Science Roadshow at MOTAT This July

Science Roadshow at MOTAT This July

It’s electrifying fun at MOTAT these school holidays.

The popular Science Roadshow returns to MOTAT from 4 – 19 July with its two live shows and interactive exhibits. This exciting hands-on learning experience broadens children’s knowledge of science, technology, engineering and mathematics while having great fun.

The new live science shows, Wonderful Water and Sparks, Arcs and Gherkins, will be presented every hour throughout the holidays.

Wonderful Water explains the amazing properties of water and how it cycles through our world. Simple experiments demonstrate why we need to look after earth’s fresh water supply, whether ice is heavier than water and what surface tension means along with many other interesting facts about water.

Sparks, Arcs and Gherkins explores the dynamics of electricity and its many uses. It illustrates how a circuit works, teaches children all about electromagnets and the difference between conductors and insulators. They can even see first-hand whether a gherkin is a good conductor or not! Exciting apparatus, including a Tesla coil generating thousands of volts of electricity and the Electric Chair of Doom, are bound to keep the kids engaged.

Have a spin on the rotating chair, get comfortable on the bed of nails, witness a 3D printer in action, experiment with a beach ball and a Bernoulli Blower or build an arch bridge. These are just a few of the 60 plus interactive activities visitors can experience in this mobile science discovery centre.

Plus get hands-on in MOTAT’s Discovery Dome, where visitors can learn even more about electricity. Children 8+ will investigate conductivity and resistance by building their own circuit from simple materials to try out on a ‘Makey-Makey’ control board and take home afterwards.

Visitors get the chance to play with ‘Ozobots’, the brand new hi-tech robotic toy which they can programme to perform a range of functions using simple coloured markers and white paper. Called the “game piece with a brain” this activity highlights how electricity has influenced every aspect of our daily lives, from work to play.

In the Activity Centre, youngsters will enjoy taking part in a variety of simple electricity experiments. Here they can learn how friction generates static electricity and then use that energy to stick a balloon to a wall, move a tin can without touching it and make polystyrene ‘fleas’ dance!

Dates: Saturday 4 – Sunday 19 July
Times: 10am to 5pm
Normal MOTAT admission fees apply

With these electrifying activities, 60+ Science Roadshow exhibits and a live demonstration every hour, MOTAT is packed full of educational fun for kids these school holidays.

MOTAT is also teaming up with Bubble Dome to offer students amazing Minecraft Holiday Workshops ($55.00 per child plus fees, booking essential) from 10am to 2pm on 13, 14, 15 and 16 July. Here they will learn all about MOTAT’s Pumphouse, explore the endless possibilities of Minecraft and build their very own super hero lair. Spaces are limited so make sure you don't miss these exciting holiday workshops, there are two to choose from!

For more information about MOTAT and other activities, visit www.motat.org.nz.

ENDS

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