February 1 - 7, 2011
COMMUNITYNEWSPAPERS.COM
This spud’s for you in show at Miami Children’s Museum BY WOODY GRABER
The call has gone out and families throughout South Florida won’t want to miss “The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head,” a new interactive exhibit now open at the Miami Children’s Museum on Watson Island. Sponsored by the Northwestern Mutual Foundation, the exhibit is scheduled to run through May 15. The much-loved Mr. Potato Head character will lead young visitors and parents on a number of fun and educational adventures. From trips to outer space to jungle safaris and archeological digs, each activity will provide children with engaging learning experiences. The exotic and fanciful exhibit is designed to develop school readiness and academic skills for young children, focusing on literacy, problem solving, mathematics, science and social studies. It is based on developmental milestones set by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and national academic standards. The 2,500-square-foot exhibit, targeted to children ages 3 to 8, was creat- Explore the oceans with Mr. Potato Head in “Spud ed by Milwaukee’s Betty Brinn Overboard” exhibit. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Children’s Museum in collaboration with Playskool, the infant/preschool toy divi- Coustato will take visitors on an underwater sion of Hasbro Inc. Visitors will find interac- adventure where they can build fanciful reefs, meet a friendly octopus and wise clam, and tive play areas within the exhibit, including: Welcome — The fun begins with an awe- enjoy simulated snorkeling adventures. Guests inspiring collection of Mr. Potato Head parts will learn by finding small surprises and a sea and accessories as well as an anthology to horse race in the kelp bed, operating the spud depict the character’s wild adventures. Special sub, experimenting with sounds from above books let visitors see themselves wearing dif- and below the waves, and generating underwaferent hats at future careers in the “What’s ter sparkle using the sub’s disco-ball antenna. Ahead for You?” activity sponsored by Spud Safari — Finally, while roaming junManpower Inc. gles with Mr. Potato Head, visitors can enjoy Space SPUD (Space Potatoes United for a pretend mudslide or venture inside a cave in Discovery) — Here, visitors can join search of mysterious objects. Guests should Commander Mr. Potato Head aboard the listen carefully to identify sounds in the junSPUD space station, where they’ll learn about gle, discover camouflaged and hidden crearepair and maintenance to the station. tures, and gain a different perspective when Children can sit in and control their journey they use special lenses and cameras to see the from the commander’s chair, use the inter- world through the eyes of silly birds, bugs and galactic translator, explore the galaxy and con- animals. duct experiments at the isolation glove box. The Adventures of Mr. Potato Head is an Spud Quest — While on an archeological adventure of self-discovery for the whole family, dig in search of the statue of King Tato, visi- only at Miami Children’s Museum, 980 tors will need to decipher “tatoglyphs” and MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island in solve mazes to find the statue’s secret caché. Miami. Entrance to the exhibit is included in Guests will use special maps to explore the each regular admission to the museum. treasure chamber and excavate the dig site to Admission is $15 for adults and children, $12 for uncover fun artifacts from the King’s past, Florida residents, and free for children under 1 while reconstructing the King’s crown and year. Admission for members is complimentary. weighing the discoveries in Mr. Potato Head’s For more information contact the museum research tent. at 305-373-KIDS (5437) or visit online at Spud Overboard — Ocean explorer Jacques <www.miamichildrensmuseum.org>.
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