Two new exhibits recently opened at the Liberty Science Center: AVATAR: The Exhibit and Curious George: Let’s Get Curious and they are both fantastic, with lots of interactive elements and ways to engage kids, and grown-ups as well.
For older kids and adults, there’s AVATAR: The Exhibit which takes visitors through an amazing behind-the-scenes look at the performance capture, virtual and 3-D technologies that went into making Avatar, the highest-grossing film of all time. The exhibit is recommended for ages 8 and up, but my 7 year old also enjoyed it and she isn’t even familiar with the movie.
There are numerous interactive exhibits, including one where users can design a new plant using scientific and botanical principles, similar to the process used in making the plants in the film. In another activity, visitors can listen to and create their own words in the Na’vi language. A big hit with my kids was an interactive fish game which explains bioluminescence by having larger fish eat smaller fish when they light-up and show their whereabouts.
The exhibit also provides an opportunity to go ”on set” to create your own 3-D avatar via performance capture and then to let him or her loose in the Pandoran forest. At the end, you can send a copy of the video to your email address.
In addition to all the interactive elements, AVATAR: The Exhibition also has plenty of original props on display, and it’s interesting to see how real items were used to create their virtual counterparts. Whether you’re an avid Avatar fan or not, there are a lot of really intriguing aspects to the exhibit, and my kids loved taking part in all the interactive opportunities from being filmed, to trying their hand at directing.
For younger kids, there is Curious George: Let’s Get Curious, which is recommended for ages 8 and under. This exhibit was perfect for my three-year-old, but older kids will definitely be too old for it. Everything in this exhibit is hands-on from the rocket ship slide to the 3-hole mini-golf course.
Other fun and educational interactive activities include a sidewalk produce stand with fruits and vegetables that the kids can sort, weigh and buy and sell, an area full of windmills and wind chimes that kids can power using wind while learning about cause and effect, and an apartment with mailboxes, an elevator and other surprises.
For kids who need a quiet moment, there are Curious George books and a corner bench on which to read them on inside a special area of the exhibit called the “Museum Within the Museum.” This area also tells the story of the authors H.A. and Margaret Rey, which I did not know previously and was very glad to have had the chance to learn. Not only is their personal story an incredible one, but so is the one of how a real-life monkey came to be the beloved character Curious George.
One note: we were at the Liberty Science Center on a Sunday, and both exhibits were very crowded, so if at all possible try and visit during off-peak times.
AVATAR: The Exhibition closes on May 19 and Curious George: Let’s Get Curious closes on May 12. For ticket prices and museum hours, visit LSC.org.
Thanks to the generosity of the Liberty Science Center, Barista Kids has a family four-pack of tickets to giveaway to visit the museum.
To enter tell us which exhibit at the museum you think your kids would like to see the most.
Contest starts Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 9 am EST and ends Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 9 am EST. One person who leaves a comment by Wednesday, March 6, 2013 at 9 am EST will be chosen at random to receive the 4 tickets to the Liberty Science Center.
You MUST leave a comment here to be entered and you may only comment once to get an entry, but if you want another entry and up your chances of winning, here are a couple of ways:
- Follow us on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Make sure to include @baristakids in your tweet.
- Subscribe to our newsletter here and send us a message telling us you did with your email address.
Good luck!
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Seen many exhibits at the LSC but the Avatar exhibit is something we’d enjoy as we loved the movie.
My 3 year old would love the Curious George.
This is great! We love LSC. I think my 4yo and 5yo would have a great time at the Curious George exhibit. Thanks.
I love the Curious George history!
Curious George was my daughter’s favorite character when she was younger. I think she’ll enjoy the Curious George history.
We call my little guy “Curious George” so I think he’d love to see the new Curious George exhibit in action!
My kids will love the Curious George exhibit, but I really want to go for the Avatar exhibit!!
My 8-year-old doesn’t know Avatar, but I think she’d really like the motion-capture part of the exhibit anyway!
The Avatar exhibit sounds awesome.
My daughter would LOVE the Curious George exhibit!
My 6-year-old would love the Avatar exhibit and my 3-year-old would enjoy the Curious George.
We would love to see the Avatar exhibit!
Zach is a huge Avatar and Curious George fan. Truly would be fantastic to have him see both!
I would love to take my daughters, as they Re huge Curious George fans.
My boys would love to see the Curious George exhibit!
“Mom! Look ! George!”
That’s what I’m going to hear 50 times if I bring my 3 & 6 yr old boys to LSC.
Curious George for sue
I have an older child who’d love the Avatar exhibit and a younger child who’d go crazy for the Curious George exhibit. Please pick me!