EXPLORACENTRE’S LATEST EXPO: BE AN ENGINEER FOR A DAY
REVIEW by Max Koscielny (10 years old)
Photo credit: (c) Exploracentre 2019
Editor’s notes:
Exploracentre – Geneva’s first children’s science museum – has welcomed over 12,000 visitors since opening earlier in 2019. We visited the opening day of their latest exhibition: Fabriq’Expo – which allows children aged 5+ to explore the world of engineering through various interactive, fun DIY-type activities.
MAX’S REVIEW
Exploracentre is a company all about science. Throughout the year they have many different expeditions on topics in science. The one we went to is about different things like gravity, how things work and building things.
When you get to the entrance the logo is on the front and a rainbow leads inside, when you are inside there are lockers to put your stuff in [you are not forced to] and if you’re early then you just wait a few minutes. The staff are very friendly and kind, they don’t only speak in French although they speak it amazingly, but they also speak English. On hot days they serve you ice-cream for free (editor’s note: this was only during the opening day ; ) ) and the price for one person is CHF10 so you can go with friends and family.
WHAT MAX ENJOYED MOST
The first thing I found interesting was this big dice and tracks so you needed to roll it on the track and then it took off.
The next one was a 2-player game so one person was on one side and the other was on the other side. One player had to choose a pattern and the other player had a sheet of paper and had to draw the pattern or shape without seeing it and by following directions given by player 1 (using an electronic board with arrows).
THE MARBLE RUN IS A HIT!
The third game I found interesting was the marble run. This game was about using different objects and then pegging it on a wall to build a marble run.
I made one and it will be posted on Youtube at my mum’s channel called Thingstodoingeneva.ch.
The place is child friendly and has a variety of things, but they use science so that keeps your child’s brain working.
There are easy games and hard games, so you can try different levels and the company has a website so if you want to know more about it go to www.exploracentre.ch,
After our first expedition we went downstairs to look at optical illusions which was interesting. In my opinion it was great and there is no noise other than people chatting, I recommend going there.
ENJOY!!!
MORE INFO
Fabriq’Expo is half-way between an industrial laboratory and DIY workshop for children – aged 5 and over.
Practical interactive science experiences are used to give an introduction to the world of engineering.
Interactive games, experiences and experiments – for example constructing a mini-bridge following real-world examples or working out how to build an intricate, working marble run with various objects, as well as digital experiences.
The games illustrate different themes of engineering – such as an introduction to robotics and programming, understanding how things work by taking them apart, the constraints when building something, principles of chain reactions, observing and analysing different materials, mechanical systems and more…
We spent 2 hours at the exposition and had loads of mummy and child interactive fun together.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
NOTE: The descriptions are all in French at the moment, but this is about to change as all the information is in the process of being translated.
WHERE
33 Rue des Bains, Geneva
OPENING HOURS
JULY and AUGUST
Monday 10h00 – 18h00
Tuesday 10h00 – 18h00
Wednesday 10h00 – 18h00
Thursday 10h00 – 18h00
Friday 10h00 – 18h00
Saturday 13h00 – 18h00
Sunday Closed
PLEASE NOTE: Closed from 4th till 18th of August inclusive)
PRICE
Entry CHF 10.-
Free for babies under 3 months.
