LANSING, Mich. — The Delta Dental Foundation continues its support of establishing healthy habits with students across Michigan with a third round of grant funding for elementary school visits to experience Impression 5 Science Center’s Chew On This! exhibit. A favorite among young visitors, Chew On This! uses cameras, microscopes, and giant mock dental instruments to provide meaningful hands-on opportunities to learn about the mouth and its mechanics.
This exhibit, sponsored by the Delta Dental Foundation, is more than just an opportunity for interactive learning, it’s also the catalyst for a robust grant program. The Delta Dental Foundation’s field trip grant program totals $25,000 to allow up to 160 Michigan elementary school classrooms—over 3,500 students—to visit the Science Center this winter and spring as part of their science curriculum. “We are committed to building healthy, smart, vibrant communities, and providing opportunities for children from all walks of life to learn about oral health in an enriching and fun way,” said Teri Battaglieri, Executive Director for the Delta Dental Foundation.
A one-of-a-kind exhibit, Chew On This!allows students to explore a larger-than-life lower jaw that features cavities, fillings, swollen gums, and plaque. Children can suit up in dental coats and use giant toothbrushes, floss, and mock dental instruments on the teeth to practice good oral health habits such as brushing and flossing. Another favorite component challenges students to make tooth-friendly food choices while “shopping” in a simulated grocery store.
Building on five years of collaboration—and $170,000 in cumulative investment to fund field trips and the Chew On This! exhibit—Impression 5 is thrilled to continue its partnership with the Delta Dental Foundation to provide access to meaningful, relevant, and equitable STEM education programming. By encouraging the development of healthy habits, literacy, and nutritional knowledge through a dynamic, hands-on exhibit that’s supported by ongoing intentional programming, the Delta Dental Foundation continues to positively impact children throughout the state of Michigan and beyond. Teachers can apply for a field trip grant here [impression5.org].
