Any Questions? We Answer Them Here:
NYC has a new GIANT! We are opening our Chelsea Hub this November!
Here is an open invitation to all families with GIANT dreams who dare to act on them. Now we can show NYC how kids can own their future!
Here we address some of the most frequent questions we have received from families:
WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT GIANT EXPERIENCE?
The GIANT Room is a unique space where kids and adults work side by side, explore questions together, and collectively innovate to bring their GIANT dreams into the world.
Every month, we’ll start with a blank space and invite families to turn the hub into a collective exhibition inspired by the theme of the month. Through open studio hours and workshops, families have access to the most cutting edge tools and materials, such as laser cutter and 3D printer, creative technologies, and all sorts of arts and making materials.
With the right balance of structured and unstructured programming, GIANT kids develop their STEAM (STEM + Arts) knowledge and practice soft skills such as creative confidence, problem-solving, collaboration and communication.
Our promise to kids is to help them find joy in the process of learning and problem solving, and gain the confidence and skills they need to design our collective future!
Our promise to parents is to access to provide the best in class education program as well as a safe, relaxed, and fun space for them to bond with their children.
Our invitation to families is to come make a mess together, build anything you can dream of, and leave with joyous memories and a lot of inspiration.
WHAT IS STEAM AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Technology is integrated into every aspect of our lives, including the way we communicate, interact, and learn. To be able to have an impact on the world they live in and to influence society in positive ways, it’s important for kids to be comfortable with technology, and start using it in the service of their ideas.
Our goal is to help kids to be comfortable with tech tools in the same way that they are comfortable with markers and papers. We make it possible for them to mess around with tech, take things apart, put them together in new ways, and build new inventions that address challenges they care about.
That’s why we integrate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) with arts within a program that engages children with their society.
WHO IS THE TEAM BEHIND GIANT?
The GIANT Room is founded by two PhDs in Education from Columbia University, Teachers College and joined by team members from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Columbia University, Teachers College, and NYU. With extensive experience both in the classroom through science education, and by reaching kids at home through edtech products like littleBits and Tiggly, and educational television like Sesame Street, our team knows both the value and impact of quality education and how to spark kids curiosity in a fun and engaging way.
The GIANT staff is made up of professional designers, artists, educators, and engineers who are makers themselves, believe in kids ideas, and are inspired by seeing what kids build every day.
WHAT DOES THE SPACE LOOK LIKE?
When you come to The GIANT Room, you’ll take your shoes off and sit on the ground on comfortable mats, make a mess with all sorts of materials and tech tools around the room, dream and build together while listening to Jazz music.
In our workshop area, you have access to all sorts of fabrication tools including a laser cutter, 3D printer, creative technologies like micro-boards, and computers. You can gather around our communal work benches, learn, build, share, and play!
In addition, there is a recording station with computers to design and build characters, animations, and media!
HOW DO I ADD TO THE EXHIBIT?
At The GIANT Room kids and families work collectively on building a new exhibit for our gallery every month. With their contributions, the space transforms from a blank canvas to an interactive exhibit filled with kid created projects, installations, and innovations to be enjoyed by family and friends.
In November, we’ll build together a GIANT Dream Land, an interactive exhibit that transports you to a cozy place!
HOW CAN I JOIN GIANT?
GIANT Chelsea Hub is a 2000 sq/ft prime gallery space located at 548 W. 28th Street New York, New York. Our doors are open every day to our members and non-members. We offer membership to families to enjoy complimentary STEAM day camps when school’s off, unlimited open studio access and whole lot more.
WHAT TYPE OF PROGRAMS DO YOU OFFER?
At GIANT, we offer daily after:
Daily after school workshops 3:30 to 5pm with the option to extend to 6pm at no charge
Daily open studio hours 10am to 6pm on weekdays, and 10am to 3pm on weekends'
STEAM day camps on the days school’s off
School field trips
Special events for parents
and whole lot more…