Children's Museum of the Highlands

NOTE NOOK

The note nook contains many different types of musical instruments.  Kids can play a piano, organ or percussion instruments and sing along as they play.  The types of learning involved include:

• manual dexterity
• reading music
• appreciation of music
• tone discrimination
• cooperative interaction
• rhythm
• mechanics of music production
• experimentation with different types of music
• hand - eye coordination

HOUSE OF DESIGN

This exhibit area allows kids to build with blocks, design with shapes on a wall, use giant tinker toys to construct imaginative buildings and learn about sizes and shapes with a giraffe and a penguin. The types of learning involved include:

• measurements and shapes
• creativity
• spatial relationships
• gross and fine motor skills
• texture
• shape identification

THE WAY WE WERE

This area contains an archaeological "dig" where kids can discover dinosaur artifacts. There real bones to examine and a dinosaur memory game.  A wall painting shows the Kissimmee Valley Man in 1400 AD.  They can learn:

• how archaeologists work
• early Florida history
• about artifacts and how they were used
• motor skills

SAND PENDULUM

The sand pendulum is a large box with a funnel hanging above it.  Sand is poured into the funnel which is then set in motion.  The motion results in many different designs of sand. The learning involved is:

• creativity
• design
• pendulum concept - physics of motion
• motor skills
• gravity

BUBBLE MACHINE

The ability to step inside a bubble fascinates children. In this exhibit, they can use a pulley system to pull a bubble up around themselves and watch it pop. The types of learning include:

• patience
• motor skills
• understanding surface tension
• pulleys
• reflection
• experimentation with movement in the creation of a bubble
• understanding the mechanics of bubble production

NEWTON'S CRADLE

This exhibit uses bowling balls to show action and reaction. The cord is pulled on one end starting the balls. The children can see the reaction to their initial action. They learn:

• that for every action that is an opposite and equal reaction
• a different use for familiar objects
• motor skills
• effects of gravity
• experimentation with movement and cause and effect

WATERWORKS

A real running river of water that encourages children to create a variety of levels of water and try to increase the water pressure to race boats. The learning involved is:

• cooperation and communication
• the mechanics of how water flows
• experimentation with cause and effect

CMH VILLAGE

Our village includes a doctor's office, fire station, bank, grocery store and post office.  Each area is set up as real as possible for the kids to use. The learning involved is:

• role playing
• sorting
• reading
• career awareness/exploration
• math
• colors
• fine and gross motor skills
• money
• public relations
• health and safety awareness
• positive interaction
• cooperation
• share and take turns
• familiarity with tools used
• weights and measurements

WORD WALL

This exhibit is a wall of magnetic words that allows visitors to spell out different sentences.  Another section shows children how words can hurt feelings. The learning involved is:

• how words are used in sentences
• how words can make you feel.

WKID NEWS AND TV STATION

This area is set up for kids to see themselves on TV. They can perform for the camera or do news and weather reports using the United States map and magnetic weather symbols. It helps kids learn about:

• geography
• self presentation
• role playing
• weather
• communication
• self concept

ORANGE YOU GLAD YOU LIVE IN FLORIDA

This exhibit shows how oranges turn into orange juice. Children can pick oranges, ship them on trucks to the juicing plant and load them onto a conveyor belt for processing.  A video shows the real operation of picking, juicing and shipping. This teaches:

• Florida history
• role playing
• weather transportation

GOLF BALL RACEWAY

An exhibit that allows children to create their own raceway path and race two different weights of golf balls. The learning involved is:

• cause and effect
• logical thinking
• decision making

THE AMAZING MAZE

A 12-foot high climbing structure that requires the children to think to find their way out the other side. The learning involved is:

• motor skills
• spatial relationship
• decreased fear of heights
• logical thinking
• increased self - confidence
• decision making
• interaction and communication with other participants

COMPUTER AREA

This area has several computers with different levels of software. This teaches:

• fine motor skills
• visual discrimination
• taking turns
• language and reading
• hand -eye coordination
• positive reinforcement
• math
• computer literacy

BOOKS IN A HALF SHELL

This quiet reading area is surrounded with a collection of turtles. This teaches:

• reading for relaxation
• introduction to collection

PEDAL POWER

Our newest exhibit allows visitors to pedal a bike to generate enough electricity to activate various parts of the exhibit. They learn:

• About electricity
• perseverance

FACE PAINTING/MASKS

This exhibit consists of two areas.  One is set up for the children to paint their own faces using washable paint sticks.  The other area uses paper, crayons and scissors to create their own masks they can take home. The learning involved is:

• role playing
• imagination
• cutting
• motor skills
• design
• creative outlet
• interaction
• mirror images
• visual discrimination
• cooperation
• color discrimination

ART SHOW

This exhibit displays a variety of well-known paintings; Velcro backed so that kids can create their own show. They learn:

• art appreciation
• categorize
• color discrimination
• art history
• decision making
• art arrangement

SPEED OF SOUND

This exhibit uses 470' of PVC pipe to let kids "see" how fast sound travels. It teaches:

• how fast sound travels
• reading
• listening skills
• following directions
• measurement
• vibration loud/soft sounds

SNIFF IT !

This exhibit consists of several bottles containing many scents.  Participants lean over, sniff and try to identify the smell. The teaching involves is:

• olfactory discrimination
• reading
• following directions

SPELL IT OUT

This area had a board of different colored Velcro letters for kids to spell out different words. It teaches:

• reading
• spelling
• ABC's
• color discrimination

CMH TRANSPORTATION AREA

This area includes K's Travel Agency, a real plane and the CMH Trolley. The learning involved is:

• geography
• sharing and taking turns
• climbing skills
• research
• positive interaction
• motor skills
• types of travel
• reading
• imagination
• role playing
• alphabetizing
• filling out forms

JOE'S GARAGE

This exhibit allows children to learn about cars. One exhibit shows how gears work; another area allows children to drive a car on different race courses.  A variety of car parts allow children to explore what makes a car work. It teaches:

• motor skills
• electricity
• gears

THE THEATER AREA

In this area children can put on a puppet show, perform a play for their friends or play dress up. It teaches:

• role playing
• creative outlet
• imagination
• self concept
• willingness to perform
• cooperative interaction
• motor skills
• positive feedback
• physical dexterity
• problem solving
• career exploration
• role reversals
• speech development
• appreciation of diversity