Design Zone at Indiana State Museum dedicated to math, science, art and their real world uses

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Published: Wednesday, 26 October 2016 15:14

INDIANAPOLIS — Science and math are often considered two of the most important school subjects, but it can be hard for kids to wrap their minds around real world examples.

For those students, the Indiana State Museum has a solution. The new Design Zone exhibit is dedicated to math, science and art, as well as their uses in the real world to create successful design.

“As much as kids today have access to digital technology, things like this kids really still love,” said Traci Cromwell, director of collections. “They love the simple hands-on concept.”

Cromwell said the exhibit lets kids and adults explore how math and science work with interactive tools that show what it is like to be a roller coaster designer, architect or a jazzy DJ.

With the Fast Tracks experience, kids use angles and inertia to move a ball through speed gates. The goal is to demonstrate the idea of how physics is used to build roller coasters.

“Think about what angles you’re using and the speed of the ball to get through those angles, basic roller coaster technology,” said Cromwell.

Anyone interested in music can explore how math is used to create beats per minute. The exhibit includes a drum machine kids can use to pick different instruments, mix them together and create a beat to get people dancing.

“I think kids engage and it makes it more fun for them to learn about math and things like that, that they’re not necessarily keen on,” said Lauren Kyle, a chaperone leading students from Lourdes Catholic School through the exhibit.

The Design Zone exhibit is included in the price of general admission to the Indiana State Museum. Tickets are $13 for adults and $8.50 for children. The exhibit is on loan to the Indiana State Museum from now until Jan. 8, 2017.

Article writer Derreck Stahly is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a website powered by Franklin College journalism students.