EiE, the Curricula Division of the Museum of Science, Boston, Expands Outside of the Classroom and into Homes for Collaborative Family Learning

Overdeck Family Foundation Continues Support of EiE Family Curriculum with $1.5 Million Grant

BOSTON, MA – The Museum of Science, Boston announced today that Overdeck Family Foundation has given a three-year grant of $1,500,000 to its curricula division, EiE. The generous grant will allow EiE to expand its reach and enable 500,000 children and their families to experience high-quality computer science and engineering activities through its growing EiE Families Program offerings.

EiE Families, an extension of the leading in-school curriculum, Engineering is Elementary, is designed to provide free, engaging engineering resources for families with children ages four to 11. The goal of the program is to inspire a holistic, family approach to STEM learning and increase children’s interest in STEM careers. In addition to enabling more than 500,000 children and families to experience free, hands-on research-based engineering activities, the funding from Overdeck Family Foundation will support the development of resources for parents and educators including new computer science activities, STEM Event resources, and the creation of a new EiE Families microsite, supporting parents and educators, with interactive experiences for all at-home activities.

“The generous support from Overdeck Family Foundation allows the Museum of Science to fulfill its mission at scale, meeting learners where they are with fun engaging family STEM learning,” said Tim Ritchie, president of the Museum of Science. “STEM is at the core of all our lives and building confidence in these technologies is critical for young people to succeed. Whether at home or in school alongside their peers and educators, the EiE curriculum inspires children to see themselves as problem solvers and to pursue STEM interests.”

In addition to resources for families, the grant will support research, with the help of a Harvard Strategic Data Project Fellow, into the influence of at-home STEM learning. This study aims to discover how EiE Families resources impact youth STEM engagement in formal and informal learning settings, social and emotional development, and family communication within the household and between schools and community organizations. Furthermore, the study will provide insight into parent and caregiver perceptions of youth STEM identity.

“The EiE Families Program empowers young children and their families to collaborate and build confidence as they learn core engineering and computer science skills,” said Heather Gunsallus, vice president of STEM education at the Museum of Science. “We are extremely grateful for the ongoing support from Overdeck Family Foundation as we will be able to develop more resources to engage another half a million children in STEM learning.”

“We are excited to continue our support of EiE’s Families Program, which has done an impressive job at making engineering and computer science skills accessible and joyful for students and their families,” said Gemma Lenowitz, program officer of the Inspired Minds portfolio at Overdeck Family Foundation. “Our goal is to help young students unlock their potential inside and outside of the classroom, and we believe family engagement is a critical component of student success, especially in STEM. This grant is a key step in engaging more families in STEM learning, and helping more students see themselves as scientists and engineers.”

Families and educators can learn more about EiE’s Families and STEM Events Program, and access free STEM activities by visiting eie.org/families-and-stem-events