If a child’s mind is like a sponge, then we are its ocean.
If experience is a child’s best teacher, then we are his personal playground.
If learning is a child’s greatest adventure, then we promise the ride of his life.
—Dash of SAS
I’ve been very open about how I am trying to be a progressive parent. As much as I can, I help and nurture my kids’ independence and ability to figure things out on their own by exploring and immersing them in activities that will help them learn.
Thankfully, there’s The Mind Museum. Gabbie & I aren’t first time visitors of this enthralling learning facility. We’ve actually been there before and shared a handful of photos as seen here. Almost a year after our first visit, we’re back, this time with a more comprehensive look at the 5 galleries of The Mind Museum. With the help of their resident scientist, also known as the MindMovers, we found out about their latest exhibits. I came along with my family, my mom, sister, her two daughters and my kids.
I with my kids, my mom, my sister and her daughters. Off to explore we go!
Atom Gallery
This is where you can explore the micro things that make up everything. A chocolate bar sculpture is shown so you can take a good look at its component structures- molecules, atoms, quarks! We even got a closer look at a cell through the Inner Space Track exhibit. There’s also tons of interactive things that you can try such as our favorite, the Van de Graaf Ball or simply, the static ball.
A look at a single cell that lead to all living cells.
I just had to have my photo taken with a giant chocolate bar!
The kids enjoyed the static ball.
Testing their skills to build carbon-based molecules.
Life Gallery
This is where things are larger-than-life, literally. This gallery has a giant brain that lets you see how it works, a life-sized whale shark, and a web of life exhibit that takes you through a variety of the cycle of life such as the preys and predators.
The Life Gallery.
My kids trying to catch the floating ball.
The giant arm, an illusion that holds the second level of the museum.
Gabbie and cousin Louise with the whale shark.
Gabbie with her cousins Louise & Angelu looking at the optical illusions in 3D.
Sisters Angelu & Louise trying out the electric table.
Inside the light bridge.
Earth Gallery
This gallery is all about the Prehestoric Era. Stan, the museum’s resident T.rex, draws everybody. There’s also a new addition to the fossil family, a 50-million year old real fish fossil which is an ancestor of the arowana. And the latest attraction that got me intrigued was the OmniGlobe where you can view volcanic activities, tsunamis, typhoons and earthquakes, and real-time weather activity from a month ago to the past 24 hours. Yes, you can really see how the earth moves in real-time. Talk about seeing the world! How cool is that?
The 47-50 million year old real fish fossil, an ancestor of the arowana, found in Wyoming USA.
The floating globe can show how a tsunami, a typhoon, or even an earthquake affects the entire Earth.
Our MindMover showing us how the floating globe works.
Gabbie enjoyed digging for fossils.
Gabbie and her cousin Louise with Stan the T.rex.
My kids with their cousin enthralled with how a tornado is formed.
Universe Gallery
This has to be my favorite area of the museum. It’s all about our solar system and the entire universe. The interactive display can really draw kids (even adults like me) into learning about how things work. The Space Shell was the highlight of this gallery. It is where you can gaze at the night sky or at the solar system depending on what is being showed. Gabbie loved the short presentation about Cosmic Collisions. She barely understood it but she was really participative, pointing and enumerating whatever she saw. Her brother, my 8 month old son Juro, also enjoyed looking at the stars, comets, sun, moon, and the Earth. He kept on reaching for it, trying to grab it.
Feels like you’re in outer space.
As close as I’ll see an astronaut.
A closer look at the moon.
The 3D Show features different presentations.
The SpaceShell where you can see the universe up close.
Technology Gallery
This is the gallery where you can find the machines and products from the past and the present. The irony was that the kids were very familiar with the modern day gadgets and they easily tinkered with those that are touch-screen and the like, but would really take time to look and ponder on the “ancient” contraptions. They’re actually more interested in those machines that they aren’t familiar with.
The kids were very interested with the Gutenberg Press. They simply called it “The Stamp Machine”
My kids enjoying the optical illusion. Although they’re too small for it, still look at how much fun they had.
Gabbie tries the Seed Drill the second time around after a year.
My mom who loves sewing finds this old sewing machine cool. heehee.
My niece Angelu with Mimo.
Other new hands-on, minds-on exhibits at The Mind Museum apart from the OmniGlobe, the new Space Shell and Inner Space Track, is KAL The Robot, MindMoving Studios, and Kyle’s Lab.
KAL The Robot towers at 7 feet and is made up of recycled vacuum cleaner parts among other things. He’s all about Environment Sustainability and even shares a thing or two about it. Did I mention there’s a growing plant inside his robot body? Clearly, KAL represents how technology and innovation such as robotics, can be used to improve the quality of life.
MINDMOVING STUDIOS is where the MindMovers (resident scientists) demonstrate live mind-blowing scientific experiments. The fun part aside from seeing it live is that you can participate along and be a junior scientist even for a short while.
KYLE’s LAB is the newest snack place at The Mind Café that serves science-themed snacks run by Junior MasterChef Pinoy Edition’s grand prize winner, Kyle Imao.
Sadly, we weren’t able to check out Science-in-the-Park as it was raining the day of our visit. It’s an area for outdoor activity where kids and kids at heart can play and learn at the same time.
The overall aspect of each child is definitely honed in The Mind Museum. The visual stimulation lures them into the start of the journey to knowledge, keeping them stimulated through interactive activities that can help improve their motor skills, hand-eye coordination and even critical thinking to name a few. I’d definitely recommend The Mind Museum as one of the places to visit when you’re in Manila. It’s also a nice place to let your kids be kids, where they can let their imagination run wild, have fun and learn all at the same time.
If you haven’t been to The Mind Museum and would want to visit anytime soon, take advantage of their ongoing promo this summer.
For every 5 tickets bought, get 1 additional ticket free. Applicable to all regular museum tickets and all-day passes for any group of 6 visitors. This promo is valid for over-the-counter transactions; online ticket purchases are not included. If you’re a student or teacher, please present a valid ID to purchase student & teacher tickets. This promo may not be used in conjunction with other promos and discounts. Promo is until May 31, 2013 only.
Go visit The Mind Museum today!
JY Campos Park, 3rd Ave.,
Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City
(02) 909-6463
You can email your questions here.
Hours:
Tue – Sun 9am – 12nn | 12nn – 3pm | 3pm – 6pm
Saturday 9am – 12nn | 12nn – 3pm | 3pm – 6pm | 6pm – 9pm
Mon CLOSED
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