Baby Area - including a *waterbed* for them to bounce around on (I loved it) - this was a very stimulating environment for them but very simple (this museum is definitely about less is more).
Some pix of the performance space:
The "Garage" - where you can build stuff from recycled products (mostly donated by the community). This place was very cool - check out the clock they made - we should do this as a craft (perhaps for Daylight Savings!)...
And last but not least - the classrooms! I may have gone to Harvard if I started out in learning environments like this (definitely not institutional)...
And some misc. pix that I love - especially the light-tables and "mulch" dig (super-popular)...
MP
I also thought this was a great experience. Very (actually no) tech.
ReplyDeleteAnd perhaps what I found most rewarding was at the end of the tour talking to the director of the museum. She was obviously experienced in this world, and what she told us really validated in my mind that up to now, we have followed the process about as well as it could be done.
With the PALs, we are taking the next step, and I feel good about how we got to where we are. It was nice to hear that the Family Place storytimes already "sold out" so I can't wait to see how this moves forward.
Looks like a fun place for the kids, and a nice scenic view out the classroom windows!
ReplyDeleteLove the clock, love the mulch dig, love the face painting, love the baby H2O bed. I think I need to visit Oregon . . .
ReplyDeleteLove the idea of a "recycle garage" - something that we could do right now and tie it into Healthy RC.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great museum! I love that each place has it's own signature and way of delivering it's message.
ReplyDeleteDitto - baby waterbed cool! light box! Very cool - love that they made theirs low to the gorund! Loooooved the mulch bed! Looks like tons of messy, squishy fun! I would probably be the bad kid that got in a mulch throwing war. It looks really fun!
This place was amazing, and so very Portland. There was such a uniqueness and sense of community. They are very much into documentation and research while maintaining their sense of purpose. It's all about play and discovery. The staff are excited about what they do and it's contagious. It's low-tech and much less sleek than Pretend City, but it has a real personality. I was absolutely blown away. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteNice views - bright and airy! I think it's great that Peter says children's museums should be creating smaller exhibits - yay and all the light tables = IlluminArt! The pictures look very cool - looks like there's a lot of kids having fun and with the forest right outside - awesome!
ReplyDeleteI think Michelle mentioned the rubber digging pit - my favorite!! All of the sudden we turned to corner in a very quiet hallway, and there it was, pack to the gills with little diggers and all the parents sitting in the cafe style chairs (they could eat in this area!) watching the action. Not too many parents in the dig area. They didn't need to be, the kids knew exactly what to do. :)
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