March 2006 Volume 2, Issue 7

TCNJ welcomes children's mini-museum to campus

KidsbridgeOn March 29, The College of New Jersey officially opened its doors to Kidsbridge, a mini-museum “learning lab” located on the first floor of Forcina Hall, welcoming a cutting-edge partnership between the College and Kidsbridge Children's Museum that will immerse elementary school children, undergraduate education majors and their education professors in diversity appreciation and character education.

The Kidsbridge exhibit, “Face to Face: Dealing with Prejudice and Discrimination,” closely integrates elementary school students and teachers from various districts in diverse Mercer County, college students across several disciplines, and innovative faculty members. The award-winning exhibit was originally created at the Chicago Children’s Museum, and now in Ewing plans to reach more than 1,000 children, 200 parents and guardians, 100 college undergraduates, community volunteers and other partners in the greater Mercer County community in 2006.

“Kidsbridge is a very informative and educational way for kids to learn about discrimination, stereotypes, and racism and I think they also have a lot of fun with it.”

Knowing that kids learn best by doing, Kidsbridge provides a hands-on and interactive learning environment underscored by commitment to multiculturalism and character education, fostering the children’s curiosity and playful exploration of the world around them. Encounters at the Kidsbridge Museum will help children discover a variety of perspectives and learn to respect and value individuals who may be different from them; this is especially important in a state as diverse as New Jersey, where the population of over eight million people includes more than 100 ethnic and cultural groups.

Featuring exhibit components with names like “Name That Stereotype,” “Turn and Learn About Differences,” and “The Peace Diner,” the museum gives college students the opportunity to interact with and engage the younger students, mostly third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.

“Kidsbridge is a very informative and educational way for kids to learn about discrimination, stereotypes, and racism and I think they also have a lot of fun with it,” said Valerie Miller, elementary education and mathematics major. “Most of it is interactive and it really engages their minds.”

“The benefits of this partnership are monumental,” said College President R. Barbara Gitenstein. “Not only are our students gaining invaluable teaching experience, they are also playing an integral role in the character development of children in our community. I am pleased that the College has this opportunity to work with Kidsbridge, and that we're doing what we can to increase the appreciation and understanding of our diverse society.” This is just one of the College’s many initiatives on enhancing diversity. The College was recently recognized nationally for diversity efforts on campus.

KidsbridgeAdding to the collaboration, other community players are also starting to get involved, as the New Jersey Commission for Holocaust Education and the Bonner Center for Civic Engagement at the College recently took the opportunity to join the partnership.

A new interactive activity is being designed by an elementary education professor who specializes in improvisation. The effectiveness of the improvisational exercise as well as the entire education experience is being assessed by undergraduate students from the psychology department. Their task is to ascertain significant improvement in learning and attitude regarding prejudice and discrimination. The elementary students are surveyed before and after their museum experience. 

Future developments for the program are already in the works. In addition to getting guidance counselor students involved, art students at the College are being challenged to create sculptures, art and graphics for the children’s museum. There are also plans to bring retired teachers from the local community to the museum to interact with both school students and day campers. Two students from the communications department are producing a documentary about the project.

“Kidsbridge is delighted to partner with the College and community to achieve our mutual goals of tolerance and diversity appreciation,” said Lynne Azarchi, executive director of Kidsbridge. “Meeting the needs of the elementary school students and the schools can be enhanced when we collaborate in creative ways to benefit the children and positively influence their lives. We are privileged to partner with such a prestigious College in our backyard.”

To learn more about Kidsbridge, visit www.kidsbridgemuseum.org.