Leap Year 2012
February 29, 2012
What are you doing with your extra 24 hours?
Leap Year doesn’t come around often, so make sure to do to it up big by coming in and sharing the day with us. It is a science day after all. It’s basis is in the planetary rotation, which means that inherently it’s a science thing. So what better place to spend it than at Imagination Station.
Happy Birthday Leap Year Babies!
We’re inviting everyone whose birthday is February 29, to visit the science center for FREE that day! Since there aren’t that many of you out there, you’ve got to provide the proof. Drivers license, birth certificate, some other creative way – however you can prove that you are one of the unique 4.8 million Leap Year babies in the world. Seems like a big number, but when you figure that the rest of us born on the other 365 days of the year have more than 19 million people born on our birthday, makes you even more special, right?
It’s a birthday celebration!
Even better – we’ll be making birthday hats and celebrating the uniqueness of your day with liquid nitrogen ice cream. So take the day off of work and enjoy your special day taking in the science and enjoying instant ice cream.
About Leap Year
A leap year consists of 366 days, as opposed to a common year which has 365 days.
During Leap Years, we add a Leap Day, an extra – or intercalary – day on February 29. Nearly every 4 years is a Leap Year in our modern Gregorian Calendar.
Why do we need Leap Years?
Leap Years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the Earth’s revolutions around the sun.
It takes the Earth approximately 365.242199 days (a tropical year) to circle once around the Sun.
However, the Gregorian calendar has only 365 days in a year, so if we didn’t add a day on February 29 nearly every 4 years, we would lose almost six hours off our calendar every year. After only 100 years, our calendar would be off by approximately 24 days!
How do we calculate Leap Years?
In the Gregorian calendar 3 criteria must be met to be a leap year:
- The year is evenly divisible by 4;
- If the year can be evenly divided by 100, it is NOT a leap year, unless;
- The year is also evenly divisible by 400. Then it is a leap year.
This means that 2000 and 2400 are leap years, while 1800, 1900, 2100, 2200, 2300 and 2500 are NOT leap years.
The year 2000 was somewhat special as it was the first instance when the third criterion was used in most parts of the world since the transition from the Julian to the Gregorian Calendar.
Who invented Leap Years?
Julius Caesar introduced Leap Years in the Roman empire over 2000 years ago, but the Julian calendar had only one rule: any year evenly divisible by 4 would be a leap year. This lead to way too many leap years, but didn’t get corrected until the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar more than 1500 years later.
Information from www.timeanddate.com
Paper Tower Challenge
Design a Newspaper Tower
Saturday, February 18, 2012
10am-5pm
Visitors are invited to participate in this Engineering Challenge. Teams must build an 18-inch tall tower constructed solely from newspaper and tape that must support the weight of an ordinary baseball. Once completed, the tower must ‘Pass the Test’ – that is, towers will be placed directly in the path of a fan and must remain standing to be considered eligible. All supplies will be provided. Towers constructed off site are eligible to win as long as they pass the test. Prizes will be awarded to the engineers of the three lightest towers that pass the wind test.
The Challenge is for kids 18 years of age and under, although parental (or adult) guidance is always welcomed.
Try This at Home – Design a Newspaper Tower
Points of discussion
- What ideas come to mind when you hear the word engineer?
- Picture an engineer. What do they look like?
- What does an engineer’s job involve?
Activity
The engineering design process is an iterative process that helps engineers solve problems. To get your children or students in an engineering mindset, try the activity below.
Ask
Can you build a tower 18 inches tall with the materials provided that can support a baseball and withstand the wind from a fan?
Note: You can only use materials from the list below.
- Electric fan
- Paper
- Straws
- String
- Tape
- Baseball
- Popsicle sticks
Imagine and Plan
Have your children or students work in groups. The first task should be to brainstorm different solutions. Encourage them to think creatively. They could work independently first and then bring ideas to the group or the brainstorming can be done entirely as a group.
After they have selected their idea, a rough drawing of their structure should be created by each team member. They should also include important notes about the design and a list of materials needed.
Create
Give them sufficient time to build their structures. Remind them that they need to adhere as closely as possible to their work plan- just as builders would follow the blueprints provided by an engineer.
Test and Improve
Place the tower one foot away from the fan when you are ready to test. Did the tower support the baseball and not fall over? If not, go back to the drawing board. Engineering is an iterative process and it is fine to try several designs before you are successful. Engineers would construct models like these paper towers before they spent the time and money to create the real thing.
Farm Fest 2012
June 9 – July 1
Imagination Station brings the farm to downtown Toledo for Farm Fest, a month long event to recognize and celebrate the abundance provided by American agriculture.
In partnership with:
EGGstreme Science
March 31-April 29, 2012
Spring into Imagination Station for EGGciting, EGGcentric activities for the entire month of April.
EGGciting activities in Science Studio throughout the month will include:
- Cook eggs in liquid nitrogen
- Push an egg into a jar
- Soak eggs in vinegar and watch how they progress every day
- Squeeze an egg without breaking it
- Learn about egg density (floating and sinking eggs)
- Great egg carton take home activities!
National Engineers Week 2012
February 20-25
2012 marks the 60th anniversary of National Engineers Week. Help us celebrate as we Think It. Build It. Test It… Do It Again!
Explore the engineering design process and discover that creativity and imagination are essential skills for an engineer. One step inside Engineer It!, our learning world dedicated to the engineer within us all, will inspire you to let your imagination run wild and build big, build tall and build safe!
Activities will include:
Polyhedras
Make your own polyhedra take home boxes.
Balloon Flinkers
Ever seen a helium filled balloon that doesn’t float or sink? By thoughtfully adding weights, these balloons are made to ‘flink’.
Puff Mobiles
Build a puff mobile out of index cards, straws and mints that can only be moved when you blow on them.
Wear & Tear
Investigate how different fabrics wear when abrasions and force are applied.
K’Nex Bridges
Can you build the longest, the strongest, the most durable bridge?
Teachers!
Thinking of a field trip? This is a perfect opportunity for a classroom full of budding engineers! For more information or to book a field trip, call 419.244.2674 ext. 250.
Sponsored by:
Presidents Day
Monday, February 20, 2012
Imagination Station will be open from 10am-5pm in celebration of Presidents Day.
Ever wonder how Presidents Day came to be?
Here’s a little history lesson for you.
Presidents’ Day is intended (for some) to honor all the American presidents, but most significantly George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. According to the Gregorian or “New Style” calendar that is most commonly used today, George Washington was born on February 22, 1732. But according to the Julian or “Old Style” calendar that was used in England until 1752, his birth date was February 11th. Back in the 1790s, Americans were split – some celebrated his birthday on February 11th and some on February 22nd.
When Abraham Lincoln became president and helped reshape our country, it was believed he, too, should have a special day of recognition. Tricky thing was that Lincoln’s birthday fell on February 12th. Prior to 1968, having two presidential birthdays so close together didn’t seem to bother anyone. February 22nd was observed as a federal public holiday to honor the birthday of George Washington and February 12th was observed as a public holiday to honor Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.
In 1968, things changed when the 90th Congress was determined to create a uniform system of federal Monday holidays. They voted to shift three existing holidays (including Washington’s Birthday) to Mondays. The law took effect in 1971, and as a result, Washington’s Birthday holiday was changed to the third Monday in February. But not all Americans were happy with the new law. There was some concern that Washington’s identity would be lost since the third Monday in February would never fall on his actual birthday. There was also an attempt to rename the public holiday “Presidents’ Day”, but the idea didn’t go anywhere since some believed not all presidents deserved a special recognition.
Even though Congress had created a uniform federal holiday law, there was not a uniform holiday title agreement among the individual states. Some states, like California, Idaho, Tennessee and Texas chose not to retain the federal holiday title and renamed their state holiday “President’s Day.” From that point forward, the term “Presidents’ Day” became a marketing phenomenon, as advertisers sought to capitalize on the opportunity for three-day or weeklong sales.
In 1999, bills were introduced in both the U.S. House (HR-1363) and Senate (S-978) to specify that the legal public holiday once referred to as Washington’s Birthday be “officially” called by that name once again. Both bills died in committees.
Today, President’s Day is well accepted and celebrated. Some communities still observe the original holidays of Washington and Lincoln, and many parks actually stage reenactments and pageants in their honor. The National Park Service also features a number of historic sites and memorials to honor the lives of these two presidents, as well as other important leaders.
From About.com
Prep4Ed
Prep4Ed
January 17
4-5:30pm
We offer this quarterly Open House for all teachers committed to bringing their students to Imagination Station. This program will empower you with inside knowledge of the exhibits and familiarize you with all our educator resources. Chaperones are welcome!
Mindbender Mansion Member Preview
January 26
6-8pm
Be the first to experience this fun and bewildering traveling exhibit for kids of all ages! Enter a puzzling world full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Be the first to UNLQ TH3 PU22L3 and become a member of the elite Mindbender Society.
Over 40 brainteasers and interactive challenges lie within the mansion waiting to be solved. Click here for a sneak peek at what’s waiting inside.
Mindbender Mansion
January 28 – April 29, 2012
Enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Adults and children alike will enjoy challenging their minds as they try to master each of the 40 individual brainteasers and the five group activities in this fun and unusual exhibit.
Mindbender Mansion is filled with brainteasers and group activities, like Move and Match pictured here, that'll get everyone thinking and moving.
Visitors to this fun and quirky mansion are invited to join the Mindbender Society by gathering hidden clues and secret passwords scattered throughout the various thematic rooms of the house. The clues and passwords are revealed by solving select brainteasers and group challenges. Visitors are encouraged to think outside the box and collaborate with their fellow mansion guests to meet individual and group challenges, which include manipulating a tilt table, forming patterns in rolling chairs, keeping up with a conveyor belt, maneuvering a flying machine and disco hopscotch spelling.
Teachers! Download our Mindbender Mansion Educator Guide to help you plan your field trip.
Entry
Start at the Entry and watch a large screen which introduces the wacky Mr. E, master brainteaser, puzzle extraordinaire and current curator of the Mindbender Society. He will explain some key features of Mindbender Mansion and how to unlock the puzzle to become a member of the Mindbender Society. There are 40 individual brainteasers and five large-scale group activities, To become a member, visitors must solve a total of eight-to-eleven select brainsteasers and one large-scale group activity. Clue cards are available at the Entry to help keep track of clues and passwords from the puzzles that lead to membership in the Mindbender Society.
Tricky Triangles
Parlor
In the Parlor, there are 10 individual brainteasers – three of which provide clues toward the final challenge that determines eligibility into the Mindbender Society. Brainteasers found in the Parlor include: Make a Yellow Square; Tricky Triangles; Every Line Adds to 18; Six Pegs That Don’t Line Up; Make a Green Square; Move the Ring; 15 Sticks; String Houses; 10 pegs; Even Lines; and Four Equations.
Library
In the Library, there are six individual brainteasers – three of which provide clues toward the final challenge that determines the eligibility into the Mindbender Society. Brainteasers found in the Library include: Make a T; Color Match; Every Line Adds to 15; Square or Triangle; Horse & Rider; and Take Away.
Shifting Squares
Kitchen
In the Kitchen, there are 4 individual brainteasers and 1 large-scale group activity – two of which provide clues toward the final challenge that determines eligibility into the Mindbender Society. Brainteasers found in the Kitchen include: Shifting Squares; Disorder; Balancing Nails; and Make a Cube. The group activity, called Feeding Frenzy, requires teamwork to fill a minimum of 10 T.V. dinner trays (with 5 kinds of food) on a moving conveyor belt within a specified amount of time.
Amazing Maze
Map Room
In the Map Room, there are 4 individual brainteasers and 1 large-scale group activity – three of which provide clues toward the final challenge that determines eligibility into the Mindbender Society. Brainteasers found in the Map Room include: Six Blocks in a Box; 10 Pegs in Each Line; One Shape Fits All; and Build a Pyramid. The group activity, called Amazing Maze, requires visitors to work together to tilt a table in different directions, guiding a ball into six holes as quickly as possible in the allotted time.
Disco Room
The Disco Room contains 1 group activity called Spelling Fever. It is a large-scale, full-body activity that requires teamwork to successfully meet the challenge of correctly spelling answers to trivia questions within a limited amount of time by hopping on letter squares.
Dining Room
The Dining Room contains 1 group activity called Move and Match, a large-scale, full-body activity that requires teamwork to successfully meet the challenge of maneuvering dining room chairs into a correct pattern by pushing off of other players and the walls of the pen.
Flying Machine
Rec Room
In the Rec Room there are 18 individual brainteasers and 1 large-scale group activity. Brainteasers found in the Rec Room include: Four Blocks in a Box; Triangle or Hexagon; Take-Apart Cross; Make a Blue Square; Five Room House; Tie the Knot; Linked Hearts; Make a Square; Six Sticks; A Perfect Fit; Horseshoes; Galloping Horse; Handcuffs; Crossing the River; 10 Disk Triangle; Two Balls in a Rocker; Tower of Brahma; and Jumping Pegs. The group activity, called Flying Machine, requires teamwork to successfully meet the challenge to move a mechanical “flying machine” around a game board hitting six targets in sequence within a specified amount of time.
Room Vaults
Through each of the main four rooms (Parlor, Library, Kitchen and Map Room) visitors will encounter the Vaults – the Parlor Vault, the Library Vault, the Kitchen Vault and the Map Room Vault. Visitors must set the dials of each Vault to the clues that were revealed to them. If they are successful, a video will play featuring a short, zany animation introducing real-life inventors. At the end of the animation, Mr. E. will reveal a password that is needed to unlock the Wall of Fame Vault that determines eligibility into the Mindbender Society.
Wall of Fame
Wall of Fame
Visitors must enter at least three passwords they gathered from the four rooms of the mansion (Parlor, Library, Kitchen and Map Room) into the final vault at the Wall of Fame. If they are successful, they are officially an expert problem-solver and invited into the Society. If they are not successful, visitors are told to keep trying and check out the areas of the mansion that provide the clues and passwords.
Visitors invited to join the Mindbender Society, can have their picture taken and personalize their portrait with a background, outfit, funky hat, funny hair, etc. Once they finish their portrait, they can print out their official Mindbender Society certificate with their personalized portrait to take home. In addition, their portrait will go up on the Wall of Fame for all to see, in one of the four monitors available to highlight the newest members of the Mindbender Society!
Math, science, and technology educational content are woven into the puzzles, videos, and group challenges found inside Mindbender Mansion. At the heart of the exhibit is the essential scientific task of problem solving and critical thinking. The puzzles are an excellent tool for explaining mathematical and physical science concepts. In order to solve these puzzles, visitors must identify patterns, think ahead, use logical reasoning, and look at the problems from different perspectives, setting aside preconceived ideas. The videos in each of the four Clue Vaults explain neuroscience-based principles, and tell the story of several inventors who have used problem solving skills to come up with new solutions to old problems. Additionally, the popular group challenges require communication, collaboration, leadership, and teamwork skills – skills that are critical in solving the challenges facing today’s businesses and communities.
Mindbender Mansion is produced and toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland, Oregon.
Media sponsor:
Sid the Science Kid Family Workshop
Friday, January 13 at 11am – SOLD OUT
Saturday, January 14 at 11am – SOLD OUT
Families with children age 3-8 years old, are invited to participate in a special Sid the Science Kid Family Workshop. This hands-on science investigation is a great way for families to learn together. Watch Sid the Science Kid episodes and do the corresponding activities together as a family.
$5.00 per family
$4.00 per family for Imagination Station members
Registration is required and space is limited for the Sid the Science Kid Family Workshop, so make sure to register now at 419.244.2674 ext. 250! One activity kit per family.
In partnership with:
Win a Family 4 Pack to Disney on Ice – Treasure Trove
December 15-18, 2011
at The Huntington Center
Dec. 15 – 7pm
Dec. 16 – 7pm
Dec. 17 – 11am, 3pm, 5pm
Dec. 18 – 1pm, 5pm
Discover endless riches when Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove comes to your hometown! Disney On Ice sets the gold standard with its newest skating spectacular. Get tangled up in Disney’s 50th animated feature with Rapunzel and Flynn and enter the worlds of your other favorite Disney princesses –Tiana, Cinderella, Jasmine, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Mulan and of course, the one who started it all, Snow White. Ahoy, Mateys! Set sail with Peter Pan, the always sassy Tinker Bell and the cantankerous Captain Hook and his pirate pals on an adventure beyond Never Land! Trek the wilds of Africa with Simba, Nala, Pumbaa and Timon as they discover the true meaning of the ‘Circle of Life.’ Tick-Tock! Tick-Tock! Don’t be late to a very important date with Alice and the Mad Hatter as they march with the Queen of Hearts’ Army Of Cards. Be sure to see this show full of memories guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Members Only!
Enter to Win a Family 4-pack of Tickets.
Last chance to enter 5pm on December 9, 2011. Winners will be contacted by email on December 12, 2011.
Not a member? Join today!
Special Holiday Hours
Imagination Station’s Holiday Hours of Operation
Those different than our normal schedule are in BOLD.
Christmas Eve – Saturday, December 24 – CLOSED
Christmas – Sunday, December 25 – CLOSED
Monday, December 26 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
Tuesday, December 27 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
Wednesday, December 28 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
Thursday, December 29 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
Friday, December 30 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
New Years Eve, December 31 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
New Years Day – Sunday, January 1 – CLOSED
Monday, January 2 – OPEN (10am-5pm)
Graham Cracker Houses
Saturday, December 17
11am-4pm
Penta Career Center Culinary students, the talented creators of the giant gingerbread castle and the gingerbread houses, will be on hand helping kids create mini versions of gingerbread houses made out of graham crackers, royal frosting and candy. This holiday favorite is sure to get families inspired for holiday fun!
Cookies & Cocoa with Claus
Members Only Event
Thursday, December 8, 2011
6-8pm
Due to the popular demand of this event it is SOLD OUT. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Come dressed in your pjs for a cozy evening of cookies and cocoa with Santa Claus!
Enjoy storytime with Claus and visit as he roams around the science center saying hello. While you’re here, check out the Gingerbread Village includes nearly 40 individual houses designed and built by Penta Career Center Culinary students. Take a moment and vote on your favorite.
Activities include:
- Be inspired by Dr. Snowflake’s beautiful cut paper artistry with his gallery of intricately designed snowflakes and design and cut your own paper snowflakes.
- Make an ornament for your tree! Science is a beautiful thing, especially when you can take simple household items and create a holiday keepsake – try your hand at creating a chromatography snowflake, using a coffee filter, markers and H2O.
- Ever grow snow? Now you can using a simple super absorber and H2O. Insta-Snow is an incredible polymer, similar to that found in a baby’s diaper. It holds up to 10o times it weight in water, which is why when you add water to the fine powder, you’ll see the snow grow right before your eyes. It’s amazing and best, it’s ‘cool holiday’ science!
- Find the Freezing Point of Water. Ever wonder why you put salt on the ground when it’s icy outside? This activity will explain why and show you what happens to ice when salt is added.
- Liquid Nitrogen Ice Cream, a favorite treat at Imagination Station, will be sampled throughout the night. Make sure to try some made with peppermint and chocolate chips to throw you right into the festive spirit of the holidays.
While you’re here, make sure to stop in the Science2GO! gift shop to do some holiday shopping. Members receive an additional 10% discount.
Not a member of Imagination Station, become a member now!
Refreshments donated by:
Dr. Snowflake Gallery Display
Dr. Thomas Clark
The beautiful cut-paper artistry of Dr. Thomas Clark, a.k.a. Dr. Snowflake, will be on display at Imagination Station through January 2, 2012.
Join us in Science Studio throughout the holiday season and try your hand at creating a snowflake of your own. A series of Dr. Snowflake’s books are available for purchase in Science2GO! and feature guidelines for cutting snowflakes, including how to fold the paper and sample flakes. Each book uses snowflakes to tell one of the holidays most cherished stories.
One of Dr. Snowflake's unique pieces of art.
A retired orthopedic surgeon from the University of Michigan, Clark uses sharp tools, detailed precision and an artistic eye to create awe-inspiring paper snowflakes. His talent to convert complex stories or even chemical equations into ornate and decorative paper snowflakes is unique and mesmerizing.
Gingerbread Village
Now – January 2
Vote for your favorite Gingerbread House.
Culinary students from Penta Career Center have designed and built a gingerbread village, reflecting the quintessential nature of the season while showcasing delicate details and unique craftsmanship. Every time you look at it, you’ll see something new. Featuring over 40 beautiful constructions, true candy connoisseurs will enjoy spotting the delicious treats used to create this holiday favorite. Each house will be numbered, so make sure to vote for your favorite creation.
Take a stroll through our giant gingerbread castle that showcases a fireplace, holiday decorations and Santa himself, on weekends, all cozied up inside. It’s not often you get to walk through a life-size confection.
A Village Under Construction
The construction of the giant gingerbread castle has not only taken hours of detailed work, it’s also taken a lot of product. More than 1000 lbs. of flour, 600 gallons of corn syrup, 300 lbs. of brown sugar and 100 lbs. of margarine have gone into the baking of the gingerbread. Not to mention the massive amount of royal frosting and candy that’ll make its way onto the largest single gingerbread house the culinary
The students began their creations back in October. Here’s a few snapshots of the houses under construction.
Rikki Butz (Springfield), Culinary Arts junior at Penta Career Center, works on a Christmas tree for her gingerbread house.
Penta Culinary Arts junior Chelsey Roberts (Bowling Green), adds some icing to the front of her gingerbread house.
Chef Jim Rhegness, instructor of Culinary Arts at Penta Career Center, assists Danielle Larnhart (Anthony Wayne) with the roof and sides of her gingerbread house.
Visit Santa
December 10 & 11
12-4pm
Make Imagination Station a “Must Do” on your holiday list this year with a visit to see the jolly old elf himself, Santa Claus.
Visitors will find Santa nestled inside a giant gingerbread castle, a whimsical variation of the time-honored tradition. The house, constructed and decorated by students from Penta Career Center, will offer a perfect backdrop for a visit with Santa. Mom and Dad – don’t forget your camera!
Bring your Dear Santa letters with you because we’ve got an express mailbox waiting to send them off to the North Pole.
To visit with Santa, request a free timed ticket at the box office when you purchase Imagination Station admission. Timed tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis, and allows you to explore the science center without having to wait in a long line. Limited quantities are available. Although tickets will not be available until the science center opens, please consider arriving early to secure a ticket to see Santa.
It can be one-stop shopping for you too! Pick up gift memberships to Imagination Station and give the gift of discovery the whole year through. Or stop in Science2GO! for fun and educational gift ideas for your holiday shopping list.
Blinded by Science!
Imagination Station Lip Dub
In celebration of two fantastic years of science, the team at Imagination Station has made their musical debut. Originally devised as a team-building project, the ‘She Blinded Me With Science’ LipDub by Imagination Station turned into a full-blown music video accompanied by over 150 dancers from the Toledo School for the Arts. No science center lip dub would be complete with explosions and fire, so we’ve jam packed it with some of our very best demonstrations.
The release of our LipDub directly coincides with our 2nd anniversary. Since opening on October 10, 2009, we’ve welcomed over 425,000 visitors through our doors, 5 traveling Exhibitions, including our current world-renowned Exhibition, BODIES REVEALED, opened 2 new learning worlds and added several new exhibits. The last 2 years have been great and we thank the members of this community and the voters of Lucas County for giving the science center an opportunity to inspire in children the wonder of science.
A lip dub is a type of video that combines lip-synching and audio dubbing to make a music video. In our case, a group of individuals lip-synching to a song was filmed in one consecutive take. In post editing, the actual musical track was laid over the video creating a seamless video sung by multiple people. Our song selection was an obvious choice, “She Blinded Me With Science” by Thomas Dolby.
The lip dub was released on October 10, 2011 on Imagination Station’s youtube page (ImaginationStationOH), our website (imaginationstationtoledo.org), facebook (ImaginationStationToledo) and twitter (ISToledo) as well as Toledo School for the Arts social media pages.
Camp-In
Camp-In is an overnight program designed to inspire boys and girls in grades 2nd-7th and their accompanying adults to discover science in an entertaining, educational and interactive overnight adventure. Imagination Station invites you to enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of puzzles, brainteasers and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers.
Educator’s Open House
Thursday, September 29
3:30-5:00pm
Come to the Educator’s Open House and see first-hand why Imagination Station, filled with over 250 interactive experiences, is a useful tool to help teach much needed science concepts and 21st century skills.
- Explore BODIES REVEALED. Free for teachers at the Open House!*
- Find out how Imagination Station can bring exciting, engaging and educational science into your school
- Experience hands-on Science Festival activities
- Discover STARLAB, our portable planetarium
BODIES REVEALED, extended through November 6th, offers teachers a unique opportunity to utilize real human specimens as a learning tool for their students. Tour the Exhibition at the Open House and see how you can use our BODIES Educator Guide to create lesson plans that incorporate the uniqueness of this world-class Exhibition. Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more. Directions and parking.
RSVP below or call 419.244.2674 ext. 250 to reserve your space today.
* Educator ID required.
BODIES REVEALED Extended
September 8, 2011
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BODIES REVEALED, Extended at Imagination Station
Exhibition extended to November 6, 2011
Toledo, Ohio – BODIES REVEALED, the blockbuster Exhibition featuring real human specimens, is extending its stay in Toledo. With thousands passing through its doors since opening at Imagination Station, BODIES will continue to give the public an educational, captivating and fascinating experience through November 6, 2011.
Over 35 schools/universities, from as far away as Detroit and Akron, have visited the Exhibition since it opened. But now with the school year just beginning more educators will now have the unique opportunity to utilize BODIES REVEALED as an extension of their classroom. Grade appropriate exhibit guides have been developed to aid teachers in preparing their classrooms for a field trip to see this world-class Exhibition. Educators are invited to attend a special Teacher Open House on Thursday, September 29 from 3:30-5:00pm to tour the Exhibition and the science center.
“The Exhibition has enabled the science center to draw a broader audience than our normal demographics,” said Lori Hauser, executive director for Imagination Station. “Families have been experiencing the Exhibition together, but more so, it has proven to be an educational opportunity for the entire region, drawing adults, seniors and visitors from throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.”
Diversified audiences of adults, teens, children and seniors have experienced the Exhibition. Educators have hailed BODIES as an unprecedented tool to learn about the human body in a direct way that makes anatomy, biology, general science and health real, often for the first time.
“We are thrilled to offer the public an extended chance to learn about their health like never before,” said Dr. Roy Glover, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Michigan and Chief Medical Director for the Exhibition, a medical educator with more than 30 years of experience. “This is an exciting opportunity for those who have not yet seen the Exhibition and for those who want to come back to BODIES to continue the journey of a lifetime.”
With the Exhibition extending its stay, visitors can enjoy more opportunities to travel through the skeletal, muscular, reproductive, respiratory, and circulatory systems of the human body. Upon entering the Exhibition, visitors find whole-body specimens, organs and partial body specimens that present the opportunity to see one’s own body in a mesmerizing way. In addition to providing an up-close look inside, the Exhibition encourages healthy lifestyle choices by serving as a wake-up call that demonstrates how our own choices directly affect our health.
Among the 10 full body specimens and over 150 individual organs, the Exhibition features a specimen whose nervous system has been delicately prepared to expose the detailed intricacy of the human body and the meticulous care with which the bodies have been preserved. The Exhibition also features a healthy lung and a black lung ravaged by smoking side by side in a vivid comparison that is undeniable – and more powerful than any textbook image.
The human body specimens in the Exhibition are preserved through a revolutionary technique called polymer preservation. In this process, human tissue is permanently preserved using liquid silicone rubber that is treated and hardened. The end result is a rubberized specimen, preserved to the cellular level, showcasing the complexity of the body’s many bones, muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and organs. The full-body specimens can take over a year to prepare and after undergoing the polymer preservation process, they become impervious to decomposition.
BODIES REVEALED opened at Imagination Station on May 21 and will be closing on November 6. Tickets are on sale now at imaginationstationtoledo.org and at the door. Tickets to see the Exhibition are timed, so advance purchase is recommended and available online. Because of the sensitive nature of the Exhibition, BODIES REVEALED is in a private exhibition space.
The Exhibition, presented by Premier Exhibitions, Inc., is receiving worldwide acclaim, attracting nearly 15 million visitors from cities around the world. BODIES REVEALED is sponsored by Mercy and Mercy College.
Imagination Station, located on the downtown Toledo riverfront, is a science center dedicated to delivering science and technology based programming to youth and their families throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
WHAT: BODIES REVEALED Exhibition extended through November 6
WHEN: Exhibit Hours are:
Tuesday – Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: Noon-5pm
COST: Admission to BODIES REVEALED requires paid admission to
the science center. The prices below include both.
Adult (13-64) – $18.00
Senior (65+) – $16.00
Children (3-12) – $14.00
Imagination Station Members – $6.00
Children (2 and under) – FREE
Group Rate (15 or more pp): $11.00 (Includes Imagination Station & BODIES REVEALED)
Group Rate (15 or more pp): $6.00 (Imagination Station Only)
WHERE: Imagination Station
1 Discovery Way
Toledo, OH 43604
For more information or to schedule a media tour of the Exhibition, please call Anna Kolin at 419.244.2674 ext. 133 or Theresa Nelson, Public Relations Manager,
Premier Exhibitions, Inc. at (404) 842-7747.
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Toledo School for the Arts Rain Barrel Project Demo
September 24
11am-4pm
A TSA student paints a rain barrel
Imagination Station has commissioned the talented students at Toledo School for the Arts to design and create several rain barrels to be used within the science center. We have an old building that sometimes leaks, so when the rain barrels are all finished, they’ll be thoughtfully placed within the science center on rainy days catching rain drops that may fall. We’ve given them some ideas, but we’re trusting their artistic vision to design something amazing.
How you can help!
We’re also giving our visitors a chance to get their hands dirty – literally! You’ll be able to add your artistic touch to a rain barrel that will be on display at the science center. Come down and be part of making a difference, one rain barrel at a time! It’s an artistic way to do your part!
The Rain Barrel Project at TSA
Rain barrels are placed at the outlet of a roof gutter to catch rooftop runoff – “storm-water” before it runs across the landscape and dumps accumulated pollutants into our waterways. The storm-water collected in a rain barrel can be used to water lawns and gardens, thereby conserving water and protecting water quality.
(Read more about the Rain Barrel Project)
Little Scientists Week
January 10-15, 2012
Attention Parents and Preschool & Kindergarten Teachers!
Mark your calendars for Little Scientists Week! This special “Sid the Science Kid” themed week is dedicated to our littlest scientists, kindergarten age and younger! Watch your students come to life as they journal their way into discovering the scientist inside with special hands-on inquiry-based activities. PBS’s own ‘Sid the Science Kid’ will be making a personal appearance on Friday, January 13 – Sunday, January 15th.
Activities throughout the week include:
Make & Decorate a Sid the Science Kid Journal
Sid and his friends use journals to keep their findings as they discover and explore. Kids start their Little Scientists Week adventure by creating their own journal to record what they learn.
Working Smart
Kids will learn all about how simple machines make work easier. They’ll experiment with a lever and water filled milk jugs.
Making Healthy Choices
Using real foods, kids will sort a variety of food items into meat, grain, fruits, vegetable, dairy and ‘sometimes’ food categories. In their journals, they’ll create their own lunch.
Sort It Out
Kids will sort recyclables from trash and then sort recyclables into the appropriate categories- paper, plastic, glass, etc.
Magnification Station
Give kids a magnifying glass and you’ll capture their attention! At this station, kids will be able to investigate dirt, roots and plants with magnifying glasses.
In partnership with:
How to Make Oobleck
Oobleck is a suspension of cornstarch and water that can behave like a solid or a liquid depending on how much pressure you apply. Try to grab some in your hand and it will form a solid ball in your palm just until you release the pressure, then it will flow out between your fingers. Materials that behave this way are classified as non-Newtonian liquids because their flow properties are not described by a constant viscosity. Read more
How to make a Naked Egg
A “naked egg” is an egg that has no shell. Let me say that again, an egg with no shell. This is not something you normally run across and even when I show a naked egg to someone they often just don’t get the idea that the shell is gone – yet the egg stays intact. You might want to check out the anatomy of an egg to get an idea what we are dealing with. Read more
ENGINEER IT!
Think It. Build It. Test It … Do It Again!
ENGINEER IT! is an educational and entertaining interactive learning world that presents science as an open-ended discovery process. Visitors of all ages can explore the fun and creative sides of engineering by designing boats, windmills, airplanes, buildings and bridges. Then test their performance in wind tunnels, earthquake simulators and water tanks. Read more
Scientific Sweetness
February 11 & 12, 2012
Valentine’s Day, February 14 too!
In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Imagination Station is sinking our collective teeth into the delicious world of sugar.
Check out these great activities:
Are you a SuperTaster?
Some people have a heightening sense of taste. Try this simple test and see if you are one of them.
Giant Peeps
The fun sugar coated marshmallow candy that we all know and love will be supersized with the help of a bell jar and a vacuum. Watch them puff up huge and then see what happens when the jar is lifted.
Acidic Candy?
This activity explores natural acids that add tanginess and bitterness to your candy.
Marshmallow Geodomes
Building is always fun, but building with candy is delicious too! This activity explores how to build using mini marshmallows as key structural components.
Join us throughout the weekend and taste for yourself, just how sweet it is!
Celebrate Grandparent’s Day at Imagination Station
Imagination Station is celebrating Grandparents on Sunday, September 11th , 2011. We will be open from 12pm-5pm and when grandkids come with you, Grandparents receive $10 off a grandparent’s membership.*
*valid September 11, 2011 only. Must be redeemed on site. No other discounts apply. New memberships only.
YoJake – Pro Yo-Yoer
Monday, January 2, 2012
10:00am-5:00pm
Demonstrations Times in the Extreme Science Theater
11:30am & 2:30pm
Jake Maloney, a.k.a. YoJake, professional yo-yo player, performer and teacher is one of the highest ranked yo-yo performers in Michigan. At 21 years old, he has consistently been one of the top players in the world since 2002. YoJake regularly competes all over the country, but Monday, January 2, he’ll be performing and sharing secrets of his talent at Imagination Station. Jake will spend the day in Science Studio dazzling visitors with his impressive feats.
KIDSPACE Science Studio
Don’t miss our weekly activity in the Little KIDSPACE Science Studio. A trained team member will read an exciting, interactive story to your child and then everyone gets a chance to complete a fun activity to take home and display proudly! This is a great new addition to your child’s Imagination Station experience. Read more
