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Explore the Science and History of Toys
From Whiffle Balls to Frisbees, even the simplest of toys rely on scientific principles in order to function, and many of these playful toys have an historic Connecticut connection. The Frisbee, for example, demonstrates a scientific concept called "angular momentum"; this grandfather of all flying disks was born at Yale when enterprising college students discovered that pie tins from Bridgeport's Frisbie Baking Company would fly through the air. And in 1943 in a New Haven laboratory, while trying to develop a synthetic rubber compound for the U.S. military, General Electric engineer James Wright combined boric acid and silicone oil to create a bouncing putty that was later named Silly Putty.
To celebrate the play between science, history and toys, kids and kids at heart will enjoy two new exhibits: "Science in Toyland" at the Science Center of Connecticut (SCC) and "Toying with Science" at the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS).
Visit the Science Center's national traveling exhibit, "Science in Toyland," where you will learn how to sail a boat in Catch the Wind, build the best spinning top in Tournament of Tops, experiment with chain reaction in the Domino Challenge, and test your skills at the other interactive stations. The "Science in Toyland" exhibit uses toys to demonstrate scientific principles and to help develop the thinking connection between the fun of playing with toys and fostering in children a view of science as positive and non-threatening. Historical toys and photographs (loaned by CHS) will tie these interactive stations to the history of our state in a concrete way.
The fun continues at the Connecticut Historical Society, where you'll see and learn about Connecticut's rich history in creative and scientific toy making in "Toying with Science." Visitors will learn about unexpected science connections from historic, made-in-Connecticut toys, including Erector Sets by New Haven's A.C. Gilbert, computers from West Hartford's Coleco, metal toys from Ives Manufacturing, rare and highly collectible toys from the Gong Bell Manufacturing Company, and the ever popular Lego.
These exhibits open on Saturday, June 29, when the Science Center will also celebrate its 75th birthday; join the festivities at the Science Center of Connecticut from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
During the first weekend in August, enjoy special events at both museums. On Saturday, August 3, visit the Science Center for demonstrations on balloons, static electricity and inertia; you can also learn to make toys from household items and see a screening of Cardboard Rocket in the planetarium. On Sunday, August 4, visit CHS for old-time outdoor games, including graces and rolling hoops, as well as a viewing of Toy Story; admission is free to all.
The Science Center is located at 950 Trout Brook Dr. in West Hartford; exhibit hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and children (ages 3-12), and free for Science Center members and children under 3; hours and admission for the Gengras Planetarium vary. For more info call 860-231-2824, or visit <www.sciencecenterct.org>.
The Connecticut Historical Society is located at One Elizabeth St. in Hartford; exhibit hours are Tuesday through Sunday from noon-5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults; $3 for seniors, students, and youth (ages 6-17); free for CHS members and children under 6. For more info call 860-236-5621, ext 249; or visit <www.chs.org>.
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