Spring break is just around the corner and the Museum of Discovery is the place to go no matter the age of your spring breaker. With two brand new permanent galleries and interactive eclipse programming, Little Rock’s premier science center will fill a day with fun and a large helping of learning.
Science Lab opened in November and encourages critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, innovation and collaboration. For example, the Raceway Challenge exhibit allows guests to work together or alone to design and experiment with energy transfer and gravity by using track sections (straight, curved, loops, etc.) to create simple or complex raceways. The Giant Lever exhibit allows guests to pull on a lever to lift a heavy block they could otherwise never move. Three ropes — one each at 1:1, 2:1 and 3:1 mechanical advantage — provide a physical way for guests to feel and compare the change in advantage provided by lever arm distance.
Dynamic Earth, which opened in February, demonstrates how the planet changes and provides guests with opportunities to witness how the smallest of microbes recycle energy back into systems of life or see what sets drastic geological changes into motion. The most popular feature is Earthquake, a wheelchair-accessible platform that allows guests to experience varying magnitudes.
If you’re looking forward to the total solar eclipse on April 8, there will be opportunities to explore why the eclipse occurs and just how rare it is to live in the path of totality. Likewise, museum staff have created and illustrated a total eclipse social story to help children who are autistic or neurodivergent prepare for the historical event. The story, along with educational materials are all available here.
