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Meet Digit: A child greets Digit from the hit PBS KIDS GO! show.

Children's Museum of Houston's ‘Out-of-this-World' Spring Break

By Chris Scarcella

The Children's Museum of Houston offers an exciting agenda for the family, filled with fun and education in its "Out-of-this-World Spring Break exhibits from March 8-March 18.

The museum will be offering something new to do each day, highlighted March 12, by a visit from Matt Wilson, star of the "For Real" segments of the hit PBS show, "Cyberchase."

Kids will have the opportunity to meet and get an autograph from the child star. Wilson will then host a variety of performances where he will show how everyone uses math in real world situations before kids will have the opportunity to enter the "Cyberchase-The Chase is On!" exhibit.

"This exhibit presents math in a fun, kid-friendly format, encouraging visitors to make use of their problem-solving skills and approach math with an investigative, positive attitude," said Shannon Weaver, director of public relations for The Children's Museum of Houston.

Many other exhibits will be available for children including health and nutrition, science, math and arts.

The museum designs each exhibit to help children's developmental growth by using a hands-on approach to education, while allowing kids to solve problems through critical thinking. Each program is aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills guidelines that structure public school curriculum in Texas.

"Our number one goal is to help the parents be the child's first teacher," Weaver said.

The hands-on exhibits allow the children to problem-solve and put to use what they are learning in the classroom setting.

"The Children's Museum of Houston offers children a break from traditional classroom-style learning and allows children to participate in a variety of fun real-world activities," said Olivia Morales, UHCL alumni and current 2nd-grade teacher.

The museum serves more than 600,000 parents, educators, child-care workers and children annually and more than 150,000 through outreach programs throughout the Greater Houston area.

"Currently, these outreach practices provide free admission to 40 percent of the museum's visitors, ensuring that no family is turned away because of need," Weaver said.

The Children's Museum of Houston is located at 1500 Binz in Houston's Museum District and regular admission is $5.

For more information, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138.