at the Quincy Center for Innovation
Saturday, April 25 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
TAKE A GUIDED TOUR THROUGH
THE SOUTH SHORE SCIENCE FUN HOUSE
Visitors to the first South Shore Science Fun House -- part of the Cambridge Science Festival -- were greeted upon arrival in the lobby by the sight of:
Hula hoopers in the back seen through the glass swinging doors -- producing torque.
Kids kicking and lobbing and whacking recyclable things into recycling bins labeled "plastic " and " metal" and "cardboard" -- that were stacked on top of one another.
While parents were checking in, kids got some hands-on experience with a ratchet, socket and bolt on the Torque Talk Tabletop game, learning "righty-tighty, lefty loosey."
They waited for the elevator with the sounds of a theremin, a musical instrument based on electromagnetic waves.
Getting off the elevator on 3, they were greeted by the sight of laboratory equipment from Quincy College's biotechnology program, with plenty of hands-on opportunities. They listened to music performed by students from New England Conservatory and practiced making music at their musical instrument "petting zoo."
If they were interested in manufacturing something, they could make a helicopter, a Lego robot, or anything they wanted in a simulated factory process.
They could learn about refraction, from the viewpoint of both an optometrist and a jeweler.
They could write a story on the computer incorporating stop-action motion. They could try their hand at Scratch programming. They could learn about The Cloud.
They could learn about animal tracks and bird whistles, and more, in nature studies.
They could get some experience in improvisation and learn to think on their feet at the same time.
They could learn in tug-of-war that the surface they stand on needs to provide enough friction so they can gain traction.
At Word-o-Rama, Children Across America helped kids have fun learning new science terms and gave suggestions to parents on what they can do to help their children. Some kids kept coming back for more!
In String-Can Alley:
They could try that old-time game of string-can telephone and realize that the can amplifies the voice while a taut (tight) string passes the sound along to a can on the other end, which also amplifies the sound.
They could find out what surface tension is in water when they drip water onto a penny or drag a drop of water with a toothpick along a smooth-surfaced maze.
They could find the physics hidden in storybooks.
All in all, people were arriving before the doors opened at 9 and were reluctant to leave at 3. We've met since then and examined "Lessons Learned" in planning for next year's second South Shore Science Fun House!
Video by Eric Braun, 30Hands Learning
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