Autumn Leaves

For this weeks Tot Art we created these fun and colorful leaves. The kids had a lot of fun AND it was virtually mess-free!

Here’s what you need:

Tempera paint-we used red, yellow and orange

White school glue

Wax paper

Scissors

First, take a large sheet of wax paper and fold it in half. Mix the tempera paint with the glue. I used a 2:1 paint/glue ratio. Once you’ve got your mixture, open the wax paper, like a book and put a dollop of each color in the center. Fold the other side of the wax paper onto the paint.

Using your fingers, squish the paint between the wax paper. Experiment with textures and come up with some great paterns!

When finished, let dry for 45 minutes to an hour. When it’s dry, have your toddler cut out different leaf shapes. This is also an opportunity to explore your back yard or local park. Find different types of leaves and try to recreate them! Have fun and HAPPY FALL!

Halloweeen! The extra E is for Expanding Matter!

I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us. --Dr. Ray Stantz

The Children’s Museum of Memphis is getting ready for Halloween. We’re prepping crafts and gooey experiments for our October 29^th Monster Bash celebration! You’ll be able to make a creepy witches hand, slime and hunt for candy!

Yesterday I had the extreme pleasure of purchasing copious amounts of marshmallows...I felt like a 'shelf clearer' on that coupon show, except I paid full price and I'm nice. In addition, I received our edible markers for our Frankenstein craft--marshmallow Frankensteins. (or as Tamara correctly calls him “Frankenstein’s Monster”). Having never used edible markers, I had to try those out. I learn by doing—that’s good considering I work at an awesome hands-on museum! The marker went on smooth as I drew a primitive smiley face and then without any warning, popped him in my mouth—mmmmm sugar!

As the ladies in my office watched me devour one marshmallow man (or woman) after another, I had an idea—more like a flashback, a sugar induced flashback.

It was Easter, 1985. Exhausted from spending the better part of my morning searching for hard boiled eggs, I dug into my Easter basket and pulled out a Peep…and then I ate him. Later that day, my family gathered around our microwave and watched the Peep expand and change shape. In my short 4 years of life, it was literally the coolest thing I had ever seen.

“Again” I shouted!

Beeeeep

“AGAIN”!

It is a tradition that has lived on. I can’t wait to teach my nephew how to microwave a Peep. Until that time, this is an activity that you can do at home while learning about how microwaves work! Ohhhh ahhhhh. I would be remiss if I didn’t display a bit of Caution

This a

ctivity should be done with adult supervision. The contents in the microwave oven get very hot. VERY HOT. Please let the marshmallow cool before touching or eating. It’s also a good idea at this moment to instill the idea in your chil

d that they ALWAYS need supervision and permission to use any of the kitchen appliances. You just made a teachable moment even more teachable!

Yay, you!

What you need:

Marshmallows

Microwavable Plate

Microwave

What to do:

Before doing anything, ask your child a few questions. What do you think is going to happen?Why? This helps them form a hypothesis (an important part of the scientific method).

Once you have some idea’s as to what is going to happen, place one or two marshmallows on a plate. Place inside the microwave for 30 seconds. Watch and document what happens. Some great questions to ask are: why do you think it’s getting bigger? What do you think is inside?

This is also a great time to experiment further. What do you think will happen if we put the marshmallow in for 45 seconds? A minute? Test these theories until your house smells like a toasted marshmallow!

Now Here Comes the Science:

So what exactly is happening? Microwave ovens are a unique appliance. Inside, microwaves swing back and forth at a frequency of about 2 billion cycles per second. While they are doing this, they are making the water molecules dance! Well not so much dance as move. As they move faster, the molecules get hot and then hotter. The heat from the molecules causes the food to heat up. Now when things heat up, they expand. As the marshmallow heats up, it too expands.

Take your hands and rub them together. As your hands move faster and faster, you can feel the heat. This is like what is happening inside your food. As the molecules move faster and faster, they are creating heat. Yay Microwave ovens!

MARSHMALLOWS **jazzhands**

Record Bowls for The Children's Museum of Memphis' Flashback Party!

This Thursday, May 5th, The Children’s Museum of Memphis is hosting the Flashback Party fundraiser. It’s a casual party for our grandparents and empty nesters, and an invitation for them to re-discover The Children’s Museum of Memphis. While the party focuses on our Baby Boomers, everyone is welcome to come and have fun. We’ll have a DJ spinning the best of ‘60s and ‘70s music and Café’ Society and Central BBQ will provide amazing hors d’oeuvres! We’ll also have wine and a selection of beers from Boscos!

Click here for our official invitation!
For more info go to CMOM's website

If you come, you may notice some awesome looking center pieces. I say they’re awesome ‘cause I made them. The programs dept. was tasked with making some inexpensive themed center pieces. So we went to our local Goodwill store and snatched up a bunch of old records.

We made these cute record bowls. It’s very easy and fun to do. It can definitely be an at home family activity…possibly done on one of our Memphis rainy days!

First get a cookie sheet, large bowl, and records. Pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees f.

Place the bowl up-side-down on the cookie sheet and the record on top of the inverted bowl. Keep an eye on the project. It should only take about 10 minutes or less in the oven to make the record pliable. The record will naturally take the shape of the bowl. Once it has, you can take the record out of the oven. Of course it will be hot, but will usually set in about 15 seconds.

We’ve seen these bowls go for 10-30 dollars online and at shops. All in all each bowl cost us about 1.50! Great deal and a fun family project. Win-Win-Win!

Recycled Crayons!

We go through a lot of things here at The Children’s Museum of Memphis. In our Art Smart Studio we had a tub of crayon nubs. They were still useful so we didn’t want to throw them away, but…they were nubs. So we did the next best thing! We recycled them! It’s super easy to do. All you need is a cupcake tin, an oven (we used a toaster oven) and old stubby nubby crayons.

First, remove all the paper from the crayons. While you are removing the paper, it’s a good time to pre-heat the oven to 275 degrees. Most of the paper from ours was already missing. After the paper wrapper is removed, sort the crayons into different colors. Unless you want rainbow crayons, then just toss them in the cupcake tin. Once sorted fill the cupcake tin about ¾ of the way.

Place the crayons into the oven for about 10 minutes, or until they look melted. It doesn’t take long. When they are finished take them out and let them cool for about 15-20 minutes.

We used cupcake liners for most of them. It’s easier to pop them out. If you don’t have cupcake liners, I’d suggest greasing the pan just a bit. We’ve found that these recycled crayons fit better with younger hands, and they’re perfect for our tots who are developing their motor skills!

Erin Go Bragh! Irish Dancers @ CMOM!

Celebrate St. Patricks Day a wee bit early with CMOM. This Saturday(March 12) The Children's Museum of Memphis will have a performance by Inis Acla Irish School of Dance students. These young dancers will take the Little Oprheum Stage at 1pm. These are some very talented Memphians and CMOM is glad to have them back. Don't know what Traditional Irish Dance is? Think Riverdance...except awesome-er! See you this weekend!

Introducing Tamara!

Meet Tamara is our new Program Specialist.

Tamara is a Memphis native who received her Bachelors and Masters degrees in English from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Be sure to say hello when you see her around the museum. You can catch her during the week at Super Sing-a-Long (Tuesday afternoons at 1pm), Around the World (Wednesdays at 3:30), R&R Storytime (Wednesdays at noon), Fabulous Fine Art (Fridays at 10am), Saturday Art (Saturdays at 11am), Okie Dokie Karaoke (Saturdays at 1pm), Celebrate CMOM (Saturdays at 2pm through the end of August), and Super Science (Saturdays at 3pm).

VOTE for The Children's Museum of Memphis!

For Museum
in Memphis

We did it, again! We've been nominated for the Best Museum in Memphis in Nickelodeon's Parents' Picks Awards! Now we need your help to win: just click on the Nickelodeon Icon and vote for CMOM! You can vote for us once a day, every day, from now until July 15! While you're there pick some other local favorites like best toy store!

CMOM's New Reading Room

Hey!

Today, the CMOM Reading Room officially opened.

I am quite aware that the name is kinda lame--That's why I'm looking to you for help! Do you have a great name for the reading room??? If you do, you could win PRIZES! Exciting prizes like this Malco Gift card that is sitting on my desk! Or a CMOM prize basket! Send me your suggestions at Loni.Wellman@cmom.com! OR you can stop by the museum and place them in the amazing voting box!

Either way, the room needs a great name!!! Unfortunately the following names have already been denied:

Lonski's Reading Emporium

Loni Rocks

Loni is Awesome

The Loni Wellman Reading Experience

Here are some before and after pictures. The room is located next to Your House, My House--right next to the slide! We'll see ya there!

Name the New Library!

CMOM's NEW LIBRARY

Opening April 17, 2009 (We hope!)

Our book collection (finally) has a new home...and it needs a name! Join us this weekend (anytime before close on Sunday) and share your most creative names for Our House, Your House's newest room. In addition to becoming a CMOM celebrity with a room YOU named, winner will also receive a Malco gift card. SCORE! Even if you can't make it for the "Name Our Library" competition, make sure you stop by and read a good book or two in this cozy new hang-out. See ya soon!

Oh I Wish...

Happy Holidays to EVERYONE!



So I've been counting down the days till Christmas. This year, the family is going to Las Vegas! I finally get to meet my brand new nephew! He is awesome (gets that from me). And I was really excited until I found out that I was going to miss the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile!



That's right! The Oscar Meyer Weinermobile will be at CMOM Monday, December 22nd from 9am-1pm.



Seeing the Weinermobile has always been a dream. I mean, it's a giant hot dog! That is awesome. So I'm terribly sad that I will miss this opportunity, but hopefully there will be others. I just hope I don't have to wait another 20 years!!! Hopefully you won't miss yours!



Come out to CMOM this Monday and check out the Weinermobile! "Oh I Wish"!

The Homeschool Labs Have Arrived!

Hey Homeschool Families!!!

You've been asking for it, and we're delivering!

The Children's Museum of Memphis proudly presents the first ever Homeschool Labs.

These Labs are strictly for homeschool-ers. Reservations are required and the spots are filling up now!

Here are the Programs dates and times. Call us at 901.458.2678 for more information and to register.

September 3rd, 2008: Project Polymers; learn all about polymers and their chemical make-up. Create slime, ooze and find polymers in nature! 2:30pm

September 17th, 2008: Animation Station; Ever wonder how your favorite cartoon characters come to life? Learn the basics of animation and the science behind how animation "tricks" they eye. Explore early animation techniques like zoetrope, and create your own animation to take home. 2:30pm

October 8th, 2008: Volcano!; Learn about Geography, Geology and Chemistry durring this explosive lab. Discuss Volcanos, study a real volcanic rock, and then work in a team to explode your very own volcano! 2:30pm

October 22nd, 2008: Stuffee; An inside-out look at our anatomy. Learn about the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems from Stuffee, a seven-foot-tall rag doll that unzips to reveal what's inside our insides. 2:30pm

We're hoping this program is well recieved. If we generate a lot of interest who knows what we could do next! If you are not a homeschool family, but know someone who is, pass along this information.

Thanks all, and have a great week.

The Children's Museum of Memphis is named "Best Museum in Memphis"!!!

From May 19th to June 30th, parents were invited to vote for their favorites in Nickelodeon's ParentsConnect's First Annual Parents' Picks Contest. ParentsConnect is an online resource for parenting advice.

We're so excited to be named the "Best Museum for Little Kids" in the Memphis Area! Thanks to everyone who voted!

Check out us and the rest of the winners here.

Again, Thanks! We wouldn't be here with out you!

See ya around!

Teachers' Night Out

Thank you to all the teachers who came out to the museum to kick off the first ever Teachers' Night Out. We had a great turnout and the night was a huge success! Over $800 in door prizes were awarded, new friendships were formed, and a world of opportunities was opened!

What an awesome way to kick off the school year!

Special thanks goes out to all the participants: Memphis Botanic Garden, The Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Lichterman Nature Center, The Orpheum, The National Civil Rights Museum.

Also, a HUGE thanks to the organizations who provided door prizes: The Knowledge Tree, Office Max, Malco, Memphis Zoo, Essential Touch Salon, Orgins, That's Love Florist, Teacher's Credit Union, Bosco's, The Body Shop, Clinique, The English Garden, Aveda, Davis-Kidd, Franklin Covey, Barnes & Noble, and Macy's.

CMOM has gone to the Dogs!

About a month ago, two white Buddy Dogs were delived to the Children's Museum!

We couldn't let them just sit there, so we got our paint and brushes out and went to town!

The whole project is part of The Humane Society of Memphis' "Dog Daze in Memphis". There are 75 dogs all over town, and The Children's Museum of Memphis has two of them! Special thanks to Bebe Betz Pinkley for helping our little artists! There was paint everywhere, but they turned out pretty goods.

You can find that spotted fellow by the Firetruck in our City Friends exhibit. His name is Pokey Dot, and he's named after the Pokey Little Puppy. Come by and give him a squeeze. See if you can find the other dogs around Memphis.

Up Coming Events at CMOM

Hey all,

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up on some of the events that will be happening at The Children's Museum of Memphis.

Some of you may not know, but our published schedule is solidified months before the actual events. A lot of times, we schedule performances and programs after the schedule is sent out.

The next two weekends we'll have special musical guests. Come out and see them!

This Saturday, July 12th, Opera Memphis' Teen Camp will serenade CMOM's visitors with selections from their up coming concert. They came out a month ago with two kid singers, and they were amazing!!! You won't be disappointed.

The following Saturday, July 19th, The students of The Brenda Buford-Shaw Studio will be visiting us. Last time they came, there were dozens of young piano players, and they blew the audience away! Come out and support some young local artists!

In addition, we're planning our September and October schedule. Look for our Children's Choice Voting program, coming in later October. Also on the books is our Girl Scout Day!

If you're a Girl Scout, or want to be one, Saturday, September 6th is your day. At CMOM, we'll be doing world famous Girl Scout Crafts and activities. There will also be an informational meeting for parents who are interested in signing their girls up! There will be more information to come on those two events!

Oh, and finally--This Wednesday, July 16th, we'll be hosting our very first Wacky Wednesday Line Dancing!!! Having worked on a cruise ship for many years, I am your line dancing expert. We're going to start it simple with the Electric Slide, but look for more complicated dances coming up in the following weeks!!! See ya on Wednesday!

That's all from me! Hope every one's 4th was amazing!