3 generations and a science lesson!
WOW – science is really pretty interesting. I mean, it can be if you are that ‘kind’ of person. I’m not sure what ‘kind’ that is, but we recently found out a little more about individual personalities and science. Let me explain.
Don & I have several children who have adopted us as their grandparents here in Peru. Not just the orphanages, but a few individual children. Most of them are from our home church in San Juan de Lurigancho. A couple of them are from our neighborhood. We enjoy their hugs, and chatter, and they are so patient and understanding as we try to communicate with them. A visit is always a highlight for both them and us. Lollipops help! We have puzzles and games for them to play with if they are at our house. We have been invited guests to some of their birthday parties.
Moving fast forward….school will begin March 1st and that means summer vacation is almost over. The children will have more structured schedules and less time for visits. Sniffle, sniffle. But we wanted to go on an outing with them before they headed back to school. Looking on the internet for a children’s activity, I happened to come upon “el parque de la imaginacion” and found that it is a science museum.
Science? Ahhhh have to think about that. Who wants to go to a science museum for fun? Fun? Doesn’t sound much like fun. Let’s see, will Gabriel, Diana and Mattias like it? They are all under 4 years of age. Don’t think so. What about Natalie, Sondros, Jonathan, Bruce, Anaid, Sayra, Angela and Katy? They are all in school and probably get enough science already. Don’t think so. So, what do you think? Should we take them some place we’ve never visited? Some place that they might not enjoy? We looked at the website, made a phone call, and decided to go for it! Sounds like it’s a hands-on exhibit hall of science experiments. Science is really a body of facts learned by study or experience.
We were off to play, learn, discover, and laugh together as we experimented with science. The excitement was building as we boarded the bus (with Edgar as our driver) and travelled to Lima to our destination. The surprise to us was that there were as many adults as there were children at the museum and everyone was having a wonderful time. The exhibit hall had hands-on experiments for everyone to try in distinctive areas and in the category of space, science, energy, mechanical, illusion, and life. We had the opportunity to experience a tremor, space movie, gigantic bubbles, balance and equilibrium, the body (birth, head, heart, and hearing) as well as magnetic fields, life-size gyroscope, hot air balloon, and electric chair! There was a lot of attraction to the 15’ piano keyboard you played with your feet, and the sand pendulum. Visiting the mechanical area gave both big and little kids (adults and children) a chance to try pulleys lifting their own weight, and test their knowledge and strength. These were just some of the 77 different experiments available for one to play, learn, discover and laugh together.
A simple conclusion – three hours later….Yes, the youngest members of our group had a blast! They continued to return to their favorite section to try the science experiment again and again. The school age kids never complained a bit about being bored because all the hands-on opportunities provided them with what they needed to keep interested. The adults themselves were a thing of science. Right before our very eyes they ‘metamorphasized’ from adults to children and had more fun than anyone. Yes there were 3 generations on a science trip, playing, learning, discovering and laughing together! On the bus ride home eight of our kids and grands fell asleep. Needless to say science can be fun but also tiring.
