Color Play Exhibit Arrives at Kohl Children’s Museum May 19 – Sept 6

GLENVIEW, IL – Children of all ages will be thrilled at the arrival of the new exhibit, Color Play at Kohl Children’s Museum of Greater Chicago, May 19 – Sept. 6, 2009. Featuring more than 15 interactive experiences, Color Play is a highly interactive, hands-on exhibit that illuminates the art and science of color.

In addition, this May Kohl Children’s Museum introduces their first-ever Growing Minds Expo (May 2), as well as the 4th annual Touch-A-Truck Family Festival presented by Women’s Board of Kohl Children’s Museum at Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 670 Frontage Rd., Northfield, Ill. (May 3). For more information, visit www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org.

“We are thrilled to provide such a wide range of activities for families to enjoy together this May. We’re of course excited to debut the traveling Color Play exhibit, which of course mirrors the interactive exhibits that we’re know for. With the addition of the well-loved Touch-A-Truck festival and the fun of our new Growing Minds Expo, we hope to make this an educational and memorable spring for everyone,” shared Sheridan Turner, President and CEO of Kohl Children’s Museum.

Color Play Exhibit

Color Play invokes basic science principles in exciting new ways.

• Children will see first-hand how the brain prefers reading colors to words in the fun, yet challenging Stroop Test. When a color such as ‘red,’ is printed in a color different from itself, such as ‘green,’ the brain sees the colors, not the words, the kids realize how easy it is to get confused.
• Color Dance invites active play, as children dance to the rhythms of moving light.
• A Prism’s Rainbow demonstrates how white light is made of colors. Children can use cranks, prisms and lamps to literally witness how white light is fractured into rainbows.
• In the Ultraviolet Light Room, an Ultraviolet spotlight sweeps the room to uncover many hidden surprises.
• At the Neon Swirl, an interactive sculpture that displays many of the bright colors used by neon sign makers, children can turn a crank that makes the tubes flash on and off in sequence.
• In the Rainbow Room, a chandelier rotates, making moving rainbow reflections on the ceiling, which is covered with holographic refraction material. The Rainbow Room is also a place to enjoy a variety of books about color.
• The Big Kaleidoscope is big enough that a whole family or a group of kids can see the colorful patterns mix and change when one kid turns the crank.
• Bright colors appear like magic when kids hold clear plastic objects between the two polarized filters in the Polarized Window.
• Picture Printing demonstrates how colored pictures are made, by rolling out the cyan, magenta, yellow and black transparencies and watching a full-color picture appear.
• Kids can create a Color Storm when they hand crank the pedals of an upside down bicycle.

Growing Minds Expo – Saturday, May 2

Perfect for parents and kids age birth to 8, the first-ever Growing Minds Expo is an exciting opportunity for young active learners to get involved in their community. The expo brings more than 50 exhibitors to the parking lot of Kohl Children’s Musuem to educate the community about their programs. An array of exhitibors will be present including WTTW, Glenview Martial Arts & Fitness, Lutheran General Children’s Day Care, Gertrude B. Nielsen Childcare, Align Wellness Center, Northbrook Community Theater, Karate Can Do, Yoga Bash, Gymboree, Glenview Martial Arts and many more. The Expo will mark the public debut of a new Highland Park-based company, Whoda Thought, which specializes in functional and fashionable diaper bags designed with the needs of the mom on the go in mind.

The expo will feature ongoing entertainment throughout the day including a performance by Miss Lori of Miss Lori’s Campus at 11 a.m. Miss Lori tells stories through originally written songs and simple interactive activities with the audience. At the end of the show, all families receive a goody bag, which includes a free children’s book, bookmarks, stickers, school supplies and more. In addition, the popular WTTW’s Sid the Science Kid will be walking around greeting guests and taking pictures with fans. Other activities include children’s theatre performances, and train rides on the Great Chicago Kiddie Express around Museum property.

4th annual Touch-A-Truck Family Festival – Sunday, May 3

The Women’s Board of Kohl Children’s Museum will present the fourth annual “Touch-A-Truck” family festival on Sunday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fields Chrysler Jeep Dodge, 670 Frontage Road, Northfield, Ill. The annual “Touch a Truck” provides the opportunity for pint-sized guests to get up close and personal with their favorite full-sized vehicles in a safe and protected environment. More than 25 major vehicles are expected including a school bus, fire engine, a Humvee and military vehicles and construction equipment.

Tickets are $25 per family for up to six people and free parking is available. Special VIP access at 10 a.m. is available for an additional $15 per family. Food and other activities, including rides on the Great Chicago Kiddie Express child-sized train, will be available for purchase. All proceeds benefit Kohl Children’s Museum. For tickets, visit www.kohlchildrensmuseum.org/truck or call (847) 832-6600.