OMSI For Spring Break

During Spring Break the last week of March we took the boys to OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry). They LOVED it. Carson could be heard to repeat regularly for weeks after that he wished he could live at OMSI. Here are just some of the things we did there.

We started in the Omnimax (an IMAX theater) and watched the film Deep Sea. It was awesome and the boys loved it.

Then we headed upstairs in the Science Playground (the little kid room) and headed for the water.




I love how this kid sticks his tongue out when he's concentrating (not even very hard) on something.


Emmett the scientist in the Discovery Lab and Avery and Carson work with pulleys.


There's that tongue again!


In the Life Science Lab with insects and reptiles an OMSI worker had this leaf bug out.




And then Carson held it!




In that room they also have microscopes in which kids can find worms and other bugs.




What kid doesn't like to play in dirt?


And Dads too...


In the Earth Science room was this giant globe that was lit with an animated Earth that revolved and showed the progression of volcanic activity over a given time period.


The instructor discussed plate tectonics and Avery was chosen as a participant to demonstrate the concept of a subduction zone and how they make earthquakes like the Jaun de Fuca plate off the coast of Oregon subducting into the North American plate.


Carson was a little huffy about not being chosen, but then he was chosen to demonstrate how vibrations from earthquakes affect different buildings differently.


Emmett enjoyed watching these balls find an odd hole to fall in.


Playing in the Watershed Lab.


The featured exhibit at OMSI at the time was the LEGO artwork of Nathan Sawaya.






What's up with these people's color splotches...


Now can you "see?"


Carson was stoked to see these Star Wars LEGOs


Then we had lunch in their exorbitantly priced cafeteria...

Then we went down to the Turbine Hall / Innovation Station The boys were so excited to try out the earthquake room which is a "house" that shakes for you to feel like what earthquakes of particular magnitudes may feel.

Just inside the Turbine Hall is this capsule for coming back to Earth. Then Avery tried his hand-eye coordination out at this game where he tried to move the ring from one end to the other as quickly as possible without touching the bending bar.


Landing the space shuttle


In the Physics Lab Emmett played with electricity


And then he and Carson played with magnets. The four magnets on the platform can be moved around to change the way the pendulum magnet moved.


Put your hand on the glass and the electricity attaches to you


Avery is charged! See his hair fly?


Making sail and paddle boats. The sail boats were really a bust as they've just been over used by this time.


ACH! Emmett! NO!








These water rockets are made by charging the 2 litre pop bottles with water and then air and if they're added in the right amount and combination, when you hit the launch lever they'll blast off. Carson was so happy to see his bang to the top.


After hours of play and one more stop in the pod, we (at least Travis and I) were ready to head out. What a great day for the boys!