As always, kids won’t be twiddling their thumbs with boredom if they visit the New York Hall of Science this summer. The museum is featuring a new hands-on series dubbed “Little Makers,” designed with families and young kids in mind. They’ll get to make everything from ice cream to paper, while learning a variety of science lessons along the way.
“It’s about building scientific process skills in a way that is engaging and fun for the whole family,” said Janella Watson, director of early childhood education at the Hall of Science.
Every Wednesday and select Sundays through Aug. 22, curious children, ages 2 and up, will take part in several arts-and-crafts activities. Wednesday events are from 3 to 5 p.m. and Sunday events are from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ice cream is the ideal summer treat for kids, so why not double the fun by letting them make their own?
On July 15 and 18, kids can participate in “Ice Cream, You Scream...” Their imaginations will run wild as they shake bags of sweet mixtures to invent their own flavors.
Kids can also contort pieces of wire, string, straws, pipe cleaners and more, during the “Bubble Trouble” session to make the bubble blowing tool of their dreams. Watson said they won’t be limited by shape or size, only by their imaginations.
Using common kitchen ingredients (corn starch, water and sometimes food dye) to make a gooey substance called Oobleck, children will get in a science lesson this summer without even noticing it. They will learn how the slime acts as both a solid and a liquid on Aug. 1.
Kids will also make personalized prints by carving designs into foam and using ink and paint. Bring a smock or T-shirt — anything to prevent your clothing from getting a color-splattered makeover — and be prepared to get a little messy.
Next, families will get into a “green” mindset when they participate in environmentally friendly activities. On both Aug. 12 and 15, fabric, scraps of paper, leaves and flower petals will be transformed into sheets of paper within a couple of hours.
The last session of the series, “Weaving Works,” which will be held on Aug. 22, will feature weaving recycled fibers and fabrics by hand on hula hoops to create colorful pieces of art. They can make, but aren’t limited to, stool covers and pads to sit on.
All these sessions will lead up to the World Maker Fair, an event that welcomes local and nonlocal “makers” from all ages. The “Little Makers” sessions were meant to also promote the attendance of younger children to the World Maker Fair.
The cost of each session is $8 per family (up to five people), or $5 for members. Online preregistration is encouraged for all the events to ensure there are enough materials for everyone to tinker with.
‘Little Makers’
When: Through Aug. 22
Where: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111 St., Flushing Meadows Park
Tickets: $8 per family/$5 for members
(718) 699-0005/nysci.org
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