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Date: November 24, 2006
Author: Mackenzie T. Yamamura
Plan ahead for winter-break science fun

Have you started planning for the holidays yet? Explorit sure has. We have been making our lists and checking them twice to ensure that our line-up of winter break workshops is full and our science store is stocked. We’ve even added extra holiday hours.

Usually when school is out of session, you can count on Explorit to offer up some sort of fun activity for kids or families to do together. In addition to public drop-in hours to the Changing Exhibition Gallery, six winter workshops are planned for the last two weeks of December, covering the science spectrum of astronomy to zoology.

Each workshop is offered in two formats. Kids-only workshops, requiring registration, run from 9-10:30 a.m. for 4-6 year olds and from 11-12:30 p.m. for 7-11 year olds. Drop-in workshops for all ages run from 2-4 p.m. and do not require registration. For information about fees and how to register, contact Explorit at (530) 756-0191 or visit www.explorit.org. Workshops will take place in the Explorer Room on the second floor of our new building, 2801 Second St., Davis.

Here are the six workshops and their dates:

Diggin’ into Fossils (Tuesday, Dec. 19)
Dinosaurs lived millions of years ago, but we can still learn about them today. Discover how paleontologists learn about these ancient creatures by investigating real fossils and replicas, too.

Secret Agent Science (Wednesday, Dec. 20):
In a mock crime lab, use forensic tools to detect clues, decipher meanings and deduce solutions. What may seem mysterious becomes clear when viewed through the magnifying lens of science.

Design Challenge (Thursday, Dec. 21):
Build towers that reach the ceiling and bridges that span the length of the room. Use your imagination to construct your own creations.

A World of Animals (Wednesday, Dec. 27):
Meet an animal that smells with its tongue. Touch a bug that breathes through its back. Discover the diversity of strange and amazing animals that share the world with us.

Chemical Curiosities (Thursday, Dec. 28):
Investigate gases, liquids and solids through hands-on explorations of matter. These chemical reactions are sure to fizz, bubble and pop as they blow your mind wide open to the world of science.

A Space Adventure (Friday, Dec. 29):
Contrary to its name, space is not empty! Follow in the footsteps of astronauts and astronomers by exploring the wonders of space and the complexity of our universe.

Other activities to pencil into your December calendar during winter break are the opening of the new Changing Exhibition “From Codes to Crystals: Patterns all Around” on Sat., Dec. 16; a Family Exploration, “Opening Your Eyes to the Vision Impaired,” also on Dec. 16; and lots of opportunities to visit during our extended holiday hours during the weekdays (Dec. 18-22 and 26-29 open 1-4:30pm).

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Explorit Science Center is open at its new site, 2801 Second St., Davis. Through Dec. 10, you can visit the exhibition “Holes: An Opening Into the Sciences.” Public hours are Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Today, Explorit is open from 1-4:30 for holiday hours, and Sunday is free admission day. For more information: www.explorit.org or (530) 756-0191.