HOLIDAY EDITION 2024 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | 9
BY LISA TANG
The Curious Museum ’ s Science and art activities are fun for all ages year-round , but the holidays are a special time for creativity with STEAM-inspired crafts . STEAM – which stands for science , technology , engineering , art , and math – aims to inspire students to explore science through hands-on sensory experiences and the arts .
In December Curious will extend their hours longer hours and offer a new kid-friendly holiday craft each week to inspire creativity . The extended hours allow the Texas State Railroad ’ s more than 50,000 Polar Express visitors to explore more activities in town .
For the holiday , Curious has extended some of its hours of operation and is open 10 a . m . to 5 p . m . Saturdays , 10 a . m . to 5 p . m . Sundays and 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . Mondays , Nov . 30 through Dec . 22 . Holiday crafts are offered from 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . Saturdays and Sundays at no extra charge .
A staff member demonstrates how to make the crafts , and kids can take them home to keep . This year ’ s projects include a holiday garland , a handprint Christmas tree and a reindeer mask .
Curious reopened recently at 619 W . Oak St . in Palestine ’ s historic Main Street district with new regular hours of 10 a . m . to 3 p . m . Saturday , Sunday and Monday .
Curious Museum Director Lucinda Presley said the Family Fun Days are an opportunity to “ celebrate Christmas creatively .”
Presley is a nationally-recognized STEAM expert who founded Curious in 2014 to bring world-class exhibits from the Exploratorium in San Francisco to East Texas .
“ Curious is an exciting STEAM museum full of hands-on experiences such as making paper fly hands-free , riding bikes to make trains move , seeing yourself look like you are flying , and many more ,” Presley said . “ Join us and have fun learning , exploring , and creating .”
She added that the exhibits boost creativity among pre-school and school-aged children .
“ Exploring these exhibits promotes creative and innovative thinking skills that are vital for students to be effective learners and future members of the workforce ,” Presley said .
The Curious gift shop features a curated collection of toys and maker kits that engage school-age kids in exploration , movement , creativity and art .
Admission is $ 10 for adults and children ages 3 to 17 and $ 8 for senior citizens . Children 2 and under and members are free .
For information visit thecuriousmuseum . org or email curious . imagine @ gmail . org .
LISA TANG | Palestine Herald-Press
Sofia Rivera explores topography as she pushes sand in the AR ( augmented reality ) Sandbox . The topographical map changes color when the sand is moved .
LISA TANG | Palestine Herald-Press
Douglas Johnson powers a toy train with electricity he generates by riding a bicycle .
LISA TANG | Palestine Herald-Press
Brier Brigner explores forces and motion with the museum ’ s Bernoulli Blower exhibit . The air stream suspends objects by blowing air around them . Kids experiment with different sizes and textures to explore the effect of the blown air .
HOLIDAY EDITION 2024 | PALESTINE MAGAZINE | 9