9/08/07 We had the day off from school today, thank you Columbus, so we decided to go on another adventure. We have been waiting all summer for free days at the Museum Campus, and they are finally here. Every Monday and Tuesday through November. We started our day at the Field Museum. They have a new area for the younger set, the Crown Family Play Lab. It h
as only been open for about a month. We were happily surprised with all they had to offer. There are 6 play areas: We started in the Illinois Woodland, a three-dimensional diorama where the lights change from night to day, and kids can dress up as animals and star in their own nature play. Max liked the red cardinal costume.
Maddie went for the gray squirrel. They have animals hidden around the area that light up and reveal themselves.
Next the kids picked corn at the Pueblo and played with the miniature villages. The volunteers here were great. They play with the kids and explain things to them in appropriate ways. 
They ask a lot of questions to get the kids talking and thinking. It was really engaging and fun for them.
They do a nice thing with their story time here. First they read a story, then they take the kids into the Art Studio to make a related project.
This time the story was "Crocadilly" about a crocodile remembering her Egyptian history. Then they made crocodile mummies.
Next, we went in to the Rhythm Section, a room full of great instruments for the kids to make music with.
The favorite was a large drum that was very satisfying to gather around and pound on. 
The kids continued on into the Scientists' Lab where Maddie enjoyed the microscope that was hooked up to a computer screen.
You can also learn to unearth fossils in the Dino Field Station. This was just the start of our day, but I thought it deserved it's own post. The Crown Family Play Lab is such a nice addition to the Field Museum. It brings the excitement of real artifacts and specimens to our younger kids in a fun and engaging way.
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