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.

// BY KARIN FABRY-CUSHENBERY

The Chain Reaction Charlie exhibit encourages youngsters to look at everyday items in a more scienti c 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 simple machines and how they can work together to make incredible new inventions. “THE EDUCATORS AT THE DISCOVERY CENTER WANTED TO INCORPORATE THE IDEA OF KIDS PLAYING AND HAVING The exhibit inspires children to become inventors or challenge current inventions.” The educators at the Discovery Center wanted to incorporate the idea of kids playing and having fun in their own backyard and transform it into a way of inventing things and being creative. Think sheds, gardens, creeks, a dog house and a club house. “The goal is to link exhibits to education standards, so we thought why not bring in elements of simple machines since kids use these items in play without even thinking about it,” says Ashley. Each of the ve exhibit areas feature handson challenges, such as building a working fan. The giant clubhouse can be climbed on and explored. The pulleys hoist buckets to the top deck and back down again. Voilà! Science and physics! Ashley points out that even though the kids will have fun while exploring the exhibit, they will also be learning about academic standards and theories. “We are always excited for a new exhibit,” says Ashley. “Chain Reaction Charlie has been a collaborative e ort across the Cultural Arts and Sciences Division and Parks Division, working through everything from concept, to building, to installation. We wanted to showcase STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) FUN IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD AND TRANSFORM IT INTO A WAY OF INVENTING THINGS AND BEING CREATIVE. 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 yer tube.” In an e ort 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