Sense the Excitement At MOTAT

Hear it, see it, smell it, taste it, touch it and learn about the science behind it these school holidays at MOTAT’s ‘Sense It’ holiday experience, 16-31 July 2011.

Kids can look forward to getting hands-on with braille typewriters and card games, musical sports equipment and the ‘scents of memory wall’ where smells will spur memories galore, all while learning about the science behind our senses.

The main attraction at this year’s MOTAT ‘Sense It’ holiday experience is the Fonterra Science Roadshow where visitors of all ages can have a hands-on experience with science and technology. Each year the Fonterra Science Roadshow travels to schools all around the country and over the past three years has reached over 143,000 school children.

Two exciting new shows have been added to the Fonterra Science Roadshow this year: Fire and Ice - exploring the concepts of temperature and combustion, and Super Senses - exploring the weird and wonderful workings of our five senses. A technology-laden Fonterra milk tanker will also be on display, showing off a new outer which reflects different landscape scenes, depending on whether it is night or day.

As part of the Sense It holiday experience, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, National Foundation for the Deaf and 5+ A Day will be hosting games and activities to help make learning about the body’s senses both fun and educational.

MOTAT museum experience co-coordinator Tony O’Sullivan says the ‘Sense It’ holiday experience is a great way to get kids thinking about science as a subject.

“We’ve packaged the fundamentals of science into exciting games and activities so that kids will be eager to get involved, and make a link between science and fun experiences,” says Mr O’Sullivan.

Fonterra Science Roadshow Director Ian Kennedy says the future success of Fonterra, and of the wider New Zealand economy, is closely linked with raising education levels in the areas of science, technology and innovation.

“We are thrilled to partner with MOTAT for the third time, as they share the same passion for educating Kiwi kids about science and technology as we do. Science education is vital in making more young people ‘science aware’ as most, if not all, of our future decisions as a nation will be based on science,” says Mr Kennedy.

MOTAT museum experience co-coordinator Tony O’Sullivan says ‘Sense It’ will unite fun activities with science to help break down barriers for kids.

“The holiday experience will show kids that science isn’t just about equations and formulas, it’s about the wonders of your body and learning about what processes take place to make them work - and what happens went they don’t.

“We are excited to have Fonterra, the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, National Foundation for the Deaf and 5+ A Day on board to give insight and broaden kids’ perspectives on the thrilling world of science,” says Mr O’Sullivan.

Everyone who visits the Fonterra Science Roadshow at MOTAT can enter a prize draw to win a trip to Sydney for their whole family. The prize includes return flights, two nights hotel accommodation and a family pass to the amazing Powerhouse museum with NZ$1,500 spending money.

More details about the Fonterra Science Roadshow and MOTAT can be found at www.motat.org.nz or www.roadshow.org.nz

Costs:

You can enjoy MOTAT’s ‘Sense It Holiday Experience’ as part of your entry fee to MOTAT.

Entry fee:

- Family (2 adults and up to 4 children) $35
- Adults $14
- Children (under 16) $8
- Students $8
- Senior citizens $7
- Children under 5 years are free
- MOTAT Mates (annual pass) - $65 for a family (entitles you to unlimited visits to MOTAT)

Event listed by MOTAT

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