It’s a breeze to please kids at the new “WhirlWind” exhibit at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview. A variety of interactive activities teach the power of wind in this new exhibit designed for children up to age eight. The exhibit will run from June 19-Aug. 30. It is included in regular admission of $20 for children and adults; $18 for seniors; free for children under 1 and members.
“We have had smaller components of this exhibit before, and they were very popular,” reported Stephanie Bynum, Vice President of Programs. That included a Bernoulli Blower where kids could make balls float in air.
“We decided to expand on what we know is already popular and what both kids and their grownups enjoyed playing with,” Bynum explained. “So, we decided to make an entire exhibit focused on the power of air.”
The exhibit was designed by Joe Farr, Director of Exhibits, along with his exhibits team.
Even the youngest children are attracted to the exhibit, Bynum noted. “We have had babies who loved the exhibit,” she said.
One of the benefits of the exhibit is that it fosters teamwork skills.
“One of the components is our AirMazing Station,” Bynum explained. “That is a series of tubes that spin around. You put a ball in and the air pushes it through the tubes and you have to track it around and try to catch it. The children that have played with this component in the past will play together, where some kids will put the balls in and the other kids will track them and catch them. It creates this wonderful cycle of collaboration.”
Bynum has also observed collaboration at the Bernoulli Blower, which has four blowers. “Four children can play at the same time, and they love to see how many balls they can get to float in the air all together,” she explained.
Meanwhile, they will observe the Bernoulli Principle which focuses on the fact that a faster-moving airflow creates lower air pressure, Bynum said. “The air pressure around it is greater, which holds the ball in place in midair.”
The exhibit also includes a kinetic art piece called the Wind Wall. “Children can control the direction of the airflow and make the pieces shimmer,” Bynum said.
Kids launch small rockets that soar through the air at the Rocket Flight Station.
“The Flipboard Picture Station is another kinetic art piece,” Bynum noted. “Each side of the Flipboard is an image. When you blow the air at it, it will flip and create another picture.”
There is a green screen as part of the Fly Like a Bird component. “We have different backgrounds and the children can pretend to be up in the sky with the birds, maybe flying in an airplane or a hot-air balloon,” Bynum said. Kids can choose the setting.
Bynum concluded, “We’re so excited about this exhibit. It’s going to engage entire families and create open-ended ways to explore physics and enjoy the power of wind.”
For more information about the museum at 2100 Patriot Blvd. in Glenview, call 847-832-6600 or visit kohlchildrensmuseum.org.
Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
