WATCH // EXPLORE // CRAVE
Backyard Science
The newest interactive exhibit at the Discovery Center, Chain Reaction Charlie, encourages children to explore and tinker with items from within their own world. // B Y K A R I N F A B R Y- C U S H E N B E R Y
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he Chain Reaction Charlie exhibit encourages youngsters to look at everyday items in a more scientific way—all the while encouraging play and creativity. “Explore Chain Reaction Charlie’s backyard, go camping in Charlie’s tree house, get hands on in the garden or test balancing skills at the Creek Cross Challenge,” says Ashley Dobbs, spokesperson for the City of Ocala. “Build inside Charlie’s Workshop, where participants will learn about six THE EDUCATORS AT THE simple machines DISCOVERY CENTER WANTED and how they can work together to TO INCORPORATE THE IDEA make incredible OF KIDS PLAYING AND HAVING new inventions. The exhibit inspires FUN IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD on challenges, children to become such as building a AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A inventors or working fan. The challenge current WAY OF INVENTING THINGS giant clubhouse inventions.” can be climbed AND BEING CREATIVE. The educators on and explored. at the Discovery The pulleys hoist Center wanted to buckets to the top deck and back down again. incorporate the idea of kids playing and having Voilà! Science and physics! Ashley points out fun in their own backyard and transform it into that even though the kids will have fun while a way of inventing things and being creative. exploring the exhibit, they will also be learning Think sheds, gardens, creeks, a dog house and about academic standards and theories. a club house. “We are always excited for a new exhibit,” “The goal is to link exhibits to education says Ashley. “Chain Reaction Charlie has been a standards, so we thought why not bring in collaborative effort across the Cultural Arts and elements of simple machines since kids use Sciences Division and Parks Division, working these items in play without even thinking about through everything from concept, to building, it,” says Ashley. to installation. We wanted to showcase STEAM Each of the five exhibit areas feature hands(science, technology, engineering, art and math)
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in a playful way that can connect kids to nature and their own backyard. Chain Reaction Charlie will also see the debut of two brand-new, largescale interactives that feature a magnetic ring launcher and an air flyer tube.” In an effort to keep kids and their families safe, the Discovery Center continues to follow COVID-19 protocols, including having visitors over the age of 6 wear a face mask. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the center, and the exhibits are cleaned and disinfected on schedule. The 5,000-square-feet exhibit hall is spacious, allowing families plenty of room to remain socially distanced. Discovery Center // Chain Reaction Charlie // Through April 3 // Thursday-Saturday, 10am-4pm // mydiscoverycenter.org // (352) 401-3900
