Children, families and people of all ages can follow in the inventive footsteps of Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Leonardo da Vinci at "Tinkering," a new hands-on exhibition at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center.
Inventors throughout history have understood the importance of open-ended exploration, and the results have shaped the world we live in today. From the light bulb to the personal computer, countless inventions owe their existence to the process of tinkering, or focused activity with the right materials in the right environment. Tinkering can lead to extraordinary innovations, but more importantly it builds self-confidence and critical thinking skills.
Featuring more than 20 hands-on exhibits, the new "Tinkering" exhibition at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center encourages children and adults to experience first-hand the process of innovation using pulleys, computer circuits, turntables, paper airplanes, bicycle wheels, video and animation systems, and much more.
In addition to hands-on exhibits, the "Tinkering" exhibition features a large workshop called the Tinkering Studio, where multiple visitors can engage in extended building, experimenting and an ever-changing array of creative activities designed to spark curiosity and foster creative exploration. Examples of projects at the Tinkering Studio include: making origami and Spirograph artwork; designing and constructing simple mechanical toys from recycled materials; building marble "roller coasters" using tubes and ramps; creating "LED bling" using colorful LED lights, watch batteries and accessories; and a constantly changing array of other projects.
"Tinkering" exhibits will enable visitors to experiment with a variety of creative processes, including sound, light, language, patterns, design, and building. Using stop-motion video technology, visitors can create their own animated film at the "Animation Workstation." Inside the "Light Play Room," visitors can freeze their shadow on the photo-sensitive walls or use special handheld LED lights to literally paint with light.
At the "Keva Build Zone," visitors can construct a towering structure out of simple planks. At "Paper Airplane Launcher," aspiring aeronautical engineers can create a paper airplane—either of their own design or using one of five classic designs—then send it soaring off the motor-driven platform.
The "Circuit Workbench" demystifies electrical wiring with six simple circuits anyone can assemble: a bathroom light and fan switch, a dimming light, an alarm light, a flashlight, a generator light, and a two speed motor.
"Drawing Table" takes the famous "Spirograph" toy to a swinging new level. The pen and drawing board are connected to large pendulums which swing at right angles to each other. Swinging both pendulums draws interesting continuous oval shapes, and visitors can experiment with changing the motion of the pendulums.
"Make Your Own Pulley System" lets visitors link wheels and belts to drive intricate pulley systems and activate various mechanical devices. Pulleys and belts can be rearranged into a variety of combinations, allowing visitors to transmit motion by experimenting with size ratios, tension, reciprocating motion, and rotational direction.
At the "Whirly Tube Table," visitors place objects inside vertical wind tunnels, discovering the effect that moving air has on materials of varying shapes, sizes and compositions. Visitors will have fun creating objects that float in or fly out of the tubes, then adjusting them to change how they fly.
More than a dozen additional hands-on exhibits will be available for visitors to explore during the year-long "Tinkering" exhibition, which will be open daily from June 21, 2008 through June 7, 2009. Moreover, local inventors, scientists, artists and tinkerers of all ages will be invited to the Fleet Science Center to show their work and share their passion for creating new ideas and new inventions.
Produced by the world-famous Exploratorium in San Francisco, "Tinkering" is made possible locally in part by a generous gift from QUALCOMM, Inc. The exhibition is completely bilingual, with exhibit instructions and scientific explanations presented in both English and Spanish.
