design for increasing adult involvement in children's learning from which the entire field should benefit," said Dr. David Ucko, Head, Informal Science Education Section for the National Science Foundation.  "It also will explore the potential of visual documentation of learning through play and show how exhibition design can serve as a platform for museum-learning research."

"We think families and school groups will love this exhibit because it will give children and adults a chance to build structures while being inspired by Chicago's marvelous skyline," said CCM President and CEO, Peter England.  "CityScape is another example of CCM putting into practice what we have learned from our new Standards of Excellence in Early Childhood; that it is critical to position parents and caregivers as active participants in the museum experience."
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare. It's $63 million informal Science Education program invests in innovative projects that develop exhibitions, television and radio series, and educational programs designed to increase interest, engagement and understanding of science and engineering by people of all ages and backgrounds.

The exhibition and accompanying materials have the potential to serve 1.8 million people in the next three years. In addition, CCM also will create a partnership of 20 museums and science centers based on parent involvement in children's museum experiences.

About Chicago Children's Museum
Chicago Children's Museum (CCM) is a non-profit organization committed to creating a community where play and learning connect. With over fifteen interactive exhibits like The Allstate Foundation presents Play It Safe and new activities daily, every visit is unique for parents, caregivers, educators and children from toddlers-to 10 years old.

CCM is open Sunday-Wednesday, Friday, 10:00am - 5:00pm; Thursday and Saturday, 10:00am -8:00pm. Admission is $7 per person; $6 for seniors and free for museum members and children under 1 year old. On Thursday evenings from 5:00pm-8:00pm, admission is free during Kraft Free Family Night. During Target Free First Mondays, admission is free for children 15 years and younger the first Monday of every month.

Located at Navy Pier, Chicago's number one attraction at 700 East Grand Avenue, CCM is the final stop for CTA buses #29, #65, #66, and #124.

top