Visit | Earth Science Week at the Museum

 

 

Earth Science Week: Schedule of Activities

October 12-18, 2008
Date/Time Acitivity Where
Sunday, Oct. 12

1:00 -
3:00 p.m.

 Fossil Finds (Ages 5 and up)
Step into the shoes of a paleontologist as you excavate fossils and observe unique fossil specimens up close. Discover how paleontologists learned more about how dinosaurs eat.

Dino Trail (past cafe)

Rain: Geology

Monday, Oct. 13

Science at Home

Museum is closed on Mondays through December 15

Get outside! The Earth is made of a variety of rocks. The minerals that combine to form these rocks have different characteristics. Go on a rock hunt around your yard or Local Park. Search for rocks that are interesting to you. How many rocks can you find? In what ways are the rocks alike or different? You can use a clean, empty egg carton to collect your rocks in and make labels to display where the rocks were found. Bring them to the Museum for our classification activities on Wednesday!

Your Own Backyard!
Tuesday, Oct. 13
10:30 a.m. Story time “Diary of a Worm” by Doreen Cronin
(Ages 4 and up)
Children and adults alike will enjoy this silly and unique perspective on life from a creature that spends much of his life underground. This is a book we use and recommend frequently in one of our early childhood educator workshops.
Play to Learn
11:00-
11:45 a.m.

Special Program: Vermicomposting
(Ages 5 and up)
Rhonda Sherman, Extension Solid Waste Specialist
Biological & Agricultural Engineering Department at North Carolina State Universit, will host this activity.

Get ready to turn your food scraps into rich compost for your garden and houseplants. Learn how to set up and maintain a worm bin to recycle your food scraps and used paper. Vermicomposting allows you to compost inside, year-round without any odors.

 Mercury Meeting Room

noon -
1:00 p.m.

F.B.I.; Fungus, Bacteria and Invertebrates:
Members Only (Ages 6 and up)
Have you ever heard of the FBI hiding in the woods? Join Environmental Educator Jessica Finelt from the Durham Parks and Recreation Environmental Education Department for an onsite trek as we explore some of the hiding places of fungus, bacteria and invertebrates. Closed-toe shoes, long pants and long sleeve t-shirts are recommended.

*Pre-Registration is required. Limit 20 children. (1 adult is welcome with each child)
Please contact (919) 220-5429 x362 to register
 Picnic Dome, South Side
2:30-
4:00 p.m.

Worms! (Ages 5 and up)
The use of live worms is a unique way to enrich children’s knowledge of soil components and gain a better understanding of how these creatures help plants grow. Interacting with worms is also a means of introducing children to live animal care and observation. Come join us in Kidlab to observe these helpful creatures up close. This is a drop in session; each experience lasts about 15 minutes. Space is limited.

Kidlab
Wednesday, Oct. 15
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
 Rock Sort (ages 4 and up)
There are limitless ways to sort and classify rocks. Join us to explore some of the ways geologists sort! 		Geology Wing
2:30 -
3:00 p.m.

The Geology of Explore the Wild (ages 7 and up)
Did you know that Explore the Wild used to be a quarry? Join freelance science writer Mary-Russell Roberson to learn more about the geologic history of the area that houses our bears, wolves and wetlands.

Mary-Russell is the co-author of Exploring the Geology of the Carolinas: A Field Guide to Favorite Places from Chimney Rock to Charleston. Program is rain or shine

Bear Overlook, Explore the Wild
Thursday, Oct. 16

11:00-
11:45 a.m.

and

2:00-
2:45 p.m.

 

Special Program: “Joy, Fun and Seasons in the Sun” Cynthia Cudaback, Ph.D. (ages 5 and up)
How does the sun rise and set each day? And why does it set so early in fall and winter? Why does its apparent motion change with the seasons?

And speaking of things in the sky, what is going on with the moon each month? Come and be the earth, sun and moon.

We will orbit, rotate and experiment with globes and light bulbs. The morning session will focus on the earth and sun. Afternoon session will include phases of the moon.

Mercury Meeting Room
Friday, Oct. 17
11:00-
11:45 a.m.		 Special Program: Climate Change (ages 9 and up)
Join Vasu Kilaru, Geographic Information Systems, and Spatial Analysis and Satellite Remote Sensing expert with the Environmental Protection Agency for a presentation on abrupt climate change
 Mercury Meeting Room
Saturday, Oct. 18
1:00-
3:00 p.m.

Gem Mining (ages 5 and up)
Learn about the history of mining in the North Carolina Mountains and pan for gems. This activity involves sifting with soil and water. No fancy dress required!

There will be some unique gems from the Museum’s collection available to investigate up close. We’ll also explore some light transmitting minerals and make our own mica model

Creekside Classroom, South side