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Happy Summer!
There is no summer vacation for the hard-working volunteers of the Children's Science Center! Here is just a snapshot of the efforts underway:
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The outreach team is hard at work preparing for a bigger and better Museum without Walls program including a presence at the Inaugural USA Science and Engineering Festival to be held October 23-24 on the National Mall. This event will draw top science and engineering organizations from throughout the country so we are proud to be involved. -
The fund development committee is gearing up to begin using new a fundraising model that will kick off in September. The intent is to spread the passion for the Children's Science Center cause using a grassroots approach and small group gatherings.
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The marketing committee is developing new marketing collateral that will help us put our best face forward.
All in all, I couldn't be more proud of the efforts to help bring a children's science center to our community. If you have a few hours to spare as a volunteer, be sure to contact us and let us know! We are especially looking for a photographer and someone who likes to take video (amateurs are welcome!)
Thank you for your support!
Yours,
Leo G. Rydzewski Chairman, Board of Directors |
The Science of Creativity
Article underscores need for nurturing potential
A recent Newsweek article could not have been more appropriate for what we are hoping to accomplish here at the Children's Science Center. Recent studies are showing that American children are facing a decline in measurable creativity. This fascinating article talks about the Torrance Creativity Index used to evaluate children and how it can be a strong predictor of future success. It also reports on the significant  decrease in scores of our children, particularly those in Kindergarten through sixth grade. Research supports the idea that creativity can be taught.
The Children's Science Center's goals include numerous exhibits that focus on engaging children in creativity-building exercises. Our convergence on Science, Engineering, Math and Technology for kids ages 2-12 corresponds with the area showing the greatest deficit according to the William and Mary study.
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Science Sparkles at Local Spring Festivals
Over 1,000 local children explored, created, and inspired their love of learning by participating in the Children's Science Center's spring festival programming this year.
The fun began at Viva! Vienna on May 30 and 31, where we debuted a new activity inviting children to construct a model "lunar landing module" from household products. This activity highlighted our recent efforts to enhance our curriculum with different science disciplines, including engineering. In addition, our volunteers challenged children to inflate a balloon without blowing into it, by mixing vinegar and baking soda to create carbon dioxide gas, This popular chemistry experiment has the 'wow" factor which truly engages children in our demographic with an early love of scientific exploration. The event culminated in a guest appearance by Dr. Bruce Lipin, a Children's Science Center partner and geologist with the United States Geological Survey, who presented his fascinating "What Good Are Rocks?" exhibit, regaling children with fun facts and hands-on demonstrations of rocks common to our area as well as the most interesting rock formations from around the nation.
 Our volunteers kept the excitement going at the Herndon Festival the following weekend, June 5 and 6, where we entertained hundreds of children with our "Magic Shaving Cream Art" activity. Back once again by popular demand at the request of our friends at the Herndon Council for the Arts, this activity combines the excitement of creating a beautiful swirling art pattern out of food color and shaving cream with a basic lesson in chemical reactions. Many thanks to our volunteers from the Junior League of Northern Virginia and the Cornerstone Montessori School for making these events a success.
The summer is not over yet! We will be conducting exhibits at the Junior League of Northern Virginia's Back to School Health Fairs, and at the Fairfax County 4-H Festival on Saturday, August 7.  SAVE THE DATE! We also have a huge fall line-up including the USA Science and Engineering Festival, the country's first national science festival, coming on October 23 and 24. This two-day expo on the National Mall will give more than 500 top science and engineering organizations from all over the United States the opportunity to present themselves with hands-on, fun science activities to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. We will need many volunteers so please let us know if you can assist.
Keep reading our e-newsletters and follow us on Facebook for the latest updates on all of our Museum Without Walls activities and events.
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Museum Without Walls
Join us for an upcoming event
Museum without Walls events are a way to let children (and adults) experience the wonders of STEM through fun, hands-on activities. They enable us to begin to fulfill our mission of making STEM fun as well as raise our visibility in the community. Be a visitor or volunteer for this exciting event:
Fairfax County 4-H Festival THIS Weekend!
The event will display information about the effort to build the Children's Science Center in the Dulles Technology Corridor, as well as provide a science-focused educational activity for kids. For this hands-on activity we will be making slime, giving kids the opportunity to learn about the differences between solids and liquids. For more information on the festival, visit their website
To learn more or to volunteer for a shift, please contact our Museum Without Walls leader,
Lori Ann. |
Community Conversations
Summary hightlights ideas and insight
CSC would like to thank all those parents, business leaders and community organizers for their help with our Community Conversations. Five of these conversations took place over the past several months. Each forum brought together individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds and interests, yet the responses heard at each event were remarkably similar. Participants felt that there was a definite need for hands on interactive museum that focuses on science, technology, engineering and math. We also gained valuable insight on what should be incorporated in the Center and what should be avoided. Comments like, 'keep it exciting and current", "have adequate seating throughout the museum for parents and grandparents", "let's have a cafe with healthy meal choices" all help us to make this YOUR museum.
One final thank you to the talented team of rising community leaders from Leadership Fairfax's Emerging Leaders Institute for their hardwork and valuable assistance with this phase of the project. |
Challenge: Make a Soda Bottle Greenhouse!
Science Activities Just for Kids
Attention, green thumbs! Want to bring the green inside? You probably already have all the ingredients you'll need to create a miniature garden right inside your house.
With this hands-on activity, kids learn what it takes to foster seedlings into full-grown plants. They'll be able to see roots spreading, leaves sprouting, and flowers blooming, all in a regular old soda bottle!
What You Need:
- 1 empty 2-liter soda bottle, washed and dried
- Exacto knife or sharp scissors
- Potting soil
- Seeds (try herbs, flowers, or experiment with the seeds from a piece of fruit)
- Plate to hold the greenhouse and keep your tabletop dry
What You Do:
- Parents, using the exacto knife or scissors, cut the label from the soda bottle. Carefully cut the bottle in half so that the bottom (container) piece is deep enough to hold soil and plants. Poke a few holes into the bottom of the container for drainage.
- Have your child fill the container with soil and plant seeds. Water lightly.
- Put the top half of the soda bottle back on, tucking inside the edges of the container. If necessary, you can cut small slits into the upper portion to make it fit. Leave the cap on.
- Place atop a waterproof plate in a sunny spot and water sparingly. The lid retains moisture and heat, so your seeds should sprout quickly. Because the plastic is clear, you'll be able to see the roots beneath the surface of the soil. If the greenhouse gets too steamy, you can remove the lid once in a while. When your seedlings get big enough, transplant to the garden, and plant a new crop!
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| The Children's Science Center is an interactive hands-on museum being planned for Northern Virginia. Our mission is to excite children about science, technology, engineering, and math by making these subjects fun and enabling children to learn through play. For more information, visit www.TheChildrensScienceCenter.org. Please direct all inquiries to The Children's Science Center, 485 Spring Park Place Suite 500, Herndon VA 20170.
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