Hands On Museum Projects

Hands on for kids is spread out throughout the museum.  There is still an area in my office for the kids to write with a nib pen and a slate pencil.

Brand new to our hands on is sheep wool.  Roving, batting and raw wool.

Very few of the kids that visit the museum live on a farm..and the ones that do ..consider a farm..a dog and a horse.  Gone are farms as we knew them..at least in this area of Minnesota.

I had so much raw wool I made a Ziplock bag that says “Smell the Sheep!”  On really warm days it was a real eye opener.  Far Guy made the wool display board and the wool itself was donated by Lanny way out there at Vicktory Farm and Gardens in Roy Washington.   It is nice to have blog friend that will supply you with what you need.  Many thanks Lanny, Dirt and EBet!

This year I added a table in the basement for “hands on.”

It holds many things for kids to touch.  They can guess which furs are which. ( The names are written on the back.)  They can put pieces of paper into paper embosser/seal makers, press the handle down and then cut the papers out..many kids call it “a driver’s license.” One embosser seal says something about Park Rapids and the other something about Minnesota.  Some children like to take the edge of a pencil and gently enhance the raised part of the seal.  So far no one has embossed their fingers!  We also have a sand box that is an archeological dig in the basement…full of treasure to be discovered.

I have a typewriter upstairs in the clerks office and a scale that weighs ounces.  In the Heritage room I have two sets of stereoscopes. I always explain to children that a stereoscope was entertainment for the evening ..long ago.  I have a little girls muff in my office..even the big girls like to put their hands in a muff.  My Pheasant that kids can touch gently is always a big hit with kids.  The one room school room..is all hands on..they can sit in the desks, pretend to be the teacher and write on the chalkboard…or sit and read books.  Sometimes it is just best to stand back and let the little imaginations flow.

There is some discussion about having an area in one of the newly painted rooms as a children’s area.  So far having things spread out throughout the museum works for me and the kids seem to enjoy it.  I have a list posted of all the children’s activities.

We also have a treasure hunt for kids..but as I found out the other day..I do not know where all the items are located..so I need to make a cheat sheet just for me.  I inherited the treasure hunt and it is great fun for adults and kids. 

Time at the museum is winding down..only 17 days left:)