Yesterday for Wordless Wednesday, we were at Morrill Hall – specifically in the science discovery center downstairs. My kids could stay in that room for a VERY long time. And we were probably there at least an hour and did not even begin to see half of what is contained in that room. This room is crammed with so much to see and do! I want to show you a few of the possibilities. First, the collage to the right shows the three different pictures that were shown in the 8-21-13 Wordless Wednesday post.
The “tree” demonstrates the different seasons and also explains about different animals. You can see the puppet show/stage in the background. The stuffed raccoon might look cuter than in real life. Would prefer they did not scavenge my trash cans! And I am definitely fine with seeing a mounted shark as opposed to swimming with one in real life.
The favorite area of my kids when they were little was always the “dinosaur dig” area. They can uncover “fossilized bones” using paint brushes and other paleontologist tools. Pictured in the background is a scene from Ashfall in Northeast Nebraska. This is the site of an actual dig. Note: basically the kids seem to be digging through a rubbery substance. (Kind of like what you find on playgrounds.) You do need to brush them off a bit, but really they do not get that messy.
Getting to see all of the collections on display is also fun for the kids. Whether they are static visuals or touchable collections, this science discovery center allows for experiential learning. Because there is so much going on, your kids might need direction to help them focus. There is definitely so much to see here!
As far as other ways that kids can interact with science, this center combines science with art. All of the boxes contain scientific specimens. Artists can take down a box, then illustrate what you see! Great practice for those who want to have an artistic eye.
Of course, the kids really enjoy being able to climb, crawl, touch, smell and explore. Although there is no tasting in this room, pretty much every other sense is involved. This is a Science discovery center after all.
One more important fact to note. Many of the pictures on this page were actually taken by my son, Zechariah. He has decided that he may want to be a photographer someday. So, he practiced at the museum and snapped 234 shots (not including the ones he deleted to make room on the SD card for more pictures). He wanted me to attach them in a file for you, but I decided instead that I would just include a few favorites! 🙂 He is pictured below.
Although my oldest was with us the day that we visited the museum, somehow he did not make it into any of the science discovery center pictures. Because I cannot bear to leave him out, here he is pictured with his youngest brother in another area of the museum.
Morrill Hall, including the Science Discovery Center, is often free on summer Thursday nights!
If you have never made it to Morrill Hall, now is your chance. Admission is FREE tonight and next Thursday from 4:30-8:00. For active military members, this is also a Blue Star Museum – free admission still for a few more weeks. The rest of the museum also happens to be fabulous. (Although I will say from a personal viewpoint, I do not completely agree with some of their evolutionary conclusions, but …) I will write more blog posts in the future on some of Morrill Hall’s additional areas. There is definitely so much to still tell about this fabulous museum in Lincoln beyond the Science Discovery Center.
[…] Currently we are members at Morrill Hall in Lincoln. We partially joined this place due to its reciprocal membership benefits. (More on this option next week!) With studying Nebraska, this is also a great place to see displays on Native Nebraskans – both people and even some animals. (Disclaimer: I have to admit that I am not exactly on board with their dating system, so there are certain areas we basically avoid). As I wrote about several months ago, I really love their Discovery Center. […]
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