FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Libby Raiford, 423-648-6042, lfr@cdmfun.org or
Carla Campbell, 423-648-6054, cbc@cdmfun.org
Engineers Love to Make Fun!
A Sneaker-Launching Catapult… A Structure Gumdrops and Toothpick House…A Straw Glider… And What's a Flinker?
Engineering Fun Day at Creative Discovery Museum, Feb. 14
Aims to Hook Kids on Inventing and Innovating, Like Engineers Do
Creative Discovery Museum is partnering with the Chattanooga Engineers Club and professional engineers from the Chattanooga area to get kids excited about engineering.
On Feb. 14, professional engineers from organizations like TVA, Chattanooga State, UTC and others will provide fun hands-on activities that engage kids in the kinds of problem solving and innovative thinking that engineers do all the time. This year’s event will have a special Valentines Day theme. Activities will be in the Museum's Atrium from noon-4 p.m.
"We want to get kids interested in engineering," said Erica Campbell, Museum Experience Manager for Creative Discovery Museum. "When they get engaged in fun activities that use problem solving skills, they can see that engineering is not just about math. It's also about being inventive and innovative. This is a good way to get kids to see what engineers can do in their profession."
Activities include the Gumdrop Dome—making a structure out of gumdrops and toothpicks-- and Hoop Gliders -- making gliders out of two paper hoops and a plastic straw.
In the Sneaker Launch, kids get to help build a catapult, choose a target, then try to hit the heart-shaped target by catapulting one of their sneakers through the air.
Then there's the Flinker. A flinker is something that doesn't FLoat or sINK, get it. Kids will use a variety of materials to create something that floats under water, halfway between floating on the surface and sinking to the bottom.
Creative Discovery Museum's Engineering Fun Day is part of a variety of activities during the month of February leading up to Engineering Week, which is sponsored by the Chattanooga Engineers Club.
New Ticket Price – As of February 13, 2009, ticket prices will increase by $1 to $9.95 for children and adults.
Hours through the month of February -- open Monday through Saturday (except Wednesday) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m., closed Wednesday.
Spring hours, beginning March 1 -- open Monday through Saturday (including Wednesday) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sunday noon to 5 p.m.
Creative Discovery Museum is located at 321 Chestnut Street in downtown Chattanooga. For more information, call (423) 756-2738, or visit www.cdmfun.org.
Creative Discovery Museum is recognized as one of the top children’s museums in the nation. It is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to educational enrichment for children ages 4-months to 12-years-old through interactive, hands-on experiences that foster creative and critical thinking. The Museum focuses on a broad range of areas encompassed by Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Technology and the Sciences. In addition to its exhibits, Creative Discovery Museum provides local residents and visitors with special events, educational programming, teacher resources for the classroom, field trips, after school programming, early childhood education classes, artist residencies, camps, art lessons, science demonstrations, and a branch of the local library. Creative Discovery Museum is a funded agency of Allied Arts and Tennessee Arts Commission.
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