Free Services for Educators

Strong National Museum of Play® offers educators a wealth of support services, orientation sessions, and workshops to assist you in the classroom.

Educators’ Open Houses

Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 3:30–5:30 p.m. (featuring the Curious George exhibit)
Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 3:30–5:30 p.m. (featuring the Mr. Potato Head exhibit)
Come see our newest exhibits! Imagine new curriculum connections and sample innovative, interactive experiences for students in pre-K through Grade 8. Meet our talented educators and hear about new programs. Bring your colleagues! Enter a drawing for a FREE lesson for your students! This is a great chance for administrators, classroom teachers, curriculum coordinators, and resource teachers to see the variety of quality learning experiences available this school year at Strong.

For more information, please call 585-263-2700. Reservations are appreciated, but not required. To reserve a space on either date, please call 585-263-2700 (ext. 266).

Museum Overviews

Pre-service and in-service teachers are invited to learn how to tap into the museum’s many educational resources. Visit our exhibits and hear about school experiences available in each one. Come and examine opportunities that will help you satisfy New York State Learning Standards. Learn how to plan a museum trip and make the most of pre- and post-visit activities. Please call 585-263-2701(x335) to reserve your time.

Exhibit Previews

Preview an exhibit of your choice and the lessons we’ve designed to go with it. Meet with one of our educators to see firsthand what learning activities your students can engage in while they are here. Please call 585-263-2700 (x355) in advance for an appointment.

School Outreach

Museum educators can attend staff meetings at your school to help you connect your curriculum to our experiences. We will show you how we meet New York State Learning Standards and demonstrate how we accommodate a variety of learning preferences. For information and appointments, please call 585-263-2700 (x335).

The Grada Hopeman Gelser Library

Strong National Museum of Play® is one of only a handful of museums in the nation to have a special public library partnership. Our child-focused library is a mini-branch of the Rochester Public Library. Teachers and students (who have Monroe County Library cards) are welcome to check out books for classroom use and return them to any public library branch in the system.

NEW! Play Lectures

Puppet Play in Child Development

Children use free play to learn about themselves and others and to make sense of their world. The inclusion of the arts (and specifically puppets) in play enhances the outcome of the experiences. This lecture explores the benefits of the arts and puppet play in child development; how spontaneous puppet play happens; how to honor and respect play; how to facilitate and encourage puppet play; and what happens when adults don’t respect a child’s need for free play.

Thursday, October 2, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Free, but reservations are requested*

Matthew Bernier, MCAT, ATR-BC, is a registered, board-certified art therapist. He has been a full-time faculty member in the Graduate Art Therapy Program at Eastern Virginia Medical School since 1990 and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His academic interests include: processes, materials, and theoretical approaches of art psychotherapy; symbolism; art history; psychopathology; theories of personality; and child and adolescent art psychotherapy. Mr. Bernier has presented locally, nationally, and abroad on a variety of topics including domestic violence and therapeutic puppetry. He has published book and video reviews in professional journals. He is the co-editor of Puppetry in Education and Therapy: Unlocking Doors to the Mind and Heart (2005).

Rough-and-Tumble Play

Rough-and-tumble play is critical in the development of all children, yet adults often get it confused with aggression. This presentation will examine rough-and-tumble play through social, cultural, developmental, and gender-based lenses. Further, we will discuss the major theoretical approaches to rough-and-tumble play and debunk misconceptions that often occur. Throughout the presentation, participants will learn how to identify healthy rough-and-tumble play; how to respond to it; and, if needed, how to set limits for children in a child-centered way during this type of play.

Thursday, November 6, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Free, but reservations are requested*

Stephen Demanchick is an Assistant Professor for the Creative Arts Therapy Department at Nazareth College. He received his M.S.Ed. from SUNY Brockport’s Counselor Education Department. He earned his Ph.D. in counseling from the University of Rochester in October 2007. Demanchick is also an NIRE certified child-centered play therapist. His clinical interests include play therapy, filial therapy, school-based prevention, and clinical supervision. His local community involvement includes work with Easter Seals and the Children’s Institute.

*To reserve a space in either lecture, please call 585-263-2700 or email info@museumofplay.org.