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October 4, 2004

Kids invited to develop an eye for architecture

Children don't learn much about architecture in school, but architecture
surrounds us all our lives and has a great affect on our productivity
and sense of well-being. A little knowledge of architecture, especially
at a young age, could be a very good thing.


This was the thought of Julie Cowan, an arts educator from Skokie.
She approached Jan Watkins, head of youth services at the Skokie Public
Library, with the idea of an interactive exhibit that would not only
inform children about architecture, but also provide a hands-on opportunity
to create structures. Watkins agreed that this is a subject not usually
introduced to children, and knew that an interactive exhibit would
provide fun for children as well as allow them to express their own
creativity and knowledge.


Financial support for the project came from OWP/P Architects Inc.
and Berglund Construction, the architects and builders behind the
library's recent renovation. The interactive exhibit, "Build It! ArchKIDecture
for Kids" is now a reality at the Skokie Public Library until the
end of October.


I had a chance to look at the exhibit last week and it's a lot of
fun. It consists of several low cubes, each devoted to an aspect of
architecture. For example, one cube is all about magnets and features
an appealing collection of very large nuts, bolts, screws, washers
and rubber bands. Before I knew it, I was stacking them up and fitting
them together and building a magnet cityscape - precisely the point
of the exhibit.


Another cube is quite tall and made of hard plastic featuring square
holes. It resembles a skyscraper. Brightly colored telephone wire
hangs out of many of the holes and visitors are invited to play with
the wire, looping it in and out or twisting it to create shapes. This
area of the exhibit teaches children to see how they can create interesting
structures with small, everyday items.


Other cubes are Straw Bale Construction, for making an earth-friendly
house; Treehouse, for building small-scale treehouses of cardboard
and surgical tape; Floor Plan Rubbing, for making crayon rubbing of
a floor plan incised in plastic; and Shapes, for creating patterns
by tracing and repeating a shape.


There are posters outlining architectural principles such as patterns
and shapes. There is a wall where a Skokie skyscraper is being built
by exhibit visitors over the month. Paper and an origami pattern for
making a box are available so that children can make boxes and add
them to the skyscraper. As you can tell, this is an exhibit of depth
and easily appeals to children ages 6 to 12.


If you can't get to the Skokie Public Library to see the exhibit,
check out the library's Build It! Web site. Go to www.skokielibrary.info,
click on the "Kids" box, and scroll down to the Build It! graphic
on the left side. If you need further information, call Jan Watkins
at (847) 324-3151.


Another option is to tune into our award-winning cable TV show,
"What's New in Libraries?" this month for a tour of the exhibit with
Watkins. Visit www.whatsnewinlibraries.org for channels and times
in your community.

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