Lunar New Year Wonderweek at the Children’s Museum

The Children’s Museum of Houston Celebrates the Year of the Tiger with exciting activities and performances February 11th -17th.  The tiger is revered by the ancient Chinese as the sign which protects family. Learn more about this Lunar New Year celebration with interactive activities and a spectacular Lion Dance performance.

ON-GOING ACTIVITIES INCLUDE:

• Chinese Red and Yellow Bracelet: Fold paper in the traditional Chinese colors to make a fabulous bracelet.

• Dancing Dragon Toy: Make your own paper version of the dancing dragon like the ones usually worn in parades during the Lunar New Year.

• Tiger Craft: Make a paper bag puppet to celebrate the Year of the Tiger.

• Leap into the Sky: Visit the Science Station as they explore the characteristics which make fireworks brilliant: noise, color, smoke, and projection. Find out how fireworks are made to create these dynamic effects.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

• Spotlight Performance: Lion Dance. Enjoy an authentic Lion Dance in celebration of the Lunar New Year.

Thursday, Feb. 11: 6:30 p.m. during Free Family Night.

Saturday, Feb. 13: 2 p.m

For more information visit http://www.cmhouston.org/lunar/.

New Year’s Noon Bash at the Children’s Museum

New Year’s Noon is the city’s longest-running New Year’s Eve celebration just for kids! This end-of-year bash rings the New Year at the stroke of noon with a parade and drop of a vibrant ball, just like they do in Times Square, but kids won’t have to stay up till midnight!

SPECIAL EVENTS:

•New Year’s Day Float Making & Parade: Create a personal New Year’s Day float and be part of our exciting parade!

Float Making: 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Parade begins: 11:30 a.m.

• Brilliant Ball Drop: Watch as we celebrate the beginning of a new year just like they do on TV!

Countdown begins at 11:45 a.m.

•Texas Brass Band: Dance to the jazzy tunes of our amazing brass band and celebrate the New Year in style!

ACTIVITIES:

•Glow Glasses: Celebrate the New Year by decorating 2010 glow glasses that incorporate LEDs into the design.

•Film Canister Rockets: Shoot off a film canister rocket using simple supplies.

•Glowing Fireworks: Create you own glowing firework display using UV sensitive highlighters.

•Firework Glasses: Put on special glasses and watch colors burst to life.

•Noise Makers: Make a noisy noise maker to help ring in the New Year.

•New Year’s Puzzles: Find hidden New Year’s words in the word search puzzle or fill in the blanks from the clues on the New Year’s crossword puzzle.

•New Year, New Calendar: Decorate your own 2010 calendar to hang up at home.

WHEN:

New Year’s Noon Bash on Thursday, Dec. 31

Countdown to NOON begins at 11:45 a.m.

 

MORE:

•MUSEUM NEW YEAR’S EVE HOURS: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

•Museum will be closed on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1.

The Children’s Museum is located at 1500 Binz Houston, TX 77004.

Kwanzaa Celebration at the Children’s Museum of Houston

Happy Kwanzaa! Kwanzaa is a time for reaffirming African American people of their ancestors and culture. It’s celebrated with seven nights of candle lighting representing its Seven Guiding Principles: Unity, Self-Determination, Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity and Faith, to honor the values of ancient African cultures and inspire African Americans who are working for progress. Come join us in celebration of the “first fruits of the harvest.”

The Kwanzaa celebration is part of the Children’s Museum Seasons of Sharing, Houston’s only multicultural holiday exhibit for children spotlighting seven cultural celebrations, on display Nov. 14 through Jan. 10.

•String of African Flags: Make a string of African flags to decorate a room and celebrate Kwanzaa.

•Kwanzaa Candle: Color, cut and paste your own Kwanzaa candle full of symbolism in the colors of Kwanzaa – black, green and red.

•Kwanzaa Principles: Color your own posters to remind you of the principles behind Kwanzaa.

•Intuitive African Dance and Drum Culture: Spotlight Performance. This traditional African dance and drum troupe will perform in celebration of Kwanzaa.

Saturday, Dec. 26: 2 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 27: 2 p.m.

MUSEUM HOURS: Tues. – Sat.; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun: Noon – 6 p.m.  Admission is 7 per person and $6 for seniors 65+. Children under 1 and Museum Members receive free admission.  www.cmhouston.org

 The Children’s Museum of Houston- 1500 Binz, Houston, TX 77004,  713.522.1138.

Hanukkah Wonderweek at the Children’s Museum

Hanukkah Wonderweek is coming to the Children’s Museum of Houston December 10th to December 16th.  Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday which celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem. It is a time of giving, prayer, and togetherness. Come and celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah with traditional holiday games and activities.

Activities will include Light up Science Station: Hanukkah is filled with festive lights that grow bright. Visit Science Station to experiment with simple circuits that make light possible; Hanukkah Menorah: Cut, color and paste your own Hanukkah menorah to decorate your home for the holidays; Yummy Dreidel: Make your own edible dreidel to take home and play this favorite Hanukkah game; Hanukkah Greeting Card: Make a festive greeting card to send to your friends for Hanukkah; Musically Inventive: Invent wild and wacky ways to bring out your inner song! Use everyday materials to build your own unique musical instrument;

Spotlight performances featured are Beren Academy Boys Choir: Spotlight Performance. Enjoy Hanukkah songs in celebration of the holiday and Houston Storyteller’s Guild: Spotlight Performance. A featured storyteller will present stories related to the principals of Hanukkah. 

MUSEUM HOURS: Tues. – Sat.; 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun: Noon – 6 p.m.  The Children’s Museum of Houston is located at 1500 Binz, Houston, TX 77004

For more information, including times for spotlight events, visit www.cmhouston.org or call (713) 522-1138.

Las Posadas Wonderweek at the Children’s Museum

Children’s Museum of Houston celebrates Mexican tradition with ballet folklórico, free books and festive activities during Las Posadas Wonderweek, December 3rd through the 9th.

Las Posadas is a Mexican tradition surrounding the Christmas story of Mary and Joseph in search of refuge (or “posada”) in Bethlehem. Visit the Children’s Museum of Houston to learn more about this celebration filled with exciting activities about Mexico’s culture, music, and family fun!

Enjoy an array of bilingual books for you to take home, courtesy of MASECA.

On Thursday, December 3rd at 5:00 pm, enjoy Las Américas Ballet Folklórico, traditional lively dances from México in celebration of Las Posadas.

On Saturday, Dec. 5th at 2:00 pm, check out Musically Inventive where you invent wild and wacky ways to bring out your inner song! Use everyday materials to build your own musical instrument.

Ongoing activities include Cone Cup Piñata: Decorate your own piñata to hang for Las Posadas; Foil Tree Ornament: Make a brightly colored foil ornament to hang on your tree to bring a taste of Las Posadas into your home; Poinsettia: Make your own beautiful flower to remember the legend of the Poinsettia; Sounds of the Holidays: Music and sound are an important part of Mexico’s holiday season. A series of hands-on experiments will give you an introduction to the ideas of sound and how it travels; and Toma Todo: Play a traditional Mexican game of chance with a twist.

Children’s Museum Hours:  Tues. – Sat.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sun: Noon – 6 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.cmhouston.org.

 

 

Location: The Children’s Museum of Houston- 1500 Binz, Houston, TX 77004

Contact: (713) 522-1138