PNC Grow Up Great Grant Supports AFEL at ExCITe Center
Action for Early Learning continues to further early science education in West Philadelphia
December 3, 2019
AFEL hosts their Annual Family Science Night at the ExCITe Center in spring to invite our community into the space.
The ExCITe Center was part of a grant award to the West Philadelphia Action for Early Learning (AFEL) Initiative through the PNC Grow Up Great Grant program. The grant enables AFEL to support in-classroom science instruction and provide trainings for teachers in their alliance of childcare providers. Other partners on this grant are the Academy of Natural Sciences (ANS) and First Up.
Funding will support AFEL’s A Head Start on Science Program (AHSOS) integrating early science curriculum with ExCITe Center STEAM curriculum. Both provide critical hands-on science experience for Pre-K students ages three to five and training in inquiry-based science teaching methods for ECE educators through both workshops and in-classroom coaching. The main objectives include: workshops, in-classroom modeling for ECE teachers; incorporation of scientific inquiry process, hands-on modeling of teaching science; introduction of Pre-K teachers to the Pennsylvania Early Learning Standards for science; and demonstration of science education relevance and value for the whole family, with a focus on inclusion.
AFEL is grateful to PNC Foundation for this wonderful opportunity to support AFEL Alliance educators and enrich classrooms with science resources that will inspire our West Philly children and connect families to more STEAM opportunities.
For further questions about the ExCITe Center, contact the ExCITe Center Communications Manager - ashley@excitecenter.org
For more information about AFEL and their work, please contact: Project Director, Maria Walker - mjwalker@drexel.edu