The Wonder of Learning
Exhibition of the infant-toddler centers and preschools of the Istituzione
Municipality of Reggio Emilia - North American Version
in collaboration with 
About the Exhibit
A Message to our Visitors
Reserve the Exhibit
Events and Workshops
ABOUT THE EXHIBIT
Portland Children’s Museum is honored to host The Wonder of Learning, a traveling exhibition from the municipal Infant-Toddler Centers and Preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. This exhibit calls international attention to the importance of education and schools as places for discussion and mutual exchange.
In continuity with the previous exhibition, The Hundred Languages of Children, the aim is to reconfirm the values at the heart of the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy and to recount the changes, innovations, and developments that have taken place. The exhibition speaks to all those involved in schooling, and to all members of the general public who believe that safeguarding educational processes and their evolution is of fundamental importance for society.
A MESSAGE TO OUR VISITORS
We also ask not-so-big questions, like: What flavor ice cream should we stock in Grasshopper Grocery?
In any case, our answers are often informed by the fundamentals and philosophies featured in The Wonder of Learning exhibit. It’s our job to provide nurturing learning environments for children. The Wonder of Learning exhibit is a way of expanding our thinking about the creative, intellectual and social capacity of children. It’s our chance to showcase and share the ideas that drive our mission to inspire imagination, creativity and the wonder of learning for children and adults.
And as the museum that doesn’t act like a museum, that’s right up our alley.
We know we’re going to get lots of questions about The Wonder of Learning exhibit. Here are our answers to some we’re anticipating:
What is this exhibit? The Wonder of Learning is a traveling exhibition from the municipal Infant-Toddler Centers and Preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy. The exhibit calls international attention to the importance of education and schools as places for discussion and mutual exchange. But really, the exhibit is its own inquiry into to a series of questions and conversations.
The information provided here is designed to answer nuts-and-bolts questions. Read through to learn more, but better yet, come see the exhibit for yourself.
What’s different about this exhibit? Unlike many of our hands-on exhibits, this one is more of a “look with your eyes, not with your hands” experience. Essentially, in Purple Turtle Hall, we’re going to act a little more like a museum for a few months. The Museum’s other exhibits and programs are open during The Wonder of Learning exhibit, so the hands-on exhibits and activities will be available as usual.
Are children allowed in the exhibit? They most certainly are, and we offer the following guideline: If your child would enjoy visiting a traditional museum, he or she will probably enjoy The Wonder of Learning exhibit. If you’d rather have a root canal than take your child to a traditional museum, we recommend bringing your child to play in our many other exhibits and returning by yourself to fully experience the exhibit.
When is the exhibit open? The Wonder of Learning is open to the public from 10am to 5pm and until 8pm on Thursdays during the Museum’s regular business days. Note: The exhibit may be closed periodically for special events. Please check our online calendar for more information.
How much does it cost to view the exhibit? Viewing The Wonder of Learning exhibit is included in your Museum admission price as well as all membership levels. Guests who ONLY wish to view The Wonder of Learning exhibit may do so free of charge by checking in with Guest Services. Guests who wish to visit The Wonder of Learning exhibit AND the rest of the Museum must purchase admission.
If the Museum’s focus is hands-on learning, then why are you hosting a hands-off exhibit? At this Museum, children’s imaginations are our main exhibit. We have been influenced and inspired by the incredible work and messages you’ll see in The Wonder of Learning exhibit. Being selected to host this exhibit is an honor, and we believe there is no better place than a children’s museum for adults to learn about and be inspired by the wonder of childhood. Once you see the exhibit, we think you’ll agree. Note: All of the Museum’s permanent exhibits and programs will still be open and available during the run of the exhibit.
Where did the LEGO exhibit go? After a four-month stint in Portland, LEGO Castle Adventure® will move brick-by-brick to another children’s museum. We’re sorry to see it go too, but we’ve got great memories on Facebook. Take a look!
What’s next? During the summer months the Museum will feature the popular Kids Build, an interactive exhibit using recycled arts and crafts materials, where children and their imaginations are the architects of their own mini-cities.
In September 2012, the Museum welcomes Chagall for Children, a multi-sensory, hands-on exploration of art highlighting principals such as color, composition, light and texture through Marc Chagall’s most renowned master works, including America Windows, At the Circus, The Birthday, The Blue House, The Concert, Flowers, The Flying Sleigh, Green Violinist, I and the Village, Job Tapestry, The Juggler, Paris through the Window, The Poultry Yard, and The Rooster.
RESERVE THE EXHIBIT
The Wonder of Learning exhibit is available for special events and professional development opportunities. To reserve the exhibit, please contact exhibit planning coordinator Judy Graves
EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS
The following events and workshops are offered during the exhibit’s five-month stay in Portland. Click the event or workshop titles below for full descriptions and to register. Please note: Space for each event or workshop is limited. Early registration is advised.
The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children Exhibit from Reggio Emilia, Italy
Grand Opening Reception
Thursday, February 2, 6pm to 8pm
Portland Children’s Museum
The Wonder of Learning reception celebrates the opening of a remarkable exhibit that gives visibility to the powerful capacities of the human mind, beginning at birth. Guests are greeted with light food fare, tours of the interactive exhibit and messages from local leaders and advocates for children and families, including Portland Public Schools Superintendent Carole Smith, and Executive Director of the Children’s Institute Swati Adarkar.
Opening Event: Quality Schools for All Children: Exploring Possibilities
Friday & Saturday, February 3 & 4, 2012, 8:30am to 3pm each day
Miller Hall, World Forestry Center, Washington Park
How does The Wonder of Learning exhibit from Reggio Emilia, Italy speak to us about questions of quality? This event challenges participants to embrace a richer conception of human capacity, a stronger image of the child. Hosted by the Center for Children’s Learning, Portland Children’s Museum. Fee includes admission to the Opening Reception on February 2. Approved for 10 clock hours Set 2: Oregon Registry
The Wonder of Children’s Creative Thinking: Inspirations from Reggio Emilia, Italy (Click here)
Saturday, March 10, 2012, 8:30am to 3:30pm
Morning: Portland Children’s Museum
Lunch & Afternoon: Helen Gordon Center, Portland State University
What does it mean to make creative thinking visible? Morning sessions tour The Wonder of Learning exhibit. Afternoon sessions explore the question from several perspectives and experiences. Hosted by Portland Children’s Museum and Helen Gordon Center, Portland State University. 1 PSU graduate credit or CEU available. Approved for 6 clock hours Set 2: Oregon Registry
Nurturing the Creative Capacity of Children with Lella Gandini (Click here)
Friday, April 13, 8:30am to 4pm
Morning: Portland Children’s Museum
Afternoon: Mentor Graphics Child Development Center, Wilsonville
Saturday, April 14, 8:30am to 4pm
Mentor Graphics Child Development Center; visits to three centers
What does the exhibit from the municipal early childhood schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, tell us about supporting and nurturing the creative capacity of a learning community—children and adults? Tours of The Wonder of Learning exhibit and dialogues with Lella Gandini, Ed.D. Reggio Children Liaison in the US. Visits to 3 early childhood centers including hands-on exploration of materials. 1 PSU graduate credit or CEU available. Approved for 13 clock hours Set 2: Oregon Registry
Mentoring Possibilities, NAREA Pre-Conference Initiative (Click here)
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Portland Children’s Museum
What happens when we hold a strong image of the teacher as creative thinker, collaborator, researcher and partner-in-learning with children and adults? What kinds of relationships, organizing structures and experiences support teachers to become researchers of their own learning? What are the possibilities of mentoring teams, mentor teachers, mentoring partnerships and mentorship programs? Schools exploring these questions share their experiences and invite participants into the inquiry. Hosted by the Center for Children’s Learning and Opal School, Portland Children’s Museum. Registration information is posted by NAREA.
The Eighth NAREA Summer Conference (Click here)
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, June 22-24, 2012
“Dialogues for Quality in Education: Giving Visibility to Creative Thinking and Collaboration in Our Schools and Communities” The North American Reggio Emilia Alliance coordinates the closing initiative of the exhibit. Vea Vecchi, Tiziana Filippini and Amelia Gambetti, educators from Reggio Emilia and curators of The Wonder of Learning: The Hundred Languages of Children exhibit, share their experiences together with educators from North America. Click the conference title for more information. Registration information is posted by NAREA.
The Wonder of Learning – The Hundred Languages of Children website
Exhibit Project – Current Version page of NAREA website
[Opal School’s Summer Symposium will resume in June, 2013.]
