Earlier this month, Heather and I taught a homeschool workshop about taking things apart. In this three-hour class, kids (10-13 years old) transformed cheap toys into new ones.

It seems that whenever I tell people about what I do at the Science Museum, they tell me I need to get to know Asia Ward's artwork. She makes slightly-creepy, quietly-endearing, interactive creature sculptures like this one: Asia Ward, Lips. Contains a small motor, speaker, toy microchip, motion detector and rotating arm. The creatures are toy Frankensteins, constructed inside and out from pieces cobbled from old stuffed animals and electronic and mechanical toys. The sculptures are interactive.

A few weeks ago, Keith and I took apart toys with visitors. One was a little robotic dog that walked and barked when you pushed a button on its remote control. When he was taking it apart, he reached inside the neck and felt paper. Out came a little paper bellows with a bent straw attached - this was the thing that made the dog bark!