BACK-TO-SCHOOL

The Magic Of Learning

Museums are
featuring hands-
on exhibits that
encourage
children to act,
not just to look.

JENNIFER FINER

Special to The Jewish N ews

C

hildren of all ages
run around the Im-
pressions 5 Science
Museum in Lans-
ing trying to get
their hands on as
many of the dis-
plays as possible.
What is the most popular ex-
hibit? That all depends on who
you talk to, but some of the fa-
vorites include making gigan-
tic bubbles, going for a ride in
the momentum chair, and talk-
ing to a friend using fiber optics
cable.
Hands-on museums may just
be one of the best-kept secrets
around.
There are at least five of them
in the Detroit area, located in
East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Flint,
Dearborn, and Bloomfield Hills.
Current research shows that
children learn best from pre-
sentations that require them to
act, rather than to just look.
Across the country, museums
are responding by emphasiz-
ing hands-on exhibitions and
activities, says Edward Able,
executive director of the D.C.-
based American Association of
Museums.
Today, a child can visit mu-
seums and cook a 19th-century
meal on an open hearth, design
an illustrated book, and test re-
flexes by grabbing a falling
wooden stick. The hushed,
stodgy image that has so long
surrounded museums is on the
way out. Now, the goal is to in-
volve visitors. "It's not just com-
ing in and watching and
reading the exhibit plate any-

Jennifer Finer was a summer
intern at The Jewish News.
Alyssa Gabay helped research
this article.

58

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 1992

Innovation Station at Henry Ford Museum.

Five thousand bans powered by visitors.

more," said Mr. Able.
For traditional museums, the
trend to interactivity is part of
a broad attempt to become more
educational and accessible —
more welcoming — to the pub-
lic. David Voelkel, spokesman
for the American Association of
Museums, traces its origins to
the 1970s but says only now is
the movement really making
progress.
Museums, he explained, "are
readdressing the way they serve
audiences. How are we reach-
ing out to other cultures? How
can we make them more acces-
sible to everyone, physically and
educationally? It's the whole
idea of breaking down the
stereotype of the museum as a
fortress."
The Impressions 5 Science
Museum contains numerous ex-
hibits where children and even
their parents can learn about
almost anything from commu-
nications to electronics to
physics and anything in be-
tween.
The museum also hosts trav-
eling exhibits throughout the
year. Currently, latex robotic di-
nosaurs are on display until Oc-
tober and their movements can
be controlled by museum
guests.
The other fall scheduled ex-
hibit is called "A Bugs-eye
View" and will feature insects
and how they see the world.
Margaret Green is the science
interpreter at Impressions 5.

through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and on Sundays from 12 to
5 p.m.
Further information can be
obtained by calling the muse-
um at (517) 485-8116.
A multiplied glockenspiel, a
duck-under kaleidoscope, and
a cut-a-way toilet are only a few
of the 170 hands-on exhibits on
display at the Ann Arbor
Hands-On Museum.
Museum exhibits are spread
out among four floors and each
floor has a different theme.
"The Subject Is You," is the
theme of the first floor and has
exhibits that focus on how the
body works and perception.
"The World Around You," on
the second floor has displays on
structures, waves, energy,
world cultures and a discovery
room which focuses on nature.
"Light and Optics," exhibits are
on the third floor, and the fourth
floor exhibits show "How
Things Work."
Cynthia Yao, the executive
director of the museum feels
what makes Ann Arbor so
unique is the 200 volunteers
who help the museum run
smoothly.
"We also have scientists who
actually work on creating ex-
hibits. The bottom line is we are
a lot of fun and people enjoy
coming here," she said.
The Ann Arbor Hands-On
Museum is located at 219 E.
Huron Street, at the corner of
Fifth Ave in downtown Ann Ar-

She says the museum is not ex-
clusively for children but for
learners of all ages.
"This is a family place where
kids are learning about them-
selves and parents are learning
about their kids. When children
come here, they are so over-
whelmed by the size of the mu-
seum and choices, they
generally do not know where
to start," Ms. Green said.
Ms. Green also said Impres-
sions 5 is a great place to come
for a first date.
"It's a relaxed atmosphere
which actually gives you and
your date a chance to talk and

"I see and I forget,
I hear and I
remember, I do and
I understand."

learn about each other, unlike
a movie where you just watch
what's happening on a screen,"
she said.
Impressions 5 Science Mu-
seum is located in East Lans-
ing at 200 Museum Drive just
off Michigan Ave. about a block
East of the State Capitol Build-
ing.
Admission for adults is $3.50
and $2.50 for students (ages 4-
18) and senior citizens. Children
under four and members are
admitted free. Group rates are
also available and parking is
free.
The museum is open Monday

bor.
Admission for adults is $3.50
and $2.00 for children, students,
and senior citizens. Group rates
are also available.
The museum is open Tues-
day through Friday, from 10
a.m. until 5:30 p.m. , Saturday
from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. and
Sunday from 1 until 5 p.m.
For further information call
the museum at (313) 995-KIDS.
The Children's Museum, in
Flint, is geared toward children
between the ages of 2 and 10
and the museum is less science
oriented than other hands-on
museums.
Some of the exhibits include
an airplane, a fire truck, a mag-
net room, and a nature room,
where children can learn as
they play.
According to Margaret Mar-
tin, director of museum services,
there are approximately 40 ex-
hibits including the most recent
addition of a shadow room.
"What makes our museum
unique as I see it is this is a
place where parents can par-
ticipate in their children's play
and interact with them, and
children get to interact with
their parents," Ms. Martin said.
The Children's Museum is lo-
cated in the Northbank Center,
on the corner of 2nd Avenue
and N. Saginaw.
Admission is $3.00 a person
or a family rate of $2.50 per per-
son; children under two are ad-
mitted free.

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