National Museum of American History
SparksLab at the National Museum of American History is an interactive science and invention area for children up to the age of 12. There is a small area developed specifically for children up to the age of 5. Museum education officers engage students in a series of science and engineering activities. The activity observed required children to design their own robot, they had to first decide what their robot was going to do.
In another part of the SparksLab there was a robot with basic circuitry boards on top, this was to assist children in understanding the electronic nature of robots and to allow them have a turn at operating a basic robot. A father and daughter combination built and rebuilt the circuitry boards and experimented with the robots for approximately half an hour while I was at the lab.
Education officers will also do demonstrations that run for 10-15 minutes at a time. The demonstrations are aimed to cater to young visitors and their parents.
The SparksLab does not do specific school group activities anymore. The lab is open to members of the public and if school groups are passing through on a field trip to the museum they are able to join in. In this way children are able to engage in the activities with their families, they don’t have to be with a school group to be involved.
The Invention at Play section of the museum engaged children, young adults and adults in the process of design and invention. The displays are very interactive and the individuals observed in the exhibit were very engaged. People are more engaged in learning materials in museums when they are able to manipulate and become immersed in the displays, this happens well when individuals are asked to answer a question or solve a problem.
The National Museum of American History also has lesson plans and activities. The following link is to an online game for linking body parts to a Jerome, a full size anatomical model from the Smithsonian. http://americanhistory.si.edu/anatomy/bodyparts/nma03_bodyparts.html
Website on polio
The following is a make a constellation activity suggested for K-year 4, but could be altered to be appropriate for NSW year 7 and year 8. Obviously it would be more appropriate for Australian students would be encouraged to create a constellation of an Australian women.
The following is an Edison website:
No comments:
Post a Comment