I’d previously taken my daughter to see Science Museum Live at a local theatre so I was keen to see what they had done with the latest show – especially as it was at the Imax within the Science Museum itself.
So I borrowed my neighbour’s bright seven year old and we had an adventure getting the train to Richmond and the tube to South Kensington. For the journey, I took some coffee and water and she had a hot chocolate. Mind you, I had strict instructions – from the seven year old – that it was to be with soya milk and no chocolate sprinkles. Bless.
Arriving early meant we had time to take a peek at some of the other wonders within the Science Museum. She said she hadn’t been before. I shouldn’t have been surprised that she was totally awed by all the engines – after her apparent delight at the large ramp and that huge circular ceiling light thing – she kept exclaiming “They’re so big!”. Maybe she thought they used to go in cars. I did my best to explain how they worked – using steam – and how they were called “nodding donkeys”. Luckily, there are plenty of animated aids providing the full history and details. She was utterly transfixed.
Then we moved through the space exploration bit. Again, I had to dredge my memory to remember the various Apollo trips but by now she had mastered the audio and visual presentations and was getting all the information she needed without my help. She couldn’t quite believe how small the vehicle was that transported the astronauts on the moon.
Things have changed and we wandered into a café area before spying the “Pattern Pod” and she was off learning about animal tracks and honeycomb and amusing herself with all the things to play and touch. Meanwhile, I learned about fractal gardens – a good way to get kids to eat cauliflower I thought. Like many other small people, she played for a while at the moving floor image of the water and the koi.
We travelled up to the third floor – The Future – but all the voting machines were in full use so we went to the second floor to learn about the atmosphere. The displays here were rather more complex – mind maps with detailed audio explanations. She did well on the carbon quiz. I learned that whilst the UK has .9% of the world’s population, we generate 2% of all carbon emissions. She learned about the carbon emissions of tee shirts. Then we made our way to the Imax cinema.
They were having a bit of computer trouble (glad it’s not just me!) so we were kept waiting a while. The show was meant to start at 130pm but we didn’t get in until 150pm. It was warm and the kids were getting a little fractious by this time but once we were in the massive auditorium looking at the amazing stage set as an old laboratory with all manner of interesting crates, covers and equipment they settled down. My young companion told me all that she could see “fans, old armchair, cracked windows, taps, slinky, upside down chair, aeroplane on a fishing rod – the strangest of things!”.
Then Phil arrived on stage – generating fits of giggles from my companion. Every child loves an adult who’s a bit naughty! Her companion Annabella arrived too – the serious one – and the fun began. They had been set a task to demonstrate and explain nine types of energy (heat, light, sound, electricity, chemical, magnetic, kinetic, potential and nuclear – see, I was paying attention) in just a few minutes. They had help from non-speaking Bernard and an amazing digital Einstein on the big screen.
I really liked that whilst the actors fooled around and included lots of mentions of Star Wars and jokes, they all showed total respect for all the safety procedures and didn’t dumb down the science for the kids. (My young companion was telling me about the formula for oxygen, hydrogen and methane on the train home – and which makes the biggest band when ignited!).
She loved the plasma ball and the hair-on-ends Van Der Graff generator. She hid under my arm at a couple of the loudest bangs too. She joined in with the counting and shouting and kept giggling at the antics of Phil and Annabella. And she almost burst with her own energy as plastic bottles were “fired” into the audience at the end.
The show lasted just over an hour and had kept the seven year old – and all the other kids and parents there – totally absorbed throughout. And we learned a lot about energy. I shall imagine that physics teachers everywhere will be blessing the Science Museum for promoting their topic so imaginatively and entertainingly. Whilst visiting the Science Museum remains free, the show costs £14.50 for adults and £9.50 for kids. There are some great family deals too – such as an adult and two children for £29.
After the show we made our way to the basement. Google’s WebLab was a bit too advanced for us (although we kept our Lab Tags) but the garden and other interactive stuff down there was great. What a marvellous way to spend a day in the school holidays.
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/events/science_shows/sm_live.aspx
