(I’m more obnoxiously excited than my children to have had the chance to write this sponsored post on behalf of the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry. Seriously. It’s ridiculous over here.)
Every single Chicagoan knows the glory of our awesome Museum of Science & Industry; from the famed Science Storms to the impossibly detailed Great Train Story to the charming Main Street (with obligatory ice cream parlor and old-fashioned cinema breaks).
And the MSI has added one more thing to love- their Summer Brain Games program. Created to combat the dreaded “summer brain drain,” it’s a FREE series of projects and experiments emailed to you all summer long! (Did you know that student-aged kiddos can lose up to three months of learnin’ in the summer? I personally don’t have that kinda grey matter to spare these days.)
As Nora and Zuzu can attest, these projects are indeed “all ages” (with a teenser bit of parental help). Pretty sure those of you with biggies will be watching your kids fly through these experiments with nary a request for assistance. Here’s what we’ve tackled so far:
Science Project #1: Weather Station/Rain Gauge!
It’s been a pretty good summer to measure some rainfall, yeah? Nora and Susannah were up to the task of slicing and dicing a seltzer bottle, inverting the top, adding some gravel, securing the two bottle pieces (with sock monkey tape, natch), attaching a ruler at gravel level, caaarefully setting the rain gauge outside, and proceeding to watch the rain fill their weather station for the rest of the afternoon. Science!
Science Project #2: Super-Stable Structure!
Everyone knows that the best structures feature triangles and a big ol’ x in the design. (Everyone knows that.) So we built a completely non-threatened-by-the-elements model of the Hancock Tower out of popsicle sticks. And it is perfect. I’d show you the finished model, but you’d have envy. It’s that beautiful.
SO. Here are two clutch tips which I figured I’d share from my experiment experience with the two Little Littles:
-Whenever possible, do these projects outside! Clean-up is a breeze, and it makes you feel like a super parent to combine both learning and fresh air.
-And do not let Susannah hold the tape. Ever. (Ever ever.)
I bet you’re wanting in on this action, right? (I know.) Check out- and sign up for- this FREE series of science projects here…and guess what else? With your enrollment into this FREE program, you automatically get one complimentary museum admission.
As someone who lives and dies for the museum’s free and discounted days, that’s nothing to shake a [taped and measured] stick at.
And guess what else, people? I’m holding a little giveaway, courtesy of our friends at the Museum of Science & Industry: good for four free passes to the Museum of Science & Industry. Yes. And it’s open to anyone able to get to our good ol’ MSI sometime this year. Stoked? I know. (More details attached to the Rafflecopter below.)
So go sign up. Get your science on. And then I’ll see you at the Museum.
I’ll be the one hogging the Avalanche Disk.
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