Cyberchase Exhibit at the EcoTarium
Based on the Emmy winning PBS KIDS GO! math mystery cartoon Cyberchase, the exhibit presents math in a fun, kid-friendly environment, allowing children to make use of their critical thinking skills and approach math with an investigative, positive attitude.
In the exhibit, children enter Cyberspace through a special portal to explore favorite cybersites, including the Control Central, the Grim Wreaker and Poddleville. They help the CyberSquad protect this virtual universe from the villainous Hacker while exploring math concepts such as place value, algebra, geometry, fractions and probability. Throughout the exhibit, children do not only 'do' math, but experience it firsthand through activities and interactive components.
Control Central - Motherboard, the peace-loving leader of Cyberspace, greets children as they investigate interactive computer stations. They discover that fractions are fun with Restore the Power, where they can reinstall the 'power circuits' that the villainous Hacker has removed. Children are challenged to use their 'brain power' to store a million energy units by pedaling 100 times before 'sending' the energy to a central holding center in the Cyber Cycle.
Grim Wreaker - Here, children explore spatial relationships while playing Flip, Rotate, Fit it In and use deductive reasoning to figure out where Hacker is hiding. Using clues provided and the process of elimination, children will discover his whereabouts in Find Hacker. Children have the opportunity to prevent Hacker's rocket from reaching Control Central in Stop the Launch and explore the principles of probability as they try to activate the combination of buttons and levers to stop the rocket from lift off.
Poddleville - Children explore the basic foundations of algebra, in which both sides of an equation must have the same value. They attempt to discover the unknown value of Poddle people against known weights on a scale in Poddle Identity. While engaging in Poddle Family Patterns, children match up baby Poddle eggs to the correct Poddle family by using critical thinking skills and recognizing the pattern in each Poddle family. Poddleville Lineup encourages children to examine shapes and consider how an object can look different depending on the point of view. They use light to look at shapes from different angles and compare them with 'clues' provided by witnesses of 'suspect' shapes.
Children use two-dimensional shapes to create three-dimensional structures in Build a City encouraging play and experimentation. While playing Kahuna-huna Race-A-Runa, children complete a racetrack by placing track segments that represent decimals in their proper place. Once the track is complete, the race can begin. Children can also challenge a friend to Dragon Dilemma, where they must use their problem-solving skills to strategize a winning combination to defeat their opponent.
After spending time in this exhibit, children and parents alike will have a better understanding of math. Take-home activities allow the learning to continue after the museum experience.
Cyberchase - The Chase Is On! was developed by the Children's Museum of Houston in partnership with Thirteen/WNET New York and is nationally funded by the National Science Foundation. Cyberchase is produced by Thirteen/WNET New York in association with Title Entertainment, Inc. and can be seen nationally on PBS KIDS GO! and locally on WGBH-Boston weekdays at 4 p.m.
ABOUT THE ECOTARIUM
The EcoTarium is a unique indoor-outdoor nature and science museum. Set in an urban oasis, the EcoTarium offers a visitors a chance to walk through the treetops, take a thrilling multimedia journey through the galaxy at Massachusetts' only digital planetarium, meet wildlife, stroll nature trails, ride a narrow-gauge railroad, and get hands-on with three floors of family-friendly exhibits.
The museum, located at 222 Harrington Way in Worcester, Mass.,is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sundays 12 to 5 p.m. Admission is $12 for adults and $8 for seniors, college students and children ages 3-18. Parking is free. For information, visit www.ecotarium.org, call 508-929-2700 or e-mail info@ecotarium.org.
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Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am - 5:00pm;
Sundays 12:00pm - 5:00pm
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$12 for adults and $8 for seniors, college students and children ages 3-18. Free with Ecotarium or Museum of Science membership
| WEBSITE | ↑ top |
| LOCATION | ↑ top |
222 Harrington Way, Worcester, MA map
Phone: 508-929-2700
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