ECGRA and Lead Asset expERIEnce Children's Museum Unveil Mural and Expanded PreK Curriculum
ECGRA and ECM unveiled a whimsical woodland-inspired mural in the all-new Tot Spot of the museum’s lower level. The mural is now serving as an interactive learning tool for 12 new educational components created for toddlers and preschoolers by the museum’s education and volunteer coordinator, Tami Fowler. The first new class, “Counting on Fall,” debuted to children ages 2-5 and their caregivers today at 10:30 a.m.
Using the mural’s fun features and inspirational animal residents, the new curriculum will practice children’s age-appropriate skills, including motor, math, literacy, listening, speaking, and problem-solving, while instilling the appreciation of art and nature. “Counting on Fall” taught counting, number, color, and letter recognition, simple addition, and number placement all using features found in the original mural created by local artist Heather Cash, www.HeatherCash.com.
ExpERIEnce Children’s Museum Executive Director Ainslie Brosig said, “At the museum, we inspire kids and their caregivers to create, explore, imagine, and play every day. Our woodland mural, paid for with a portion of our Lead Asset funds, is exciting to young eyes and perfect for small hands. Most importantly, Tami’s accompanying curriculum is a fun and attractive tool for expanding little minds.”
In July 2014, ECGRA invested $14,037 in expERIEnce Children’s Museum and has invested $98,261 in the organization since ECM was designated a Lead Asset. In 2011, ECGRA named expERIEnce Children’s Museum alongside eight other Erie County Lead Assets: Erie Art Museum, Erie Arts & Culture, Erie County Historical Society, Erie Philharmonic, Erie Playhouse, Erie Zoological Society, Flagship Niagara League, and Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture. Recognized and funded for their critical economic development role in our community, these leading arts, cultural, and heritage organizations have collectively received $10,804,918 in grant and endowment funding.
ECGRA Executive Director Perry Wood said, “Ainslie and her team have created a solid curriculum that will enhance kids’ early learning, inspire a love for arts and culture, and encourage creativity. This educational mural is an investment in Erie’s next generation of leaders and philanthropists—we’re very proud to fund it.”
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