Science is Fun
by Candyce H. Stapen
At the best science exhibits problem solving becomes
fun. Complicated principles turn into child's play as kids press,
touch, pull, and construct gadgets and gizmos. Innovative facilities,
such as the four below, appeal to kids' curiosity with colorful
and clever displays. Get grossed out while learning about animal
physiology, morph into a hero protecting cyberspace while honing
math skills, practice the fine art of lying and detecting falsehoods
in friends by watching body language, and create your own cartoon.
These are some of the innovative learning adventures
that await at the U.S. and Canada's best science and children's
museums.
Florida: Orlando Science Center
At Animal Grossology, a sequel to the popular Grossology,
the (Impolite) Science of the Human Body, kids discover the science
behind all those "disgusting" things that critters do as part of
their survival. Learn why cows expel gas, dung beetles eat poop
and leeches slurp up blood and how this is useful-or not-to people.
The hands-on exhibits add to the fun of investigating slime-making,
vomit munching and other repulsive but necessary acts. Kids go undercover
as "dookie" detectives, naming the critters by the size of their
droppings. Children jump on the Chew Chew Express to see
a replica of a cow's digestive tract, finding out why they chew
cud, and the curious can pump "blood" into a mosquito to discover
what the insects do with this. Animal Grossology runs January
27 to April 29, 2007.
At the permanent exhibits kids explore plants to people. NatureWorks
presents coral reefs, salt marshes, mangrove swamps, and other Florida
habitats. KidsTown features a Science Story Tree that youngsters
48 inches and shorter can climb and BodyZone details the
digestive system (407-514-2000, 888-OSC-4FUN; www.osc.org).
Texas: Children's Museum of Houston
 Cyberchase-The Chase is On! adds interactive
magic to make crunching numbers fun for kids. Based on Cyberchase,
the PBS math mystery cartoon, the exhibit (through May 13, 2007)
creates a back-story of intrigue as kids function as CyberSquad
protectors of a virtual universe.
To reinstall power circuits blown by the villainous Hacker, kids
must use fractions. In the Grim Wreaker kids employ deductive
reasoning to figure out where the Hacker is hiding and in Stop the
Launch, young heroes employ the principles of probability to find
the right combination of buttons to push to stop the Hacker's rocket
launch.
Permanent exhibits include an EcoStation where kids discover
pond life, make plant rubbings and watch eco-friendly puppet shows;
a KID-TV Studio where youngsters create sound tracks and use video
equipment to manipulate images; and a Tot Spot geared to infants
through three-year-olds, where little ones can crawl, climb and
peer in mirrors (713-522-1138; www.cmhouston.org).
Ontario: Ontario Science Centre, Toronto
Always an innovator and a longtime model for science
centers everywhere, Toronto's Ontario Science Centre debuted its
Weston Family Innovation Centre on July 26, 2006. The new 25,000-square-foot
permanent facility targets those usually ignored by museums—ages
14 to 24. Instead of pointing towards a pre-designated conclusion,
the interactive exhibits focus on the means and methods as a way
to spur creativity.
You can program computers; create music by mixing sounds, noises
and words; discover if someone's lying by analyzing facial expressions;
and solve such challenges as how to transport water to a drought-stricken
area. TELUSCAPE, a new outdoor exploration plaza, debuted
September 20, 2006. Amid trees, wetlands and walkways, the football
sized courtyard features climbing spheres, water mazes (try making
it through without getting wet) and kaleidoscopes powered by wind
turbines.
The Ontario Science Centre houses 800 hands-on exhibits. At KidSpark,
ages eight and younger construct houses with a crane and mix colored
spotlights on a wall. See your hair stand on end courtesy of the
static electricity produced by a Van de Graff generator, view films
at the IMAX dome theater and watch live experiments at Science
HotSpot (416-696-1000; www.ontariosciencecentre.ca).
Massachusetts: Museum of Science, Boston
Animation energizes kids by tapping their creativity
plus their math and science skills to create cartoons. Cartoon
Network characters enliven the 6,000-square-foot exhibit, which
gives kids a hands-on experience from concept to finished clip.
Kids develop storyboards and craft scenes using cells and moving
backgrounds; employ "squash and stretch" techniques to make a ball
appear to bounce; and match phrases to mouth shapes plus add their
own voices to a film track. Animation is on view from January 28
to May 16, 2007.
The Boston Museum of Science, with more than 700 interactive exhibits,
is a city must-see. Find out about prehistoric behemoths at "Dinosaurs:
Modeling the Mesozoic." At the Discovery Center, preschoolers piece
together animal skeletons, don costumes and play with puzzles (617-723-2500;
www.mos.org).
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Great Places, Great Deals
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New York City: Mandarin Oriental's "Girl's
Guide to Glamour." Does your always-scowling teenage
daughter think you're a hopeless, out-of-touch
dork? Then score some smiles and new image for
you and lots of clothes for her with this luxury
hotel's package. A professional guide takes you
around in a chauffeured car to the trendy shopping
spots in SoHo and NoLita as well as to the best
picks on 5th Avenue. At Bergdorf's your
beauty gets a Chanel makeover, a BuffSpa
manicure and a consultation with a personal shopper
as well as lunch. A stay at the luxe hotel with
its sweeping views of Central Park and the city
will do wonders for transforming your image and
bringing back that rare commodity—a smile from
your growing-up girl. Rates from $1,990 including
one night's lodging. Available through April 30,
2007 (212-805-8800; www.mandarinoriental.com).
Caribbean: Wyndham Getaways by Request.
Shake off the cold by taking to the beaches at
three popular Wyndham all-inclusive resorts with
complimentary children's programs. At Wyndham
Sugar Bay Resort & Spa, St. Thomas, rooms start
at $201 per night; at Viva Wyndham Maya, Playa
del Carmen, Mexico, from $218 and at Viva Wyndham
Tangerine, Cabarete, Dominican Republic, from
$153. With some exceptions, rates are valid through
April 30, 2007 (800-WYNDHAM; www.wyndhamgetaways.com).
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*****
– Candyce H. Stapen is the author of
27 books, including National Geographic Guide to Caribbean Family
Vacations.
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