Weeks 1 - 2 Recap

Weeks 1 and 2 have been productive in the brainstorming area, but we're still really waiting to visit the Please Touch Museum to make any final calls. Thankfully, that will happen tomorrow, so there will be more to discuss then! So far, we know that the museum wants us to revamp their old exhibits and give them a unique STEAM (science technology engineering arts and mathematics) approach. We are currently not exactly sure what we have to work with, but we know we must appeal to younger kids as well as teach with clarity, excitement, and simplicity. 

For now, here are some ideas we have come up with: 

1. Solar Energy - solar powered dancing figurines, solar powered race track - kids can find inspiration to dance along with the toys, or they can pretend to be a race car driver as they watch the cars move down the track 
2. Wind Energy - pinwheels powering lights, a large model wind turbine - kids can blow on the pinwheels creating energy to shine beautiful lights 
3. Water Energy* - waterwheel powering a model town, music, or light - kids can run water through the waterwheel to watch a town light up or dance to music being powered 
4. Sustainable Playhouse - there are a lot of ideas to go with here, but many seem pretty unattainable. We could have a green roof, bio wall, solar panels, or even decorative but relevant items like sun catchers or wind chimes - kids could play house and get a glimpse of what it would be like to have a home that is fully sustainable 
5. Mechanical Energy - cranking a wheel or running on a belt to power something - kids getting active and transforming their own kinetic energy into electricity 

*The water energy idea seems most relevant now after hearing what the museum has to offer. They already have a waterwheel, so maybe we could do something with that, or build around it. 

All of these ideas seem to have a lot of potential, but it all rides on how the museum feels about their attainability, relevance, and safety. We will have plenty of more ideas come tomorrow, quite possibly having nothing to do with what we have come up with currently, but at least it's a start to something that is going to be great and original!