Why did DCM launch Kindergarten Mathematics Initiative?
DuPage Children’s Museum launched KMI in 2006 to provide free Learning Lab Field Trips to all public school kindergarteners in DuPage County. The Museum currently serves about 20,000 students annually through eight school Learning Labs that provide high-quality math and science curriculum aligned with the Illinois State Learning Standards. more...
What does my school get when we participate in the Initiative?
- KMI Learning Lab Field Trips include one of two Learning Labs and time to explore the Museum Exhibit Neighborhoods. Click for details on the Patterns, Strategies, and Number Sense and GeoSpace Learning Labs.
- Teachers will be provided with pre- and post-visit materials explaining how the Learning Lab and their classroom’s visit to the Museum helps meet Illinois Learning Goals and the new NCTM Focal Points, and how to extend children’s learning based on Museum exhibits.
- Teachers will receive information for students to take home to their families about what their children learned at the Museum.
- Students will receive a coupon providing a free adult or child admission to encourage students and their parents/caregivers to visit the Museum on their own.
What school districts qualify for the initiative?
All DuPage County public school districts now qualify.
How Do I Register?
A minimum of one month’s advance notice is required. Dates are available all school year, but request your dates as early as possible for best availability. October, November, early December, and January are all lower attendance months at the Museum, making them excellent months to visit. Choose from one of two highly successful, curriculum-aligned Learning Labs: GeoSpace or Patterns, Strategies, and Number Sense. Your class will split your time at the Museum between the Learning Lab and free exploration of the Museum Exhibit Neighborhoods. Initiative visits last 1½ to 3 hours. The Geospace Learning Lab requires a 2½ or 3 hour visit. The Patterns, Strategies and Number Sense Learning Lab can be booked for either a 1½ or 2 hour visit. Visits can be in the morning or the afternoon, Tuesdays through Fridays. Up to two classes or 60 students may attend in one visit. Multiple visits can be made on the same date. Each participating school must submit a request. All requests will be filled in the order they are received. Read our FAQ’s, then print, complete, and fax the downloadable request form for your school (Adobe Acrobat Reader required).
Click for Kindergarten Mathematics Initiative downloadable request form.
Click for KMI Frequently Asked Questions.
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