When my daughter was three, she was obsessed with Sid the Science Kid. It's a phenomenal show. Each theme features five episodes, with the fifth being a recap that brings all the pieces together. For example, Simple Machines Week featured four different simple machines, (incline plane, lever, pulley, and a wheel). The fifth episode showed how all the simple machines could work together on a playground. I had entire summer curriculums built around this show. (You can see them on our Macaroni Kid Pinterest Board).
So when I saw Sid the Science Kid was visiting the Children's Museum, I knew we had to go. The exhibit included Sid's bedroom, kitchen, tree house, car, The Super Fab Lab, Rug Time, and the school playground. Songs played throughout the exhibit, and of course there were science experiments in each room.
Outside of the exhibit, there was the usual amazingness that is the Children's Museum. My daughter and her friend spent their day painting, playing with trains, climbing to impossible heights, playing with robots, experimenting with simple machines, playing with magic sand, "fishing," building a pretend house, making a lava lamp, building a catapult, playing with a robot, listening to Sid stories, pretending to be a waitress and a grocery clerk, and doing amazing science experiments.
Let me back up to the magic sand. It has a topographical map projected onto the sand bucket. The higher the kids build the sand, the more the "landscape" changes. So if they build a big enough sand mountain, it turns white with snow. A bit lower, and it's a green forest. Dig, and you get varying shades of water. How cool is that?
Definitely plan to spend the entire day there. The first thing we do when we walk in the door is sign up for the activity sessions in the science lab, art center, and building zone. It can be a little overwhelming upon walking in, but the museum is exceptionally well organized. There's ample seating for parents in each zone so they can keep a close eye on kids, and there are friendly staff members in each area.
Sid the Science Kid will be visiting the museum until January 15th, so there's plenty of time to check it out. The Children's Museum also hosts a fantastically fun trick or treat event, and more. You can learn more about the Children's Museum of Atlanta by visiting their website. Membership is 50% reciprocal with INK in Gainesville and children's museums across the country.
