New critters in the lab!

We have two new animals in the Biotech Lab, an anole and a house gecko.  Check them out the next time you are at the museum for a BioLab activity like Story Lab or Open Science Lab.

The anole is easier to spot with its bright green color and long tail.  The gecko is smaller and brown with lighter spots.  Can you spot him?  He is to the right of the anole.  Anoles are active in the day while geckos sleep.  Geckos are nocturnal, meaning they are active at night.

Young Naturalists first session

We just finished our first Young Naturalists mini-camp.  We had a wonderful, bright and charming group of kids at Session One. I am looking forward to the next session.
Open the Young Naturalist page above for more info and pictures of Session One.
June 18th and 19th we will have session 2 from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Participants will be dissecting owl pellets and creating a display for the identifies bones.  We will learn about birds of prey.   I hope to see many young nature lovers June 18th.

New animals come to the Biotech Lab

Red Eared Slider Turtles

We have four RES turtles now living in our Biotech Lab.  The turtles were donated by Jon Hedges, who raised them from young turtles.
We plan to create a pond environment in our new ORIGINS gallery that also houses the Impact Cave.  In the meantime, the turtles need a healthy home which means basking shelves, filters, large tank, and heaters.

A BIG thanks to Peggy Benton for donating the money needed to buy a basking shelf with water filter.  The turtles would not have had this if she had not sponsored the purchase.  The quality of their life will greatly be improved. Ms. Benton also donated money for StoryLab materials which many children enjoy.

Our turtles will be comfy in their new home in time to share the StoryLab, Mossy, about a beautiful pond turtle.  The last chance to hear Mossy and make a terrarium is Thursday, May 30th. (See my post below for more info on Mossy.)

The picture on the left shows two of our new lab animals.

OMS tours Impact Cave

Friday, May 10th, we had our first school groups to tour the cave in our new gallery.  Students received maps detailing the locations of speleothems (formations) and zones throughout the cave.  The blind cave fish were a favorite.  Students also enjoyed the crawl through exit.  Several students commented that entering through the secret entrance felt like something out of a Harry Potter story.  THANKS OMS 7th GRADERS for being WONDERFUL guests!

May's STORY LAB and OPEN LABS

This month's Story Lab is Mossy by Jan Brett. Mossy is one of the most beautifully illustrated children's books I have read. I am glad May is finally here for me to share it.

Because of the Derby and BBQ Festival there are no Story Labs on Saturday for this month.

Join us for the following Story Labs:
May 15, Wednesday 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
May 19, Sunday 1:30 to 2:24 p.m.
May 30, Thursday 10:30a.m. to 12:00 noon

StoryLabs start at the time given above.


Jan Brett, the author, has a very nice website that is definitely worth a visit at http://www.janbrett.com/index.html
Make sure you take the time to subscribe to her newsletter (found in the heading tabs of her page).

For your convenience I have also added it to the links on the right side bar.

Hope to see you this month!

For future scientists wanting a little more lab time after StoryLabs, come back for OPEN LAB.

May 15, Wednesday 12:45 to 1:45 p.m.
    * Make a Barge: Create a barge out of aluminum foil or clay to float the maximum pennies possible.
May 19, Sunday 3 to 4 p.m.
    *  Predict and test which items float and sink, then use your knowledge to make it "flink".
May 30, Thursday 12:45 to 1:30 p.m.
     * Experiment with acids and bases by first making your own test paper. Watch your paper turn colors as you add liquids that have different pH levels.

Visit the biotech lab, 3rd floor, to see what NanoTechnology is all about.  Think like a scientist!
Go online for more Nano fun - just click the link: Nano games
(at http://www.sciencebuzz.org/topics/games)

April's Activities

We have activities going on EVERY DAY of Spring Break!
For information on all activities available in the Biotech lab click on the tabs above (April's schedule and StoryLab)
Third Floor BIOTECH Lab
            ...it's for the scientist and child in all of us!

Enjoy NanoScience in the Biotech
lab every day of Spring Break.

OPEN LAB invites you to investigate science
at your own pace

Several activities will be available everyday
Go to our website:
www.owensboromuseum.org
to view all events

Enjoy a story then do a related lab activity

DRY ICE SHOW

We had a nice turn out for both of the dry ice demonstration shows.  One favorite was the crystal ball. You can learn how to make your own crystal ball by visiting Steve Spangler Dry Ice Demo.
Unfortunately, you will have to go to Evansville to get dry ice.  I went to AirGas, 2300 Burkhardt Rd., Turn left onto Burkhardt (Longhorn restaurant is on corner).   You will pass Walmart, Sam's club...AirGas will be on the left.  There is a minimum purchase of $10.  Be sure and take a cooler.  Wrap the bag of dry ice in layers of newspaper to insulate it. Try to buy the dry ice  on the day you will need it.  I had to get mine the day before but bought extra to allow for loss overnight.
To see the demo, click on Dry Ice Demo above or go to the Steve Spangler website listed on the right under Science Fun.

Winter Bird Feeders

Saturday, we had a make and take winter bird feeders booth.  Several young patrons took advantage of the opportunity to create a suet feeder for their yard.  Participants kneaded the suet ingredients until they had a cookie dough texture, then filled a pre-drilled block of wood with their mix.  Left over suet was stored in a baggie to refill their feeder blocks.
For the recipe and more information on feeding birders click on the Winter Bird Feeders page in the top header.
We plan to have another make and take winter bird feeder booth in February.

What a success this day was!  

Thanks for all who joined us!