Hands On! Cuts Ribbon on New Editions to Bank Exhibit

JOHNSON CITY/TRI-CITIES – Hands On! Regional Museum cut the ribbon on several new interactive components to the Kids Bank & Credit Union exhibit on Wednesday, October 7th at 3:30 pm.

In 2008, Hands On! Museum received a grant from Citi Foundation to add new components teaching financial literacy to the Kids Bank and Credit Union exhibit as well as providing "Change is Good" outreach programs to over 1,000 children in regional after school programs.

"Without this generous grant from Citi Foundation, the Museum would not have been able to provide these new exhibit components or outreach programs," says Kristine Carter, Hands On! Marketing Manager. "In the current financial climate reinforces the need for financial literacy and awareness of good financial habits beginning at a young age."

The new exhibit components include:

• A “One in a Million” sorter to demonstrate ratios and probability;
• A “How Tall Are You In Coins?” display to teach coin recognition and measuring;
• A "Coin Mural" to teach estimation and counting;
• A "Balance Your Budget" scale to teach budgeting and the difference between wants and needs;
• A Penny Press with four different designs to illustrate the different metals used in making coins and teach budgeting; and
• Additional interactive lessons led by Museum educators to teach young learners the financial literacy basics on spending, saving, credit, and making change.

Museum educators have traveled offsite to provide the “Change Is Good” outreach workshops for students enrolled in after school programs. Using several lessons with hands-on activities and games, each lesson meets multiple Tennessee educational standards on financial education. The participating children also receive two free visits to Hands On! Museum and piggy banks containing $1.00 to encourage them to grow their savings. Hands On! will also present each after-school program with financial games to reinforce these lessons throughout the year.

"This has been a labor of love for the past year," says Liz Nevil, Exhibit Manager at Hands On! "Rob Guggenheim, a dedicated volunteer, and many of the staff members have all been instrumental in bringing all of this together."

For more information on these programs or on other exhibits and activities at Hands On!, please call 423-434-HAND (423-434-4263) or visit www.handsonmuseum.org.

About Hands On! Regional Museum:
Hands On! Regional Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that hosted over 80,000 visitors lat year. Centrally located in downtown Johnson City, Hands On! draws school groups from 40 counties and visitors from all over the country.

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