FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Lynda LeVan, 423-648-6043, lhl@cdmfun.org
Director of External Affairs
Preschoolers Give Pennies Valuable Purpose at Creative Discovery Museum
(July 13, 2010) – Preschoolers from Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool learned pennies are valuable through a service learning project to benefit the international program, Pennies for Peace, and help other children around the world. Preschoolers, parents, and teachers gathered at Creative Discovery Museum on Monday evening to deposit an impressive 42,503 pennies donated during the spring campaign.
When Creative Discovery Museum learned of Highland Plaza’s penny campaign, a collaboration was quickly formed. The Museum initiated a penny project in 2008 with the opening of its Helping Hands exhibit. The Museum’s goal is to collect one million pennies ($10,000) to be given to Pennies for Peace, an organization that funds education for children in Afghanistan and Pakistan. A space has been designated within the Museum so children can see the collection grow. Children and families have an opportunity to experience the joy of giving and better understand how even a little can mean a lot to help others around the world. In Afghanistan and Pakistan a penny will buy a pencil and one million pennies will fund a school for 2 years. Highland Plaza Preschool and the Museum viewed combining their efforts as a natural fit.
The addition of the preschoolers’ donation increased the Museum’s collection by nearly 30%.
“We believe that it is important for children to know that, small as they are, they can still make a difference in the world,” stated Vicky Flessner, director of Highland Plaza United Methodist Preschool. “While a total understanding of this concept may be a ways off, we believe that by participating in service learning projects we are laying the foundation for compassionate attitudes and giving hearts.”
Highland Plaza Preschoolers were inspired to pursue the penny campaign based on a new book in their library, Listen to the Wind. Diane Winne and Jennifer Lehman, two of the Preschool’s moms, designed curriculum around the book and the Pennies for Peace Program to help the preschool learn about how children in other countries may not be able to go to school or pay for the necessary supplies, such as pencils and paper. The children had an opportunity to share what they learned during a question and answer session at Monday’s celebration.
“It is always a thrill to see children, especially at this early age, relate to each other through even the simplest needs,” stated Dr. Jayne Griffin, the Museum’s Director of Education. “It’s exciting to see their joy in giving to those who have less and knowing that what they’ve been a part of is special.”
In conjunction with the penny collection, the preschoolers studied the illustrations in their story of inspiration, Listen to the Wind. They designed a large collage made up of scraps and bits of found materials, helping to reinforce the message that the people in other parts of the world must use all the tools and resources available to them. The theme for the collage is Korphe, Pakistan, the setting for the book. The geography of Korphe mirrors Chattanooga’s mountains, river, and fruit trees.
“This experience gave our boys and girls an opportunity to learn about a new language of art and to work all together to make something beautiful and meaningful,” said Flessner. The student’s collage is currently on display in the Museum’s Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union Student Art Gallery along with photos documenting its construction.
Light snacks and peppermint tea, as well as time to play in the Museum, were additional highlights for all the celebration’s participants.
About Creative Discovery Museum
Creative Discovery Museum is open Mon-Sat: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun: noon-5 p.m. 321 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. Creative Discovery Museum is recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the nation. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to educational enrichment for children age’s 4-months to 12-years-old through interactive, hands-on experiences that foster creative and critical thinking. Creative Discovery Museum focuses on a broad range of areas encompassed by Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Technology and the Sciences. In addition to its exhibits, Creative Discovery Museum provides local residents and visitors with special events, educational programming, teacher resources for the classroom, field trips, after school programming, early childhood education classes, artist residencies, camps, art lessons, science demonstrations, and a branch of the local library. Creative Discovery Museum is a funded agency of Allied Arts and Tennessee Arts Commission and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Summer Hours, June 20-August 15. The Museum will be open every day (Monday through Sunday) from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning June 20. Regular hours will resume on Monday, August 16.
Tickets: $10.95 for children and adults. 321 Chestnut Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402. For more information, call (423) 756-2738, or visit www.cdmfun.org.
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