The light table in the Illumination Room can be used to explore shapes, spatial relations and create colorfully lighted patterns and designs. You can even mix and match colors and look at animal x-rays.
THE FAMILY INTERACTIVE GALLERY (FIG) has been offering innovative, engaging and interactive experiences for children and their families since 2009. The FIG is more than a one-stop place for fun. Behind all the exhibits, activities, and programs we offer, real-life lessons are being taught. Children acquire knowledge, gain know-how, and practice skills that they take with them and rely on through life. Here, play is serious business. Additionally, many of our educational programs and activities are inspired by the Museum’s art and history exhibitions featured in the Lightcatcher galleries and Old City Hall.
At the heart of what we do are the children and families that we serve — what fascinates them, their curiosity, creativity, and imagination. Full of joyful exploration and potential, children are able to reveal their thinking and learning through play and discovery. The active, learner-centered, self-directed activity stations lend themselves to developing critical skills for the 21st century. Many of our activity stations and programs are also designed to teach children “STEAM” concepts—Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math—reinforcing skills and lessons learned at school and at home.
We hope you will explore, experiment, discover, create, and learn with us at the Family Interactive Gallery!
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- The Toddler Exploration station is designed for children ages birth to 36 months, along with their caregivers.
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- The Building Zone provides hands-on experiences for young children to make connections between design, engineering, construction, and science. Photo by Karissa Elliott.
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- In the FIG farm and garden, kids make stronger connections to the origins of their food by planting and harvesting crops, or milking Delilah, our recirculating cow.
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- Children and their caregivers can bring their harvested goods from the farm area to the Farm-to-Table cafe and “cook” up a meal.
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- Our Northwest ecosystem station teaches children about the animals and habitats of this region in a playful way.
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- Visitors enjoy listening and guessing animal sounds in our Northwest ecosystem station.
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- Children can create their own plays and perform them for parents and caretakers in our FIG Theatre. Themes change occasionally.
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- Children can paint on an easel in the FIG art studio. Photo by Karissa Elliott.
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- The FIG Studio is a dynamic, hands-on activity space. The room is designed to encourage children to hone their imagination, creativity, and problem solving skills. Children and their caregivers are invited to invent and make art together using various materials provided, or join us for our educator-led activities and programs. Photo by Rosa Caldwell.
