Ever excitedly told your kids you’re heading to a museum together, and been met with a lack of enthusiasm? I hear you. Museums aren’t always the most exciting activity when it comes to family outings, but in the last few weeks, my family has visited THREE hands-on, educational exhibits that my kids loved. Since winter can make it tough on getting out of the house, I’m sharing these indoor experiences with you, so you can try them!
Virginia Museum of History and Culture: Traveling Bricks
If you’re reading this, grab your keys and head to VMHC now, as time is running out for this exhibit that runs through January 5! I cannot say enough good things about the way Traveling Bricks blends history and STEM. My son, who loves all modes of transportation, spent over an hour admiring each intricately designed build, and was inspired to come home and build his own excavator! If your child is inspired and doesn’t want to wait until you come home, there is a huge brick pit at the end of the exhibit, along with tables and a display wall.
Anyone who loves creating, designing, and learning must check this out! Read the full review of Traveling Bricks.
Science Museum of Virginia: MathAlive!
![MathAlive at Science Museum of Virginia [Evergreen Exhibitions photo]](https://richmondfamilymagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MathAlive-MixItUp-Credit.EvergreenExhibitions.jpeg)
Truth be told, I am not a numbers person, so I had sum (see what I did there?) doubts about SMV’s current exhibit, MathAlive! However, the exhibit is incredibly engaging and interactive. There’s so much fun happening, your children may not even realize how much they’re learning. Some favorites include, Pedal to the Peak, where you pedal on a bicycle while a graph shows various relationships, like speed and time, during your ride. Another highlight was Boardercross, where you simulate riding a snowboard to learn about angles and precision. Overall, this exhibit does an excellent job of demonstrating how math is used everyday, even without us realizing it. The exhibit is included with SMV admission and is now through January 12. Read the full RFM review of MathAlive!
Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center: Undersea Superpowers Gallery
Pack some snacks and load up the car for a day trip to Virginia Beach’s Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Of course, you’ll love seeing the fish, turtles, otters, and other animals, but the Undersea Superpowers Gallery, a permanent exhibit, offers children a chance to learn about how various sea animals use their features to survive, find mates, and more.
The way the information is presented and the interactive activities, make this a fun opportunity for kids to learn about the ecosystem, and its inhabitants. Read about more winter fun in Virginia Beach.
Virginia Holocaust Museum – Dimensions in Testimony
Although we haven’t made it to this since I think my son is a little young for it, I definitely want to check it out with my older daughter and husband, and I’m just fascinated by the technology that went into this. Read the feature story about the exhibit from RFM’s November/December issue.
Looking for more fun activities? Check out the RFM Calendar!
