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I’m sure that anyone that has kids, and in fact anyone that is into dinosaurs has been at least one to a museum to look at skeletons of dinosaurs and walked through the dinosaurs hall.
This bloger expresses the opinion that these dinosaurs hall could be much more inspiring and interactive if only they had some more visual aids.
By pointing out specific comparisons between fossils, by carefully juxtaposing species, by highlighting features and making them visible, by making many casts of interesting parts for visitors to study closely, by providing visual aids and checklists to be carried through the exhibit, some of what the paleontologists see (and the interconnections they understand) can be revealed. Highlight the characteristics that diagnose a dinosaur. Place a dinosaur and a similar, non-dinosaurian archosaur side by side; point out the differences. Identify the knobs and grooves and holes that serve as muscle-attachment points, and help people interpret them. Then, for Stegosaurus, compare the muscles associated with tail and legs or for Triceratops, show how its neck frill supports its powerful chewing. Highlight the teeth, their spacing, their shape; include displays of morphological diversity and enamel microstructure; show by comparison what these indicate about diet, tooth replacement, adaptation. Similar lessons can be demonstrated with skulls, hips, and legs. Get it down where people can see and touch; use a casts if necessary. Include some unlabeled partial skeletons and encourage visitors to predict features of the mystery dinosaurs
You know, I tend to agree the children are so into the whole dinosaur investigation they would spend hours finding the differences between this dinosaur and that dinosaur and it could turn the experience of the visit to something much more active.
In fact there are places that offer the children and the visitors workshops in which the experience is much more alive.
And without some pictures something is missing so here:
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Hear hear, in agreement, give them some hands on experience and detailed explanations, it would be more of an interest for adults and children alike.
Regardless of budget, any museum can afford to make it interesting. Visuals help a lot and so does appealing to the other senses. A sound system, touch and feel section and information that works whether you are 5, 50 or pushing 100.
From any museum it is great to see accurate labelling, some interpretation (i.e. labelling a group of eocene plants, but also pointing out that seeing these species tells us something about the environment and climate at the time, pointing out that it is interesting to see which species are present and which are absent and what that might mean, etc.)
Fossil casts are generally inexpensive to make and great for kids to touch and feel.
it would all equal more people through the door and more donations to the museum.
fossils and dinosaurs crystals and rocks and other things like that they need to make one in st.louis missouri!
You guys have already read my mind. ;) That’s exactly what I want in a Natural History Museum, other than it being near me, and make it a good one, lol. :P Sadly, all I’ve got is the Creationist Museum. :(
i have a history museum and an art museum and thats it :( i wish there was a fossil museum closer so i could take all my unknown and rare fossils there to be looked at :)
Tyler- You’ve got to be kidding me?! You’ve got MORE than me!! I just researched St. Louis and you’ve got a Science Center with an Exhibition on "Sue!" You’ve also got the IMAX "Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure" with Mike Everhart and National Geographic!! As I said that’s MORE than me!!
And, what about the Arch? Have you been there? I have and I’m going again!! To me, that’s almost as exciting as a Natural History Museum like the Smithsonian! :D
Lewis-yeah ive been to the arch! lol sorry lewis :D the science center is alright. Ive been there 4 times! Can you take fossils up there to be looked at? If so im going to go up there soon! And ive already seen sue! On my birthday! and i whent to a Museum at mastodon state park and seen a Mastodon! And if you are in the city lewis check out the City museum i have been there its pretty fun but more so for the kiddies. And the art museum is GREAT! They have some amazing stuff there :)
Thanks Tyler!! I really appreciate it!! Hey! Why don’t you join me? I’ll be downtown near the arch. Maybe we can hang out and also get some lunch somewhere. How’s that sound? I’ll just get the hotel name, address and number. ;)
yeah sounds good but unfortonetly i live an hour away from st.louis :( and my dad works 12 hour days in Ofallon, and my sister kinda kidnapped my moms car lol! but make sure you stay in the city st.louis not to be a scare but there is a ghetto in st.louis! lol unfortonetly it is the truth and there are shootings up there lol and from my house to get to the science center i have to drive threw it :((.
But i would love to but i cant :(( but if you do go any were go to the science center or the arch grounds and if you do go to the arch theres access to the river from the arch not more than a couple blocks away so if you wanted you could search the beach area of the river for arrowheads old coins and fossils :). or check out deer creek theres some fossils but not many i hade to brake mine out! like that clam!
Oh well, Tyler! I was just throwing the invitation out there. I’m sorry about the Ghettos…that’s what happens with large cities. :P
Anywho, I have some good news! I will have to tell you through a Private Message, though! Trust me, you’ll love it! Think of it as a token of our friendship and gift from me to you on a job Well Done on this site! You should be Proud of yourself!! :D
And, also, thanks for giving me some ideas to do in St. Louis
thanks lewis :) thats great. and your welcome hope you have fun
take pictures to lewis :P lol
Will do, Tyler!! Thanks, buddy. :)
your welcome :D