We purchased a family membership to the Science Museum of Minnesota this year, after we started the homeschool experiment. It was well-worth the $95 fee. One of our favorite parts of the museum is Collector’s Corner, a club where kids can bring in the interesting things they’ve found in nature. They earn points by bringing rocks, shells, snakeskins and fossils.
Then they can trade these items for other interesting natural items. It has spurred my kids interest in learning about science, and given them something to look for every time we go outside. We usually bring simple things like rocks, sand and shells, but this summer we found high-point-value objects: a snakeskin at Grandma’s, and mermaid’s purses (shark egg cases) on Cape Cod.
When we recently visited the museum, we went with our good friends and neighbors. I was surprised to hear the kids each shared their points with their friends, so they could also choose an item from the case. The museum volunteer recognized right away that they were sharing their points, so she gave the kids a “deal” on the objects they picked out.
Very cool.
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Tags: collectors corner, geology, Pass the Torch Tuesday, science museum of minnesota
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8:20 am
Wow. Now that’s sharing. Pat yourself on the back for me … hard.
BTW, thanks for your review at stumbleupon.com. I am humbled.
Mike
http://somethingaboutparenting.typepad.com/
8:51 am
What a great concept! We’ll have to road trip there as well! Here’s my PTT for this week: http://twolittlevikings.blogspot.com/2007/08/canning-math.html
9:20 am
That’s a low fee for a whole family (and extra points to boot)! We love going to our science museum, too, but I wonder if it has a hard time competing with all the other stuff down the road–Disney World, Sea World, Universal, etc. Gosh, if only those places provided extra credit!
2:40 pm
What I have loved the most about all your homeschooling shares is the very tangible and relatable learning experiences. It’s so much better for our kids to learn without knowing they’re learning and what better way than the many shares like this you’ve given? I think they absorb so much more and I think it feeds their desire to know and learn how things work. THAT is the key to education in my opinion. I hope to get around to a PTT post today!
Hugs,
Holly
9:22 am
if only more kids couldn’t get involved in such. Last night we were out walking and two pre teen kids were riding their bike on the path. I thought that was such a healthy and fine way to spend their evening time instead of in front of tv/games etc.
(Until one of them make some smart mouth remark to us – why do they have to be ill mannered ? ? )
6:24 pm
Passing the Torch at the Science Museum of Minnesota
These are photos from the Science Museum of Minnesota’s Collector’s Corner. My kids love it! And what a great way to learn about science!
4:02 pm
I love the idea of this museum. I’m not sure if we have anything similar in Australia, but I’m going to try and find out. How lovely your kids are, and how nice they were rewarded for their kindness.
11:55 pm
[...] over the past year. In January, I shared photos of the kids conducting DNA experiments, and in August I introduced you to Collector’s Corner. But Friday was our last visit for a while. Our annual membership expires this week — yet [...]
11:01 am
[...] area. Many have hands-on exhibits designed for younger children. (I’ve written about several in Minneapolis, Chicago and [...]