Ring in spring at Children’s Museum of Atlanta

ATLANTA (February 22, 2018) – Kids are invited to usher in spring and celebrate holidays from a variety of cultures with Children’s Museum of Atlanta. Throughout March, several guests, including Kahaaniya for Kids, Rabbi Glusman from the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta, the Ismali Choir and even the Cat in the Hat, will help little ones learn important lessons about cultural and national holidays. Whether examining the giant nose as part of the Healthyville exhibit or building a leprechaun house in the Build It Lab, the Museum is sure to empower visitors through the power of play!

Feature Exhibit: Healthyville
Through May 28

Healthyville is a place for everybody! This bilingual (English/Spanish), interactive exhibit teaches health and wellness lessons through play-filled activities and educational messages that foster learning by doing. Designed primarily for children ages 5 – 12 and their parents, caregivers and teachers, Healthyville provides visitors with hands-on opportunities to explore health topics in ways that help them understand their bodies, the importance of making healthy choices and how to apply these concepts in everyday situations. Healthyville features engaging content about how the body works and the effects of our positive or negative health choices.

Healthyville was created by Stepping Stones Museum for Children for the members of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative (YMEC). Healthyville is sponsored locally by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life with additional support from Georgia Power Foundation. Major funding for Children’s Museum of Atlanta is provided by Fulton County Board of Commissioners. Major support provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Themed daily programming during Healthyville will occur through May 28. Programming subject to change and may be altered during special events. All programs included with admission unless otherwise noted.

Mini-Musical: “Healthyville Delivery Service” written by Jerry G. White
Weekdays at 11 a.m. and noon; Weekends at noon and 2 p.m.
Kids are invited to explore the Healthyville Delivery Service warehouse alongside shipping clerk Sean and Randy the new guy to learn about the importance of the foods we eat. By singing along, audiences will help package vitamin-filled boxes for the residents of Healthyville

Story Time
Weekdays at 3 p.m.; Weekends at 1 p.m.
The Imaginators will read “Jack the Hungry Giant” by Loreen Leedy to share a nutritious twist on the classic fairy tale.

Music & Movement
Weekdays at 2 p.m.; Saturday at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.; Sunday at 11 a.m.
Welcome to the grocery games! Little ones are invited to join a team to compete in a healthy food obstacle course comprised of sorting items into food groups, challenging others to a hula hoop and jumping jack contest and more! To conclude the games, kids can celebrate victories with a musical dance party.

Super Spectacular Science Show
Weekdays at 1 p.m. and Weekends at 4 p.m.
Professor Labcoat and her assistants will lead a mesmerizing science demonstration for the entire Museum. Kids are invited to see what kind of fun she and her assistants have cooked up! Questions are encouraged at the end of the show.

Eat A Georgia Rainbow
Sunday at 3 p.m.
Children will embark on a scavenger hunt and cold cooking activity with the Imaginators to learn more about fruits and veggies harvested in Georgia throughout the year.

Art Studio Projects
Weekdays 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Weekends 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Little artists will have the opportunity to craft a smiley face wheat grass cup planter – inspired by the friendly faces of Healthyville!

Build It Lab
Weekdays, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Weekends 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Children will put their woodworking and creative tools to the test in this supervised space where they have access to real tools and materials. Encouraging inventions, Build It Lab sparks creativity by allowing young innovators to build items such as a stethoscope or spine simulator out of recycled materials.

Science Bar
Weekdays 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Weekends 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Science is everywhere, especially on the mezzanine at the Museum! Step Up to Science is the new STEM exhibit area and features interactive exhibits about light, robotics and how the human body works! Families can saddle up to the science bar for a full menu of fun activities, knowledge and have their questions turned into answers by one of the STEM educators.

Building Blocks Programs
Recommended for children one to five years old

Tiny Club Monday
10:30 a.m.
Designed for little minds, Tiny Club Monday offers FOODiE Club, SCiENCE Club, ARTiST Club and BUiLDER Club for children ages 2-5 and caregivers to enjoy together. The 30-minute classes offer hands on activities, professional instruction and the chance to create and learn something new!

Messy Thursdays
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Little visitors and guardians are invited to get messy! Messy Thursdays offer slime, finger painting and more! Let the Children’s Museum of Atlanta clean up the mess while the little ones have a blast. New, messy activities await every week to try, offering endless opportunities.

Toddler Jam Fridays
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Kids are invited to rock and roll into the weekend with this high energy, music-filled class guaranteed to shake out the wiggles and foster a love of music. Each week little ones can enjoy new songs, instrument play, circle time activities and, of course, dance breaks.

March Special Programming

Read Across America Day     
Friday, March 2

• Story Time with Georgia Association of Educators and “Cat in the Hat” Meet and Greet
  11 a.m.
  Little ones can gather around the Children’s Museum of Atlanta stage as a special guest shares beloved Dr. Seuss tales. Don’t doze off – that mischievous Cat in the Hat just might appear on stage!
• Star Bellied Sneetches
  Noon and 3 p.m.
  The Imaginators will share “The Sneetches and Other Stories” to inspire kids to become their own star-bellied sneetches!
• Super Spectacular Science Show and “Cat in the Hat” Meet and Greet
  1 p.m.
  Professor Lab Coat and her assistants will lead a mesmerizing science demonstration for the entire Museum. Kids are invited to join her to see what kind of fun she and her assistants have cooked up! Questions are encouraged at the end of the show. Families are encouraged to stick around after the show to meet the Cat in the Hat!
• Find the Wocket in Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s Pocket
  2 p.m.
  Kids will listen to the Imaginators read “There’s a Wocket in My Pocket” and then take off on a scavenger hunt throughout the Museum to track down that silly Wocket and several other characters from Dr. Seuss books.
• Art Studio
  10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
  After hearing silly stories from Dr. Seuss, children can embrace their creativity by creating a colorful Truffula Tree or Horton’s cherished flower.
• Build It Lab
  10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
  To celebrate Read Across America Day, kids can use real tools under supervision to craft personalized book ends – perfect for expanding book collections!

Celebrate Holi: A Cultural Celebration
Saturday, March 4
Families will learn about the Hindu holiday Holi, the Indian festival of color, through a variety of hands-on programming.

• Kahaaniya for Kids presents Holi
  11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  The puppetry arts company will share a very special show to teach families about the origins of Holi and how the holiday is celebrated today.
• Special Music and Movement
  2 p.m.
  Kahaaniya for Kids will lead a very special activity teaching little ones how to use hand and facial expressions, as well as body movements to tell a story through dance.  
• Storytime
  Noon and 3 p.m.
  “Amma, Tell Me About Holi” by Bhakti Mathur brings Hindu mythology to life through vivid images and captivating rhymes that will teach families about festival of Holi.
• Art Studio
  10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
  *Special hours to accommodate Dr. Science’s Wondershop. Classes are at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.; sign up will take place at the Security Desk.
  In celebration of Holi, littles will be able to make their own colorful marble paper.
• Build It Lab
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Children will put their woodworking and creative tools to the test in this supervised space where they have access to real tools and materials.

I Spy Science! Week
Monday, March 12-Friday, March 16
Calling all mini detectives! Throughout the week, kids are invited to visit the Museum from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. to become a Super Science Detective and solve the mysteries of the world around us. Little ones will follow clues through a series of interactive science tables and receive stamps in a provided detective’s log. Once the log is completed, tiny detectives will earn a special science detective badge! To conclude the event, Professor Labcoat will host a superhero-themed Super Spectacular Science show at 1 p.m.

Additional special I Spy Science! Week activities will take place during the regularly-scheduled Messy Thursday program on Thursday, March 15.

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration
Saturday, March 17

• Irish Step Dancing
  11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
  To honor the traditions of Irish heritage, Imaginators will teach families traditional Irish step dancing.
• Find the Four-Leaf Clover
  Noon and 3 p.m.
  The Children’s Museum of Atlanta’s leprechaun is on the loose with a four-leaf clover! Kids can join the Imaginators to catch the pesky leprechaun and maybe even find a pot of gold.
• St. Patrick’s Day Story Time
  1 p.m.
  Imaginators will read “Clever Tom and the Leprechaun: An Old Irish Story” by Linda Shute, a story about Tom Fitzpatrick who is convinced he struck gold by capturing a leprechaun. However, he quickly learns that the leprechaun may be smarter than himself.
• Science Bar
  11 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
  To celebrate the Irish holiday, kids will explore colors of the rainbow in a bottle and play with ooey-gooey shamrock slime.
• Art Studio
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Once little ones capture a leprechaun, they can craft a leprechaun house to keep it in for good luck!
• Build It Lab
  11 a.m.-4p.m.
  Families can utilize real tools and materials to craft a St. Patrick’s Day shamrock stamp.

Celebrate Navroz: A Cultural Exploration
Sunday, March 19
Join the volunteers from the Ismali Muslim Community in celebrating the festival of Navroz through music and crafts. Families can also learn about the Persian and Central Asian cultures through stories and art from the Aga Khan Museum.

• Ismali Choir
  11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
  Members for the Ismali Choir will perform traditional songs in honor of Navroz.
• Navroz Storytime
  Noon and 2 p.m.
  “An Afghan Navroz” by Nissa Kara will share the story of Ariana and Jamil who are celebrating the Persian New Year, Navroz in Afghanistan.
• Navroz Celebration Scarf Dance
  3 p.m.
  Kids can learn about the rhythm and hand movements used during traditional scarf dances in celebration of Navroz.
• Art Studio
  11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  Families can visit the Art Studio to explore colors and artists from across the globe. In honor of the holiday, little ones will craft custom geometric tile art.
• Build It Lab
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Children will put their woodworking and creative tools to the test in this supervised space where they have access to real tools and materials.

Celebrate Passover: A Cultural Exploration
Sunday, March 25
In celebration of the Jewish holiday of Passover, visit with organizations representing Atlanta’s Jewish community, and engage in a full afternoon of Passover-themed art, music, science and reading activities!

• Story Time
  11 a.m.
  The Imaginators will read “My First Passover” by Tomie dePaola to share the holiday with families and explore the sacred time among family and friends.
• Rabbi Glusman, Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta
  Noon and 2 p.m.
  Rabbi Glusman from the MJCCA will teach kids classic Passover songs, dances and traditions. He will also share stories of Moses’ bravery and the true meaning of the holiday.
• Special Guest
  2 p.m.
  Families are invited to visit the Children’s Museum of Atlanta stage to listen to a story or learn traditional Jewish dances.
• Art Studio
  11 a.m.-3 p.m.
  In the story of Passover, 10 plagues were sent to Egypt to persuade the pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery – one being frogs. Kids can create their own paper plate frogs to remind them what the people of Egypt experiences during the plagues. 
• Build It Lab
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Children can measure and build their own pyramids, just like the Egyptians did.

Celebrate Easter: A Cultural Exploration
Saturday, March 31

• Eggcelent relays
  11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  Families are invited to join the Imaginators for an Easter egg relay! Guests will use a spoon to carry the egg across to their partner while hopping on one leg like a bunny.
• Music and Movement: Do the Bunny Hop
  Noon and 2 p.m.
  Hippity hop to the Children’s Museum of Atlanta stage to learn to dance the bunny hop! As a special bonus, bunny and spring-themed costumes will be provided.
• Story Time
  1 p.m.
  Kids will learn about the five senses through “Fletcher and the Springtime Blossoms” by Julia Rawlinson. In this springtime story, Fletcher experiences the beginning signs of spring, but suddenly sees the unexpected signs of snow and must warn all of his friends of what’s to come.
• Art Studio
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  To celebrate Easter and to usher in spring, children can create their very own Easter Bunny using toilet paper rolls and colorful paper.
• Build It Lab
  11 a.m.-4 p.m.
  Children will put their woodworking and creative tools to the test in this supervised space where they have access to real tools and materials.

The Science Wondershop with Brian “Dr. Science” Williams
March 4, 11 and 25 at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
The Science Wondershop offers children the opportunity to explore science through a variety of hands-on activities. The program is designed for adult and child interaction to encourage imagination, curiosity and an interest in our world. Limited space available. A sign-up sheet will be located behind Security and is available on a first come first serve basis for the first 18 children and 18 adults.
 

Ongoing Monthly Programs

Target Free Second Tuesday
Tuesday, March 13 from 1-6 p.m.
Children’s Museum of Atlanta invites local families to visit the Museum free of charge on the second Tuesday of each month. Registration for Target Free Second Tuesdays will be available exclusively online through the Museum’s website (childrensmuseumatlanta.org) the day prior to each event to create a seamless process for guests. Guests who do not register in advance will be admitted on a first come, first served basis pending availability.
Patrons will be able to choose from two sessions:

• Session 1: 1 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
• Session 2: 3:45 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Ticketed Events

Home School Day
Tuesday, March 6
Home school students grades K-4 are invited to an afternoon of activities and workshops focused on health, science, exercise and food! The event will include a chef’s demonstration to teach little ones about healthy eating, a show to teach students how their bodies can fight off germs and the opportunity for kids to build a stethoscope, spine or “stomach!” Tickets are $5 for member children/$15 for non-member children. Adults receive free admission. Tickets may be purchased by calling the reservations department at 404.527.3693. A declaration letter and photo ID are required for adult guests.

Superhero Science Night
Saturday, March 10 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Calling all kid superheroes and mad scientists! Children’s Museum of Atlanta invites families to go up, up and away at its annual Superhero Science Night! Kids can come dressed as their favorite superhero and learn how to save the world with the power of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This special event will feature various science stations, as well as a “Science Spectacular Show” from Professor Labcoat.

**Space is limited, so families are encouraged to act quickly! Tickets are $8 for members/$18 for non-members. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be available at the door. 

Girl Scout Day
Saturday, March 10 from 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Daisies and Brownies are encouraged to visit Children’s Museum of Atlanta to explore science, art, world culture technology, engineering, healthy eating and more to earn a variety badges in various learning zones on the exhibit floor. Discounts are available for troops and Girl Scout families who visit the Museum wearing sashes or Girl Scout uniforms. To register, call 404.527.3693. For more information, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org/girlscoutsday. 

For more information on the March program offerings or to support Children's Museum of Atlanta, visit childrensmuseumatlanta.org or call 404.659.KIDS [5437].