EXHIBITS > HANDS-ON

Simple and durable hands-on manipulatives are the staple of any children's museum. Below are some examples of the kinds of exhibits we love to make. How would these work in your museum - and how can we help you achieve your goals in your next project?

At the center of Bricks & Sticks, a 1,200 sq. ft. gallery at the Long Island Children's Museum is an 8' * 8' block table (made of maple blocks) serving as play space, storage and seating for the gallery. In the middle of the table is a glued block construction illustrating some 5,000 years of architectural landmarks which children can use as seeds for their own constructions.

ARCHES
	A three-part ARCH TABLE offers a set of challenges to builders, young and old. and an introduction to an ancient engineering discovery. People have been constructing arches since prehistoric times. Arches can be used to span large spaces. Because the weight that an arch carries is distributed outward and downward instead of concentrated in one spot, it can carry heavy loads.

STACKING SPHERES

Wooden spheres from a commercial mill provide an unusual building shape. They tumble and roll. Spheres also fill space in a particular way. The shape of the spheres and the shape of the container into which they are placed will determine the possible structures. We provide a square (yielding a pyramid), a triangle (yielding a tetrahedron), and a pegboard which can yield more complex forms.

POLYSTICKS
	Wooden sticks and bolted plastic tube connectors are the materials for building a multitude of shapes. An additional set of slightly shorter sticks makes a geodesic dome a great group project.

TESS TABLE

In Pattern Studio at Long Island Children's Museum, Tess Table provides lots of colorful rubber tiles with which to make tessellatiing patterns. Laminated templates provide examples and challenges.

TILE LAYER

Tile Layer mirrors the designs you make with 16 foot square rubber tiles.

SPOON FLOWERS

Spoon Flowers, designed especially for toddlers, is set into a window frame and provides the tools for making a garden with painted wooden spoons as petals.