Museum of Western Australia

We had a fantastic excursion to the Museum yesterday. Started with the meteorites, which was an excellent follow on from Alice seeing a "shooting star" while we were up at Ningaloo. We first saw the huge ones that are outside the museum, and discussed terminology again, as well as the make up of those meteorites being iron. We then went through the space display, seeing more meteorites and a great example of different results of meteors falling, whether are big enough to make a crater, small, a shower or burn up in the atmosphere. Alice enjoyed that, and the display that showed cut edges of meteorites that had been polished, making it very obvious that they were made of metal.

From space we went to ancient life - Josh had spurred the trip because he wanted to see the dinosaur bones again. Given that on our last trip to the museum Josh was terrified of the dinosaurs to the point that I had to carry him out, I was happy that this time he was excited! Alice particularly liked the fossilised eggs from the sauropod, and the thylacine fossil. She seems to be mostly over her dinosaur excitement, so I'm thinking we will save the activities I have for that for when it next flares again, whether it is Alice, or in a couple of years Josh, that shows the interest. She was quite interested in the development of humans, from homonids and australopithecines through to Homo Erectus. The skeleton display was very effective!

Next came the Mammals exhibit, with a quick detour through the birds. Alice's interest in the birds was limited, Josh very interested to know the difference between magpies and crows. The mammal exhibit was Alice's big favourite. She had a think about why an elephant skeleton has no trunk, compared a human skeleton to a gorilla's and generally had a great time reading the display cards.

From the mammals to under the sea! It's a bright, airy display that is topical given our recent trip to Ningaloo. Alice enjoyed looking at the different examples of marine environments. Then she got distracted by the the butterflies, and who could blame her?

Finally, the Discovery centre. Musical instruments, frogs and insects abounded. Alice seemed to be more interested in people by this stage of the proceedings. I did pick up some information sheets about some of the things we had looked at, so we can review our learning later in the week.

I've just asked Alice about the best part of the trip to the museum yesterday. Her answer: "Dinosaur bones because they are fossilised and stuff. Because they are rocks now." Asked what else she enjoyed the reply was "butterflies! Because they are so colourful." I asked Alice what she wanted to look at next time: "butterflies! Because they are colourful."

I must add that we spent a great deal of time at the wetlands next to the art gallery, talking about the habitat. We found a TWENTY-FOUR spotted ladybird, and Alice was able to state that that showed the environment was getting healthier. Mike and Alice spent a great deal of time identifying different plants in the wetlands, and what animals do (and may, in the future) live there. We talked about the amazing benches that have the various names (botanical, common and indigenous) carved into them. Did a walk-through of the kitchen garden in Cultural Square, identifying the various plants (and as always effervescing enthusiasm for the concept in general). Spoke at some length with the artist of a piece of urban art in Hay St called Haul Pack (a front end loader made of clip together foam, absolutely amazing!). Mike took Alice to see the elephant art exhibit at enx100 (Eleart).