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By: Selena Littrell
The science behind Explorit Science Center's "Your Home and the Science Inside It" exhibition begins from the outside in; the stable structure of your house is fundamental.
How do architects and engineers make buildings strong and stable? In this exhibition, explore structural shapes and principles of design through hands-on investigations. Experimenters may discover that, for structures, the triangle is the most stable form.
How can the walls in your house be made of triangles? Braces!
In wood-frame houses, diagonal or "X" bracing is the common method of support. Sturdy pieces of wood are nailed securely at 45 degrees across the corner studs of a house--two make an "X."
At Explorit, you can be a design engineer and build your own creations using drinking straws, paper clips and tape, submit them to stress tests, then try braces to increase the strength of your two- and three-dimensional structures.
Visitors are encouraged to also try their skills on a larger scale, by using PVC pipe and plastic joints to make kid-sized creations in the outdoor sand pit.
Explorit is located at 3141 5th Street, Davis and is open Saturday 11-4:30, Sunday 1-4:30 and Tuesday through Friday 2-4:30. Admission is $3. Members, teachers and children under 4 are free. Call 756-0191 for more information.
When you visit Explorit, be sure to check out the new Winston the iguana t-shirts. The new short-sleeved t-shirts feature a beautiful artistic rendition of a green iguana and sell for $10.95 in youth sizes and $12.95 in adult sizes.
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Good luck to Pioneer and Valley Oak Elementary Schools in the Nature Bowl finals. The teams for grades 3-4 and 5-6 from Pioneer, winners in the semi-finals round and the 3-4 grade team from Valley Oak, an alternate team, will compete in the finals at CSU Sacramento on Saturday.
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From June 24-August 16, Explorit is offering summer vacation classes for preschoolers. Classes present a fun, safe environment for preschoolers to start exploring their world and using their senses.
Your young scientists have the opportunity to investigate "Bubbles, Bubbles, Bubble," "Really Cool Reptiles," "Bugs and Other Itty Bitty Critters" and twelve other hands-on topics.
A limited number of scholarships are available to families needing assistance.
For more information, to reserve classes or to request a schedule, drop by Explorit or call 756-0191. Schedules are also available at Explorit's World Wide Web site.
The schedule is printable and best viewed with Netscape Navigator 1.1N or higher or Internet Explorer 2.0, and can be read with Mosaic 1.0.3.
If you have had problems reaching Explorit on the Web or via e-mail, write down these correct addresses:
WWW: http://www.dcn.davis.ca.us/GO/EXPLORIT/
E-mail: explorit@dcn.davis.ca.us
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The May "Cutting Edge of Science" lecture, "Backyard Biocontrol" has been canceled due to a scheduling conflict. Michael Parrella, a UC Davis professor, will present his lecture as part of the 1996-97 Lecture Series organized by Explorit Science Center.
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Participants in last weekend's WindWorks Kitemaking Workshop produced some great candidates for the upcoming competition. Good luck!
Anyone interested in competing may enter their kite at the Davis Art Center by May 10, 5:00 p.m. Kites will be judged in two categories: technical merit and artistic merit. Entry is free and participants may collaborate. All entries will be displayed on May 18, during the WindWorks Kite Festival at the Davis Art Center.
At the festival, look for an Explorit table and display, where the science of kites and flight will be explored through hands-on activities. Kite related gifts will be available for purchase.
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1995 Science Adventure Membership Drive and Drawing grand prize winner Donna Moyer and her family are set for an exciting excursion. Davisville Travel provided her with $1,000 credit toward two round-trip tickets to anywhere in the United States serviced by United Airlines.
Donna and family have cashed in her winning tickets and are scheduled to fly to Philadelphia.
Plans for the 1996 Science Adventure Membership Drive and Drawing are underway. Look for your chance to win a fabulous adventure.
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Explorit sincerely thanks the Sacramento Bee for their recent grant. All donations to Explorit Science Center directly benefit Explorit's educational programs. Support from generous donors like the Sacramento Bee are appreciated and important to Explorit's continued success.