Traveling Exhibits Program Awarded $146,000 Grant
The SD Discovery Center and its partner, the SD State Library, have been awarded nearly $146,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America program.
The funding will support continuation and expansion of a traveling exhibit program entitled Hands-on Partnership for Science, Literature and Art in South Dakota (HOP). HOP was formed with a prior IMLS grant to increase access to science and art experiences for the children and families of the rural and reservation communities in South Dakota. The SD Discovery Center (SDDC), the Dahl Arts Center, the State Library, SD School of Mines & Technology and Rawlins Municipal Library created this partnership in which each organization shared their expertise in the development of hands-on exhibitions that featured hands-on science content, real art and art appreciation experiences and literature that was a natural spark to science and art extensions.
Currently HOP features four traveling exhibits: Light & Color, Dinostories, Animals as Architects, and Bug's Eye View. The exhibits were designed by and purchased used from the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry - a world leader in the hands-on science exhibit industry. The new grant funds will allow the addition of at least one more exhibit.
"A new exhibit is needed." Says Kathleen Slocum, project coordinator. "The current exhibits are almost completely booked through July of 2008 and other libraries would like exhibits if we had more." Slocum adds that the exhibits are so popular with librarians because they are increasing attendance, expanding programming and increasing circulation during their community visits.
Each exhibit is accompanied by a science, an art and a literature teaching kit. The literature kits host collections of books in a wide-variety of genres plus other items to enhance the telling of the stories. These books are the launch pads for extension activities that are included in the art and science kits. Each art kit includes authentic works of art. The activities allow the students to create their own art inspired by the theme. Additionally, books on artists, art collections, art history and "how-to's" are included to expose the students to even more art inspiration. The science kits provide hands-on science experiments and activities that feed curiosity ignited by the exhibits. The new funding will be used to streamline the activities in the kits for ease of use, to link them to content standards and to create kits for any new exhibits.
Local volunteers make this program work, says Kristie Maher, executive director of the SD Discovery Center. To control program costs, the upcoming host of the exhibit sends a volunteer to pick-up the exhibit from its prior location. The volunteers then set-up the exhibits in the library. Some teach programs from the kits. Then, at the end of the month, they help pack the exhibit back up for the next community.
This program was designed in response to "No Child Left Behind". With the stronger emphasis and much more time spent on reading and math, schools are taking less field trips to places such as science and art centers.
"We decided to bring science and art to them." Says Maher. Libraries were selected as a target location because they exist in most communities, serves families in an education way and have a central organizing system through the State Library. The State Library has been critical to the success of the program.
The project was designed to model ways that the community organizations and volunteers can help provide a well-rounded education for their kids. And, to let parents know that science and art centers are great places to bring their children to.
"It's working." Say Maher. "Some libraries are creating annual "science months", some report doing more science and art activities with books even after the exhibits leave, and, the science center has gotten visitors from some of the towns that have hosted exhibits." To learn more about the HOP, visit the website at www.hop-sd.org. To learn more about the SD Discovery Center, go to www.sd-discovery.com.