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Correction
The Whole Foods special Museum without Walls and shopping event on July 27 will be at the Reston store, not Vienna as previously communicated. We apologize for any inconvenience. We hope to see you in Reston! |
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News from the Chair
Principal Olivia Toatley from Hunters Woods Elementary in Reston shared some very inspirational thoughts at our recent Children's Science Center Founders Breakfast. She said that by building a children's science museum in our community, we are sending a message to local children that we care about them. I think we are also showing our children that we care about learning and that we care about science.
Children do not fully understand the many critical problems that their generation will be challenged to solve, but they will get the message that learning about science and the world around us is important and fun. It is amazing how intuitive children are when we plant those seeds. My six year old daughter recently told me that she wants to be a scientist, and she wants to learn how the body works. I am certain that she is watching the hard work we are doing for the Children's Science Center and that it has affected her outlook.
In the Museum Without Walls and other work we do, we are affecting young lives already with over 6,000 children served in the past year. Imagine multiplying that impact exponentially to reach hundreds of thousands of children and showing them how much we care.
Yours,
Nene Spivy
Chair, Board of Directors |
 Operation FireflyGiving Light to your Child's Interest in Science
The Children's Science Center, in collaboration with the Museum of Science, Boston, just launched Operation Firefly to learn about the geographic distribution and activity of these amazing insects during the summer months! This hands-on activity is great for bringing families together to learn about science, think critically, and play outside! Until July 31, we will gather weekly data about the fireflies observed (or not observed) in the evening and submit reports. You can join other Citizen Scientists in collecting data that will be used by professional scientists at Tufts University and Fitchburg State College in a long-term study to learn about fireflies and our environment! Anyone can participate by visiting our Web site http://thechildrenssciencecenter.org/firefly and registering.
Learning facts about fireflies' habitats and habits while collecting data in this hands-on activity is an inspiring way to "spark" a child's interest in science! Join us today and be out in "the field" collecting data tonight!
Operation Firefly Finale
Everyone is invited to the Operation Firefly Grand Finale Family Event on August 13 at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon, Virginia, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. where we will celebrate our contribution to this important research!
Bring a picnic and enjoy family play time and science learning at the "Operation Firefly" Grand Finale Family Event presented by The Children's Science Center! Interact with the newest "Museum Without Walls" exhibit, "Great Shakes: Understanding Earthquake Basics;" learn about environmental stewardship from the Museum of Science, Boston's firefly expert Don Salvatore; sing along with Ryan Buckle & Friends ("Science You Can Sing To"); and enjoy refreshments after your picnic dinner from our friends at Whole Foods Market. Please RSVP with your total party count by August 8! See you there!
For more information about Operation Firefly, contact firefly@TheChildrensScienceCenter.org or visit our Web site: www.TheChildrensScienceCenter.org/firefly. |
Get Your Shopping Done AND Help Children's Science Center
The Whole Foods Market of Reston, Virginia is as excited about science as we are!
 On Wednesday, July 27, Whole Foods in Reston will be hosting an event where 5 percent of sales for the day will go to the Children's Science Center bringing us closer to our goal of bringing a hands-on children's museum focused on science and math literacy to the Northern Virginia community. Our Museum Without Walls team will be there to engage children young and old as well as spread the word about the Children's Science Center.
Bring your shopping list and hit the aisles, it's all for a great cause. Tell everyone you know to shop on July 27 at the Whole Foods in Reston! |
Upcoming Museum Without Walls Events
Attend or Volunteer!
Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7: Fairfax County 4-H Fair and Frying Pan Farm Park Show -
Have you ever wondered why some things float and some things sink in water? We will be exploring this question with our new MWOW activity. Since many families are making plans to head to the beach or the lake for summer vacation, we will use a display that has samples of freshwater and saltwater which have been differentiated by the addition of food coloring. Children will discover that saltwater is heavier (i.e., denser) than freshwater. As a volunteer you'll aid visitors in adding a sample of the colored saltwater to a graduated cylinder using a medicine dropper, followed by a sample of freshwater. The children will clearly see that the lighter freshwater can actually float on top of the saltwater. Volunteers will then help the children float small objects (e.g., paper clips, ping-pong balls, etc.) in the freshwater and saltwater to show those objects can better maintain buoyancy in a sample of saltwater, rather than in freshwater due to the contrast in density. Delight a child with the fascinating discovery of why it's easier to float on your back in the salty ocean rather than in a freshwater lake!
Volunteers Needed! Please contact Lori Ann Terjesen if you can help.
Noon -- 3 p.m., 3 -- 6 p.m.
Sunday, 9 a.m. -- Noon, Noon -- 3 p.m., 3 -- 6 p.m.
Contact us for more information about any of these events. We hope to see you! |
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Summer Means Road Trips
Where Are You Planning on Going?
In hundreds of cities and towns across the nation and globe there are children's museums and science centers. If you are traveling this summer, there is a good chance you will visit a place that has one or several. We would love to hear about your experience. We want our museum to incorporate some of the best experiences from other children's museums and science centers, so if you see something amazing, something that really engages you or a child in your life, send us an email or photo.
Here are some resources to help you find a great place to visit:
Association of Children's Museums locator
Parents.com - Top Children's Museums
Parents.com - Top Science Centers
Share your experiences and help us create a museum worthy of Top Ten status! Email us your favorite things about your visit as well as pictures! |
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Imagine Their Future
Learn more about the Children's Science Center
If you haven't yet had the opportunity to join us for a Virtual Tour of the Children's Science Center, make plans for August 8 from 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. in the Reston Town Center area. Invite your friends, neighbors and colleagues to learn more about the vision for the Children's Science Center during our monthly Imagine Thier Future event. Please email us for details and directions. |
STAR
STEM Activities Around the Region
The Fairfax County Public Library is promoting science fun for kids this summer. Several of the libraries in the system will be hosting The Maryland Science Center for a 45 minute assembly titled, "Play Ball: The Science of Sports".
This fun, interactive show helps kids understand the biology, physics and engineering behind athletics. According to Maryland Science Center, you will "discover why you wouldn't play football with a hockey puck and uncover why each sport has unique equipment that utilizes friction, elasticity and shape to its advantage."
Upcoming sessions include:
Monday, July 18, 2:30 p.m. at Reston Library
Monday, July 18, 7:00 p.m. at George Mason Library
Saturday, July 30, 10:30 a.m. at Tysons Library
Saturday, July 30, 2:30 p.m. at Pohick Library
Visit the library site for more information.
Editor's Note: The Children's Science Center would like to highlight local activities and news related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in each issue of our newsletter. We are calling this new section STAR (STEM Around the Region). Send your news and pictures to us and we will select a STAR to highlight each month. |
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Are You a Retired STEM Professional?
Volunteers Needed for 2011-12 School Year
The American Association for the Advancement of Science needs scientists, engineers and physicians to assist K-12 science teachers in Fairfax County Public Schools during the 2011-12 school year. The hours are flexible, and volunteers attend a one-day training session before being assigned to schools. For information on the program, please see the website or contact Don Rea, 703-237-7683. |
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Challenge: Learn More about Bioluminescence
The Secret Glow of Fireflies, Cookie-cutter fish, Anglerfish and Others 
What You Need:
- A glowstick (commonly found in party stores)
- A clear glass of cold water
- A clear glass of warm water
- A notebook or piece of paper to record results
What You Do:
- Follow the directions on the glowstick wrapper to activate the light.
- Immerse the glowstick in the cold water for 5 minutes. What happens to the glow? Record your results.
- Immerse the glowstick in warm water for 5 minutes. DO NOT PUT THE GLOWSTICK IN BOILING WATER OR IN THE OVEN.
- Put the glowing lightstick in the freezer for 24 hours. Does the lightstick continue to glow in the freezer?
- Remove the lightstick from the freezer and allow it to come back up to room temperature.
- Does the glow come back?
Why this Works:
In this activity you observed the effect of temperature on the glow of a Lightstick. This effect is a result of the effect of temperature on the rate of the chemical reaction that produces the glow. Like all chemical reactions, the reaction that produces the glow is slower at lower temperatures and faster at higher temperatures. In a Lightstick, the faster the reaction the brighter the glow. When the reaction in a Lightstick occurs at a faster rate, it will use up the reactants inside more quickly than when the reaction occurs more slowly.
Many chemical reactions produce both light and heat. A burning candle is such a reaction. When a candle is lit, its flame both glows and becomes hot. It is much less common for a chemical reaction to produce light without heat. The light from such reactions is called cool light, because it is created without heat. Reactions that produce light without heat are called chemiluminescent reactions. Perhaps the most familiar chemiluminescent reactions are those that occur in living organisms. Fireflies produce light without heat by a chemiluminescent reaction. Chemiluminescent reactions that occur in living organisms are called bioluminescent reactions.
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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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