Discovery Station brings books to life

Ã¢EUR~Go Figure!Ã¢EUR(TM) exhibit promotes math and literacy

November 14, 2007

Discovery Station officially welcomed a new exhibit Tuesday with the "Go Figure!" hands-on children's exhibit.

"'Go Figure!' is a 700-square-foot exhibit where popular children's books are brought to life in gigantic reproductions of original illustrations," said Marie Byers the Discovery Station's volunteer executive director. "This interactive exhibit came to us from the Minnesota Children's Museum, and is a terrific math and literacy exhibit, targeted for children ages 2 through 10."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled to include the Mayor of Hagerstown Robert E. Bruchey II, museum board members and volunteers and local officials.

"We wouldn't be able to have this exhibit come to Hagerstown without the help of grants, which Discovery Station was able to receive," Byers said. "This wonderful educational program was made possible locally by a $20,000 Citi Foundation of New York grant. The Nora Roberts Foundation donated $4,000 which will be used for the care and maintenance of this interactive literacy and mathematics exhibit."

Byers said that the Board of Directors of Discovery Station extends special thanks to the two foundations. "This is very generous support of creative learning. "Go Figure!' is already being well-received, and kids are getting into books where they play and make discoveries related to shape, sizes, patterns and numbers. Adults enjoy this new exhibit also, as they observe and become informed about early math learning."

The Discovery Station will be inviting children from kindergarten through the fourth grade from throughout the Tri-State area to enjoy the artful "Go Figure!" exhibit. The Minnesota Children's Museum's "Go Figure!" exhibit was produced in partnership with the American Library Association and supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Some of the books included in the exhibit are: "Arthur's Pet Business," "The Doorbell Rang," "The Quilt," "Frog and Toad Are Friends" A Lost Button," and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

Discovery Station is an intergenerational museum of science, technology, and history at 101 W. Washington St. in Hagerstown. Through programs and interactive exhibits, it strives to stimulate curiosity for discovery, exploration and further investigation by children and adults. It opened in May 2005. Discovery Station is also the home of the Hagerstown Aviation Museum, which is included in museum admission.

Discovery Station is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 5 p.m. It is closed on holidays. Admission prices are $6 for ages 2 to 17; $7 for adults; $5 for seniors (55+) and military; $3 for students; free for teachers. Group rates are available. For more information visit www.discoverystation.org. Discovery Station is a member of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau: www.marylandmemories.com.

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