NanoDays 2009

Come join us April 1-4 when we celebrate NanoDays 2009. What is NanoDays, you ask? Here at the Museum, we will join over 200 sites nationwide; in conjunction with participants in Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net). NanoDays engages people of all ages in a miniscule world where materials have special properties and new technologies have spectacular promise. We will have special workshops and hands on activities on nanotechnology and how it relates to our every day lives.

My favorite activity planned is definitely the plan to have visitors working together to build a giant balloon model of a carbon nanotube! I cannot wait to see that one!

Workshops for the general public will run from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 4 and no reservations are necessary. Workshops for school groups are available by reservation on April 1, 2, and 3. Contact Beth Nelsen, Museum Reservationist, at bnelsen@amod.org or (501) 396-7061.

We'd love to hear from you, so leave us a comment if you saw this special exhibit and what your thoughts were!

Good Vibrations - last few weeks

Make cloud rings!





See your body heat with a heat camera.





Watch a "tornado" form!




Just a few more weeks to enjoy these and other activities as part of GOOD VIBRATIONS (closing Sunday April 5)

Thanks to the Arkansas Discovery Network and the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation for helping to bring Good Vibrations back to the Museum of Discovery.

Check out this link for fun activities you can do at home!

This Little Piggy...March 26-28

When Mother Piggy sends her precious piglet off to the village for flour, sugar and eggs, she reminds him of three things: Be kind to others, obey all the rules, and never stray from the market road....

So starts the tale of "This Little Piggy Went to Market." What will happen to Piggy?

Kids of all ages will enjoy the action of the story in this theatrical presentation and learn valuable lessons: "being kind to others", "obeying the rules", and many more.

Great things for a 18 month old to learn, and good reminders for kids of all ages (us parents too).

No reservations necessary on Saturday, March 28 and the performances are included with the price of admission!

To reserve a school or group visit for March 25, 26, of 27, contact Beth Nelsen, Reservationist, at (501) 396-7061 or email mhtml:%7BBA47DAE0-FEF4-4AA5-9D64-24CF5021705B%7Dmid://00000407/!x-usc:mailto:bnelson@amod.org

Welcome the new members of our Museum animal family!

Two hedgehogs and two bunnies! (The other hedgehog was shy when the camera showed up.)

















Did you know that the Museum of Discovery is home to over 50 animals? Our bug zoo is on permanent display; other animals are carefully cared for in our Animal Room and shared with the public during special events and school visits.

Visitor feedback...we still have a ways to go!

At the Museum of Discovery, we always seek feedback from our visitors; we thought those of you in 'blog land' might find the following anecdote interesting:

A group of 10 students from rural Arkansas, aged 13-17, attended “Bless Your Heart" a program that taught different ways we can keep our hearts healthy.

At the conclusion of the class, the students were asked to complete a report card and each student identified three things she or he would commit to doing to improve her or his heart health. (The cards will be mailed to the teacher in 3 weeks so that students may "grade" themselves on their proposed behavior changes.)

In addition to the students, four (4) adult chaperones completed the cards.

Of the 14 report cards we received, 8 of them listed “stop smoking” as something they would try to do to improve their health.

We were not expecting these results! We thought we would receive goals such as "choose fruit for a snack instead of potato chips."

Even if all 4 of the adult chaperones were smokers, 4 of the 10 students smoke, as well. Evidently Arkansas still has a way to go to spread the word about the dangers of tobacco use.

What did you learn at Beat. Breathe. Think.?

What a great time we all had at Beat.Breathe.Think. What was your favorite part? Was it the heart dissection? Brain dissection? Or the viewing of the "smoker's lungs"?

Did you know that in America alone, it is estimated that 163,500 people each year die from lung cancer? I think that is why "smoker's lungs" stands out to me. We probably all know, or at least know of, someone who has been diagnosed with cancer. What a great teaching tool it was to be able to actually point out to our kids those "smokers lungs."

Did you make it to Beat.Breathe.Think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.....

What a great field trip idea!

The Museum of Discovery sure does make a GREAT school trip! Did you know that the Museum offers special discounted rates for your school? And that teachers can get one free pass to visit the Museum to check it out before bringing a field trip here? The Museum provides a list of Arkansas educational standards that are met when you visit...so you'll have fun AND learn. WOW!

We were honored recently to host a class of 3rd graders from Woodrow Wilson Elementary. Here is what they said:

"The 3rd graders from Woodrow Wilson Elementary had a terrific time with the 'African Rhythms event' on 2/6/09. All of us play[ed] the drums, and [heard] different sounds.

The organization of how we did everything was perfect! I don't know how it could have gone any better. Dividing the group of students was a key element on eating and then dividing the students was a key element on eating and then viewing the museum.

"We had a fantastic day and appreciate your assistance in making things go so smoothly. The staff at the museum was very friendly and helpful, also!"

--Dannelle Rogers, Woodrow Wilson Elementary

Be sure to plan your next field trip to come check out the Museum of Discovery! A great time will be had by all!

March 14: National Brain Awareness Day

Did you know that Saturday, March 14 is National Brain Awareness day? I sure didn’t! :) Even us moms get to “discover” things every day here at the Museum.

Come celebrate brain awareness March 11-14 at the Museum. You will see special demonstrations by the Arkansas Chapter of the Society for Neuroscience, the YES! team and University of Central Arkansas Biology department. Visitors can observe a heart or brain dissection and view a display of "smoker's lungs."

Wow…what a great teaching tool! I bet you remember this in health class don’t you….seeing what lungs look like when people don’t smoke…and then seeing all of the damage that is done by smoking. What a great way to remind your kids that they should never smoke.

Times for Beat.Breathe.Think
General public
March 11, 12, and 13 at 2:00 p.m.
March 14 between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

School groups
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, March 11, 12 and 13 - 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.

Museum of Discovery Blog Team Welcomes Kelly

Join me in welcoming KELLY, the latest addition to the Museum of Discovery's Blogging Team. Kelly is a very hard-working stay-at-home mom. She loves to blog, shop, cook, decorate, and spoil her little man. Kelly will bring the unique perspective of being a MOM to the Musuem's blog. If there are topics you'd like to see her cover, let us know!

Giant brain at Museum!

Check out our Health Hall, which features a giant 'brain.'

Have you ever seen a real brain?

You CAN! Come to Museum of Discovery's event BEAT. BREATHE. THINK. March 11-14, 2009. Activities will include seeing real organs such as brains, hearts and lungs. You will discover how various body systems work.

Beat---the heart and circulatory system.
Breathe--the lungs and the respiratory system.
Think--the brain and the nervous system.

School groups can participate in workshops on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and the general public is invited to participate in workshops on Saturday. No reservations are necessary for Saturday. To reserve a school group, contact Beth Nelsen, Reservationist, at 501-396-7061.