When we went to Science Centre to watch the Dinosaurs Live! Exhibition, we were also brought to the Make*Believe Enrichment Programme that was at the Omni Theatre. It was basically an exhibition that aims to teach children the basic rules of physics through simple activities and also to enhance their creativity.
The Director of the programme is a trained architect, so many of the activities designed are strongly influenced by this background of hers. Using a major landmark in Singapore – The Central Fire Station, the children would learn to identify how different shapes would make up a building. See the coloured portions on the big magnetic picture? The children were supposed to find the missing pieces and complete the whole picture by fixing the pieces on. From this exercise, children would realise that no matter how complicated some designs may seem, they are still made up of various combinations of shapes.
It’s basically like a huge puzzle project, and of course, the kids enjoyed it!
Another version of puzzle-fixing in the form of large cubes on the floor. This kind of 3D puzzle would allow the kids to form 6 different pictures when correctly fixed together. Again, one of the activities to inspire creativity.
This section gave the kids a chance to touch and feel different textures and how they make up different designs. Another idea inspired by the architect herself. =)
The blocks activity area was the most colourful of all, and it’s like a giant lego area where kids can fix different-shaped blocks to form different structures.
A huge fire engine backdrop was actually used to help children understand the laws of density and speed.
The children were told to pick up those balls of different weights, and drop them down the plastic hoses to see how far they travelled. Joey saw for herself how when the ball was heavier, the further it travelled. Physics made easy for kids for sure! Haha..
The last section introduced the children to familiar signs on the roads and attempted to make grid-reading an easy thing to learn.
Played like a board game, the children would need to take a card from the stack, and follow the instructions on the card. For example, one of the instructions might be to place a ‘church’ at C8. By guiding the children how to locate B8 on the grid map, they’ve learnt simple map reading! Best of all, it’s fun. =)
I was more intrigued at how cute all the display piece were. =D
It was an interesting exhibition and I’m sure Joey took something away from it. =)
