Museo Pambata Opens New I Love My Planet Earth Room

Museo Pambata re-opens its Science Through Discovery theme room with more exciting, interactive exhibits designed to hel p children understand the various factors that affect climate change. Dubbed "I Love My Planet Earth", the room introduces environmental concepts while doing away with complicated jargon. The room will be open to the public starting January 18, 2011.

With 380 square meters of exhibit space, "I Love My Planet Earth" entertains children while helping them understand climate change. According to a recent survey conducted by Pulse Asia, seven out of 10 Filipinos acknowledge the dangers posed by climate change to the environment. The percentage of concern has risen in the last two years. The Philippines is also listed as one of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change.

Nina Lim-Yuson, President and CEO of Museo Pambata shares that the hads-on exhibits explain basic science concepts on environmental concerns and how one can help in making the world a better place to live in by protecting and conserving our resources. "It is not enough to tell children that they have to take care of their environment. We can add fun in these learning activities. This way, they understand better and appreciate our environment as a lifetime commitmen," says Yuson.

The largest among Museo Pambata's seven theme rooms, "I Love My Planet Earth" is a medley of educational hands-on tools for children on several topics: climate change and global warming, renewable and non-renewable sources of energy and solid waste management. Exhibit modules include a floor board game which explores the different ways children can reduce their carbon footprints. There are different scenes from a typical Filipino home comparing the then and now, or how life was simpler and less harmful to the environment many years ago. A simple game for younger children teaches proper waste segregation, and other interactive exhibits tackling the importance of having clean air and water.

 

Click here to learn more about the newly opened "I Love My Planet Earth" room.

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Read on to learn more about the newly opened "I Love My Planet Earth" room.

 

Aside from targeting children, the exhibit also encourages adults who have a strong influence on children, particularly parents and teachers, to join the campaign by being good role models to the young. Complementing the room are a teacher's guidebook and a poster-checklist on saving our planet. The guidebook explains and expands on the concepts presented in the exhibits through suggested sit-down written activities and experiments. The guidebook and checklist will be distributed for free to all museum visitors.

The renovation of the room was made possible through a grant from Motorola Foundation USA, which supports educational programs on science and technology, particularly how children and adults should learn to be responsible in taking care of our planet.

I Love My Planet Earth was created by Museo Pambata's team of exhibit developers led by architect and stage designer Joselito Tecson. To ensure the child-friendliness of the exhibits, Museo Pambata conducted focused group discussions with children ages seven to 13 from private schools through the Gakken Sciene Experiment Classroom, and public schools through the museum's Children's Advocacy Program during the planning stage of I Love My Planet Earth.

Museo Pambata is the country's premier children's interactive museum which opened in 1994. "I Love My Planet Earth" is only the first of three rooms in the museum to be refurbished this year. Katawan Ko (My Body Works!) a room that tackles health and the human body and Kalikasan (Environment) are also set to be re-launched within the year. Other theme rooms include Maynila Noon (Old Manila), Bata Sa Mundo (Children in the Global Village), Pamilihang Bayan (Marketplace), and Paglaki Ko, Gusto Kong Maging Manunulat at Ilustrador Para Sa Kabataan (Career Options).

 

For more information, call (02)523-1797 to 98.

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