Contact: Megan Fischer
Director of Communications
(401) 273-5437 ext. 126
Fischer@ChildrenMuseum.org
New ThinkSpace Exhibit Opens November 10 at Providence Children’s Museum
PROVIDENCE, RI – ThinkSpace, a major new exhibit exploring spatial thinking, opens at Providence Children’s Museum on Saturday, November 10. This dynamic environment will invite visitors to explore, imagine, create and experiment with shape and space through hands-on play and learning experiences.
Spatial thinking is part of everyday life and is necessary to navigate, explore and survive in the world. People think spatially all the time – when tying shoes, reading maps, finding the way to the store, packing a suitcase, doing jigsaw puzzles, climbing rocks and cutting sandwiches in half – and they become better with practice. Spatial thinkers are architects designing buildings, pilots flying planes, doctors reading x-rays, plumbers installing pipes, bakers decorating cakes, geologists studying fossils and artists painting landscapes.
Spatial thinking is a powerful problem-solving tool and a key to kids’ interest and success in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. While spatial thinking develops over a lifetime, research suggests that early development of spatial thinking skills increases later achievement in math and science – and that, for young children, hands-on experiences are especially important. However, though kids learn the basics of shape and space, spatial thinking isn’t systematically taught in schools.
ThinkSpace will get Children’s Museum visitors thinking spatially with plenty of fun-filled opportunities for interactive play and exploration:
• Navigate mystery maze boxes using the senses to guide a ball through hidden twists and turns, and map the path it traveled.
• Create intricate kaleidoscopic designs by layering, ordering and rotating colorful cutout shapes in countless combinations.
• Experiment with shadows and scale, transforming 3-D objects into 2-D representations and creating imaginative shadow scenes.
• Solve the soma cube, a giant 3-D puzzle, by fitting together seven pieces to form a cube. Find one or more of 240 separate solutions!
• Construct domino chain reactions, negotiating spacing and alignment to topple series of spirals and zigzags.
• Explore a nook stocked with books about shape, navigation, and visual and spatial challenges.
• And try other vibrant puzzles, challenges, building activities, and more!
ThinkSpace opening celebration at Providence Children’s Museum, Saturday, November 10 – Monday, November 12 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM; free with $9.00 Museum admission. For more information, visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org.
ThinkSpace is supported by lead sponsor National Grid, with additional support from June Rockwell Levy Foundation.
###
Providence Children’s Museum – play is powerful!
The Museum is located at 100 South Street in Providence’s Jewelry District. September through March, open Tuesday through Sunday and Monday school holidays, 9 AM to 6 PM, and selected Fridays until 8 PM. April through August, open 7 days. Museum admission is $9.00 per person; always free for Museum members. Call (401) 273-KIDS or visit www.ChildrenMuseum.org.
