Some time ago I started working with mirrors as a medium to explore - scratching the silver off the back of the mirror to let light through and with help from one of our youth team managers here at the museum, Cindy, I also learned about acid etching on the glass surface...

Hi, I just came down from helping with the windtubes on the floor. Its a busy day - Presidents day and its cold outside so lots of kids and adults here today. I've been really interested in the windtubes as a way to start to explore new ways to start with materials. My favorite right now are foam blocks - cut from foam insulation sheets.

We cut then about 11/2" to 21/2' from bigger scrap chunks.

PIE staff did the Wind Tubes activity at a museum-wide event in January, and it was such a big hit with visitors that the Marketing department asked if we could do it weekly as part of the Play Dates program.

Play Dates is a program that happens every Monday, and includes special activities around the museum for preschool-aged kids and their parents.  In addition to Wind Tubes, we'll use this opportunity to test out new gallery activities that we've been thinking about, including Light Play (shadows and reflection) and water activities.