Perot Museum of Nature and Science

Happy summer, everyone! Today, I am linking up with the Classroom Game Nook's Ten on Ten Linky Party. Thank you to Rachel for hosting this fun event. The ten pictures below show something incredible I discovered this summer.

I want to start by telling you our summer vacation plans didn't go exactly as expected. As you may know from one of my earlier blog posts, we had planned an exciting road trip to the East Coast and a visit to Universal Studios Florida, but we had to scrap those plans at the last minute due to scheduling conflicts and family commitments. We were a little disappointed, to say the least. But, hey, life happens and you have to go with the flow. So, we decided we still needed to get away and opted for a shorter road trip to Big D, Little A, Double L, A, S. Better known to us Texans as DALLAS.

This was our second trip to Dallas this year and it is quite a drive, almost 7 hours. But we were looking forward to some antique shopping at the Canton Market Days, ice skating at the Galleria, and brunch at the American Girl Store (One of the highlights of the trip for my daughter!) We were looking for other touristy type things to do and we discovered the Perot Museum of Nature and Science.

This place is AWESOME! The Perot Museum of Nature and Science is floor after floor of interactive displays and simulations where visitors can explore through hands-on interactive activities and educational games. The state-of-the-art computer and video systems help engage children and adults in lessons on history, science, engineering, technology and conservation. The Hoglund Foundation Theater, a National Geographic Experience is the Museum’s huge 3D theater where they show educational National Geographic type films. This is a cost in addition to the regular Museum admission but worth it if you have the time.

The museum building itself features earth friendly systems such as natural sustainability, a rainwater collection system, LED lighting and solar-powered water heating.

The mission and dream: "Inspiring minds through nature
and science. Future scientists, mathematicians and
engineers will find inspiration and education through
interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations and
vivid contextual displays."

The museum opened in December of 2012.

T. Boone Pickens Life Then and Now Hall is where
you can learn all about fossils and dinosaurs.
One of our favorite areas.

Loved that several of the dinosaurs displayed were the
actual fossils that had been reassembled and not casts.

We spent a lot of time in the Being Human Hall.
In the Biolab, my daughter was really excited to
be able to do a hands-on lab experiment to see
which household chemicals kill microbes.

Conclusion: Bleach killed microbes the best and the
household cleaner did the worst.

Five foot Geode in the Lyda Hill Gems and Minerals Hall

At the Rose Hall of Birds you can create your own
unique songbird at a series of computer generated stations.

We spent an entire day exploring this museum and didn't even get to finish it all. There is so much to see and do. It is definitely a must see attraction if you are ever in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Click the link below to access their website.