Posted 12:51 am Sunday, October 14, 2012
Send to Kindle
Discovery Science Place announces plans to hold 'Mini-Maker Fair'
By Adam Russell
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Carolyn Hegar, 7, of Tyler, gazed toward the heavens as her paper rocket took flight outside the Discovery Science Place Saturday.
arussell@tylerpaper.com
Carolyn Hegar, 7, of Tyler, gazed toward the heavens as her paper rocket took flight outside the Discovery Science Place Saturday.
Propelled by a homemade air propulsion system made from plastic pipe and fueled by an air hose similar to those used on tires, the rocket jetted more than 30 feet into the sky before a brisk wind carried it to the building’s roof.
Carolyn expressed her excitement with leaps and clapping and bright-eyed amazement.
The excited 7-year-old was among dozens of children visiting Discovery Science Place with their parents in tow Saturday as the “hands-on” science museum announced it will hold one of three Mini-Maker Fairs in the state.
Discovery Science Place CEO Phil Lindsey said the Mini-Maker Fair on March 23 will create an opportunity for Tyler to become a regional gathering place for makers to show their handiwork and teach children and adults do-it-yourself engineering creativity.
“Makers take an idea and make it their own,” he said. “From robots and rockets to bicycles shaped like a cupcake — you see people building an idea.”
Lindsey said Tyler will be one of 60 locations across the nation to hold maker fairs next year. He expects the event to draw 30 to 35, mostly local makers, and others from Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Discovery Science Place will hold monthly workshops to help children and parents learn skills applicable to the event, including how to solder.
John Parsons, president of the Tyler Junior College Society of Physics Students, said the workshops and event will be a great opportunity to teach science application through hands-on activity rather than with books and tests.
“These are the types of events we are looking for,” he said. “It’s going to excite kids about engineering, the sciences and technology.”
Parsons said the maker fair will expose young minds to creative engineering and encourage their abilities.
The excited 7-year-old was among dozens of children visiting Discovery Science Place with their parents in tow Saturday as the “hands-on” science museum announced it will hold one of three Mini-Maker Fairs in the state.
Discovery Science Place CEO Phil Lindsey said the Mini-Maker Fair on March 23 will create an opportunity for Tyler to become a regional gathering place for makers to show their handiwork and teach children and adults do-it-yourself engineering creativity.
“Makers take an idea and make it their own,” he said. “From robots and rockets to bicycles shaped like a cupcake — you see people building an idea.”
Lindsey said Tyler will be one of 60 locations across the nation to hold maker fairs next year. He expects the event to draw 30 to 35, mostly local makers, and others from Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Discovery Science Place will hold monthly workshops to help children and parents learn skills applicable to the event, including how to solder.
John Parsons, president of the Tyler Junior College Society of Physics Students, said the workshops and event will be a great opportunity to teach science application through hands-on activity rather than with books and tests.
“These are the types of events we are looking for,” he said. “It’s going to excite kids about engineering, the sciences and technology.”
Parsons said the maker fair will expose young minds to creative engineering and encourage their abilities.
Jill Hegar, Carolyn’s mother, said she is always in search for “participation” events for her daughter, especially those laced with learning. Mrs. Hegar doesn’t know whether her daughter will be a rocket but said the early experiences are molding her daughter’s mind and opening it to every possibility.
“Right now, I just want her to see and do all that she can and have fun doing it,” she said.
Lindsey hopes the first Northeast Texas Mini-Maker Faire in March will create opportunities for all ages to come and learn and have fun.
For more information about the mini-maker fair and monthly workshops call the Discovery Science Place at 903-533-8011 or visit the website at www.discoveryscienceplace.org.
“Right now, I just want her to see and do all that she can and have fun doing it,” she said.
Lindsey hopes the first Northeast Texas Mini-Maker Faire in March will create opportunities for all ages to come and learn and have fun.
For more information about the mini-maker fair and monthly workshops call the Discovery Science Place at 903-533-8011 or visit the website at www.discoveryscienceplace.org.
