Prestigious Grant Awarded to Bay Area Discovery Museum's Center for Childhood Creativity Aims to Improve Early Childhood Education

The Center for Childhood Creativity (CCC), the research arm of the Bay Area Discovery Museum, has been awarded a prestigious grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The $149,991 award will allow the CCC to train California pre-K and K-5 teachers in immersive, interactive and research-based professional development to bridge the divide between the latest brain research on how children learn, and education practice. In addition, the funding will allow the Museum and the Center to serve 250 teachers each year from Title 1 schools who have fewer resources to invest in professional development.

The CCC's professional development programs are immersive, multi-day experiences that help teachers transform their practice at a deep and lasting level. The programs support classroom practices that promote foundational skills for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), the inquiry-based learning process, and creative thinking as a fundamental 21st century skill. Through this professional development, teachers will learn the skills needed to create classrooms characterized by deep, highly engaged teaching and learning, and aligned to the expectations of Common Core and Next Generation Science Standards.

"We are excited to receive this grant in recognition of our work to bring the latest research to educators on how young minds develop and learn, in a format that is not about a particular curriculum, but rather enhances pedagogical delivery across all subjects," said Karyn Flynn, CEO and Executive Director. "The CCC's work with educators is critical to activating our mission to ignite and advance creative thinking for all children."

Widespread adoption of the Common Core curriculum has the potential to improve educational outcomes for all children. Training is critical since educators exhibit strong support for Common Core standards, yet less than a third of teachers polled say they have received support and training from their districts to teach the new standards (American Federation of Teachers, 2013).

Educators can learn more about the CCC and professional development opportunities at http://www.centerforchildhoodcreativity.org/workshops-events.

About Bay Area Discovery Museum
Creative thinking begins early in every child's life. It enables original thought and the ability to see solutions where others don't. It unlocks possibilities and fosters innovation. It provides the fundamental building blocks for success in school and beyond.

The Bay Area Discovery Museum is designed to ignite creative thinking in children. The 7.5 acres of natural beauty inspires families to engage in a world of possibilities. Framed by the majestic backdrop of the Golden Gate Bridge, the museum is a space for imaginations to run wild. Every curated detail of our exhibits brings creative thinking to life for all stages of childhood. Navigate winding tunnels to develop physical and intellectual risk-taking skills. Feel the rush of cold-water tide pools that surprise and awaken curiosity. Imagine new worlds by transforming into a spider, a ship captain, or a bridge builder. At every turn is a new opportunity to challenge the boundaries of creativity.

Now we are taking these experiences beyond our physical location. We launched the Center for Childhood Creativity in 2011 to pioneer new research, thought-leadership, and teacher training programs that advance creative thinking in all children-extending our impact beyond the Museum.

Our mission: To ignite and advance creative thinking for all children.