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The exhibit is meant to show kids what life is like for kids in China. So it's a modern exhibit. We've got great contacts with our local Chinese community and work with them regularly for events like Chinese New Year and Dragon Boat. But now that we're going to have this exhibit, the museum is planning an "all China, all the time" sort of program for next summer (which will also feature the Beijing Olympics!). So, as the science person, I'm just trying to come up with science programming that ties in somehow. Suggestions so far have been fantastic, keep them coming!
Meanwhile, your original question (if China asked for representative US inventions), all I can think of is that one Schoolhouse Rock episode, "Mother Necessity" that features Alexander Graham Bell, the Wright Brothers and more like tham http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8wuGRlRZqk. Ah, the memories....
AD
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
Boston Children's Museum
617-426-6500 x342
www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's funny..." --Isaac Asimov
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
-----Original Message-----
From: Informal Science Education Network
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of jason jay stevens
Sent: Wednesday, November 07, 2007 4:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: science technology and china
ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************
If you were at a science center in China, and a staff member said
they would like to plan some floor demos based on the US, you might
advise them to find a way of narrowing down the topic a little! Or,
I suppose, you could rely on popular stereotypes and recommend a
square dancing or horseshoeing demonstration. Is the China
exhibition about history or geography or engineering or culture, or
anything more specific?
You might want to reach out to your local Chinese population. I'm
sure you could harvest some great ideas and you might even get some
great volunteers!
Several decades ago, the eminent Joseph Needham wrote a multiple
volume history, "Science and Civilisation in China" (Cambridge
University Press, 1954), and there are several spin-offs from that
weighty work, including the more accessible--and easier to carry--
"The Genius of China" by Robert Temple, which was recently revised &
expanded (Andre Deutsch, 2007). You should look at that book--it's
really eye-opening and I think it would give you a myriad ideas. I
often use it for inspiration on projects that have nothing to do with
China!
Paper dolls supposedly originated in China. Certainly paper cutting
is a treasured artform there. Block printing and paper money got
their start in China. Water pumps, suspension bridges, and
porcelein. The first compasses and seismographs. I think all of
these things could lend themselves to floor activities, maybe even
adaptation of activities you already have.
Kites! I've come across ancient texts that would lead one to believe
ancient Taoist monks actually tried hang gliding two thousand years
ago! That's perhaps a risky demo, but kites are always a hit.
& of course...Fireworks!
oh, and BTW--some sources claim the horseshoe was invented in China,
too.
Square-dancing, alas...nobody actually wants to claim ownership of
that one.
--Jason
__
JasonJayStevens
JasonJayStevensStudio
[log in to unmask]
www.potterbelmar.org/jjss
536 Roosevelt Avenue
San Antonio, Texas 78210
On Nov 7, 2007, at 12:59 PM, Daniels, Alissa wrote:
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology
> Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related
> institutions.
> **********************************************************************
> *******
>
> We at Boston Children's Museum are getting ready for a new exhibit
> about China. Our plan is to develop lots of related program in all
> our content areas, including science. I know China is responsible
> for a whole lot of inventions and engineering ideas including
> papermaking, printing, suspeension bridges, as well as a lot of
> advances in medicine, cartography and navigation.
>
> I"m looking for help in turning some of these ideas into managable
> floor activities. For example, how does one do Chinese papermaking?
> (as opposed to making paper from other paper, which a lot of us
> know how to do) If you have knowledge of some great China
> originated science or technology, I'd love to hear about it and/or
> how you would do a hands-on activitiy with it.
>
> thanks!
> AD
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Alissa Daniels, Science Program Manager
> Boston Children's Museum
> 617-426-6500 x342
> www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org
> The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds
> new discoveries, is not "Eureka!" (I found it!) but "That's
> funny..." --Isaac Asimov
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> **********************************************************************
> *
> For information about the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> and the Informal Science Education Network please visit www.astc.org.
>
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