Abstract Summary/Description
As an early childhood educator, I understand the importance of representation within learning spaces. Young learners need to see themselves within the environment. Valdez and Carmela (2021) suggest that when children see illustrations that are similar to themselves in the books, they realize that literature reflects multiple cultures and not just one. I argue that in addition to literature, children need to see themselves within the decor, activities, food, and other aspects of their learning community whether it is a classroom, library, or museum space, to name a few examples. This being the case, I designed blueprints for a collection of multi-modal immersive experiences for a (fictional) children's museum that scaffold children’s understanding of their own histories and histories of others as well as how young people can make the world a better place. Children learn best through play, so immersive experiences will expand children’s cultural knowledge by weaving together materials, activities, and spaces. Examples: • Library - Read picture books that celebrate diversity, inclusion, and equity (e.g., Hair Love by Matthew Cherry). • Kitchen - Blend foods of different cultures to create familiar and new multicultural cuisine (e.g., cooking classes). • Art Gallery - Examine photos and stories of less-familiar Black-American activists (e.g., Tarika Lewis). • Playroom – Problem solve through resolution-oriented activities (e.g., role play via puppet shows). My poster presentation will serve as a visual representation of a variety of immersive experiences for young learners and their families within the context of a children’s museum.
