New Building Brainstorm Exhibit at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum

The totally redone Brooklyn Children's Museum is still new enough that we hadn't yet exhausted the current exhibits, but they're staying one step ahead of us by adding a great new exhibit that we really enjoyed, Building Brainstorm. I have always been interested in the fields of architecture and design, and thought this would be a great opportunity to expose my boys to those interests during play.

Located on the second floor, this bi-lingual (Spanish and English—love that!) exhibition continues with the interactive theme found throughout the museum, encouraging and inviting children of all ages to plan, build, and design, with rough materials and soft cloths, plastics and wood. The exhibit is made up of a series of challenges: Shape Search Challenge, Shapes in Building Challenge, Inside Shapes Challenge, Window House Challenge, Floor Plan Challenge, Room Design Challenge, and Brainstorm Challenge.

What was wonderful about the Building Brainstorm is that it was able gain the interest not only of my little ones, but also that of my often difficult to please 11 year old. The surrounding colorful architectural plans, photographs, building elements, and models, introduced the children to the various thought processes and elements taken into consideration by professionals when designing any architectural project, from environmentally friendly buildings to digital computer designs.

And it was at the Brainstorming Challenge area where my oldest spent most of his time, sitting at the computer station and designing various rooms for imaginary clients. The designer wannabe in me was giddy beyond words as I watched him pick out materials, layouts, colors, and fabrics with the focus and determination of a true design star.

All my children, big and small, enjoyed taking part in the other design challenges featured here as well. From the Shapes in Building Challenge, which allowed them to replicate structures with various building blocks, to the Window House Challenge, which showed them about the different visual affects between clear, translucent, and opaque panels in a house made of windows. Both of these were extremely popular!

The Building Brainstorm exhibit really brought out the sense of creativity, curiosity, and accomplishment in my boys as they participated in all the hands-on challenges with us. Our oldest was especially interested in learning more the green resources that can be used more effectively to protect and maintain our environment.

We spent a large part of the day at the museum, and the boys had a lot of fun. I would argue that it was the learning equivalent of a full day at school, but I think it’s probably best I kept that little tidbit my secret.

Building Brainstorm
Brooklyn Children's Museum
Through May 10, 2009
More info: brooklynkids.org

Carol Cain also blogs at nycitymama.com

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