Leslie, The Guelph Civic Museum in Ontario is currently developing a small children's discovery room, which will open sometime in the fall, I believe. I am not sure of the email address, but the curator's name is Val Harrison. I am sorry that I can't provide you with any first hand information, as I have not yet been involved with the development of children's discovery rooms. However, this is something that I will potentially be involved with next year, and I would love to get a copy of the results of your query. Good luck. Cheers, Heather MacDonald The Canadian Canoe Museum [log in to unmask] www.canoemuseum.net >From: Leslie Brown <[log in to unmask]> >Reply-To: Museum discussion list <[log in to unmask]> >To: [log in to unmask] >Subject: HANDS-ON Children's Discovery Rooms >Date: Fri, 23 Jun 2000 10:58:21 -0400 > >Greetings Museum-L People- > >We need your help! > >The subject of hands-on children’s discovery rooms has >come up often on Museum-L. I am interested in gathering >information concerning these ventures. Below you will >find a * short * questionnaire that can be responded to, > either to me or as a post to Museum-L. The questions >deal with general issues, but below you can find a >description of my specific project. I know by the >popularity of this subject that this will prove to >be useful information for many. > >If would like to see the results of this (besides >seeing it on Museum-L and the archives), I would be >happy to send you a copy. > >1.) Realistically, what was the time frame for the >whole project—from initial idea to implementation? > >2.) Was you room funded by your museum? An Outside >Source? A Grant? An individual? > >3.) What was the general cost range of the whole project? > >4.) Did you seek the help of (or did you use) an outside >designer? If so, what were the advantages or disadvantages >of outside assistance? > >5.) Do you have any specific recommendations from your >experience concerning security and/or stocking of supplies? >For example, do you have a staff member or volunteer present >at all times? > >6.) I have seen many discovery rooms that use one work (or >item) as jumping off points to address larger issues. (For >example: using a piece in your collection, such as an Andy >Warhol, to explain what POP art is.) If this is how you >have structured your room, how, specifically, do you direct >children to the actual object? > >7.) Is your room “High tech” or “Low tech” and what are >the benefits of each? > >8.) Did you have an activity that looked fabulous on >paper, but was not successful in reality? In retrospect, >what would you have done differently? > >Thank you so much for your time and expertise. > >Cheekwood is located in Nashville, TN and is both a museum >and a botanical garden. We have a relatively small room in >which we would like to create 4-5 “stations” centered around >a painting from our collection, a decorative art, an outdoor >sculpture, and a garden. We would also like to have a “make-it >take-it” table for children to do art projects. > >Leslie Brown >Assistant Curator of Education >Cheekwood Museum of Art >1200 Forrest Park Drive >Nashville, TN 37205 >www.cheekwood.org >[log in to unmask] >615.356.3519 > >========================================================Important >Subscriber Information: > >The Museum-L FAQ file is located at >http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed >information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail >message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should >read "help" (without the quotes). > >If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to >[log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff >Museum-L" (without the quotes). ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).