Grant Supports ‘Hands On English’

A $250,000 state grant will help the Children’s Museum of La Habra reach out this year to help young students throughout the Southland learn English.

The money, to be spread out over three years, will help pay for a new program called “Hands On English,” which will use museum exhibits and programs to get kindergartners and first-graders excited about speaking in English--a language many of them have never spoken before. The new program will be similar to the museum’s “Stories of Long Ago” series that integrates storytelling with props, puppets and activities. Museum Director Jennifer Boxer said the idea is to get children involved in something that’s exciting to talk about. The props help put the children at ease.

“If English isn’t your first language, you might be a little more comfortable when it’s the puppet speaking instead of you,” she explained.

The museum program will serve students in Los Angeles and Orange counties, and will include field trips to the museum as well as classroom visits from museum staff. Boxer said the cities of Santa Ana and Anaheim will probably be big participants. “They’re close by and do have the need,” she added.