Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Kids Quest Science Circus
1-4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 21
Watch stuntman Rhys Thomas juggle and entertain while teaching science as part of “Science Circus.” Afterward the Center will turn into a three-ring circus with magicians, balloon animals, dress-up costumes, arts and crafts, face painting and more. School performances Feb. 19-20. Free.

Mid-America Science Museum, Hot Springs
“That’s Science”
March 7, 2009 (2-4 p.m.)
RSVP by February 20th to info@midamericamuseum.org to guarantee your spot.
Kids' Quest members and their families are invited the Mid-America Science Museum to enjoy “Science Circus”. This fun-filled family event features Rhys Thomas’ Circus acts where kids of all sizes learn about Newton’s Three Laws of Motion. Compete in our “Plastic Bag” juggling contest and visit the “Engineer It” exhibit where you can build bridges and test them for strength; design boats and test them for speed; and test your own windmills and paper planes in our wind tunnels.
For more information, go to www.midamericamuseum.org  

University of Arkansas Center for Math & Science Education
"Everyone Needs More Space"
April 2 from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.
Kid's Quest Party at the Center for Math & Science Education. See next month's newsletter for details!

In the circus people are always balancing things. They balance themselves on tightwires and such and they balance objects on their chins and even people on people. To balance gravity.

Try these balancing activities at home!
Hold a yardstick on your forward-pointed index fingers, one finger under each end. Slide your fingers toward center. You should end up at the balance point - the center of mass. Try it again with one finger at the end and the other 1/4 of the way toward center. What happens? Why? Hint: more weight makes more friction on the supporting finger.

Pierce a tennis ball (or use balls of clay) and thread it on a dowel - move the ball and
find the center of gravity of the object. Try to balance the dowel vertically without the
ball on it then try again with the dowel at the top. Is it easier with the ball on the top?
Jugglers think so. Why? Hint: inertia makes the more massive top harder to move
compared to the less massive bottom, so the bottom is easy to move under the center of
gravity without also moving the top as much.

Balance on one foot and/or hop. Notice how different body positions (hunched over,
arms to one side, head back) affect the balance. If you stand on one foot with your hands
at your sides what happens if you reach the other foot and your arms to the right? Your
center of gravity changes, depending on the shape of your body.

Come to a Network museum near you and watch Rhys Thomas juggle knives while spinning a ball and riding a unicycle taller thanhimself, all in the name of science. Rhys Thomas is bringing his energetic Science Circus" to Arkansas from February through July.

For times and dates, go to http://www.arkansasdiscoverynetwork.org/events/science_circus.html.

Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff
Family Film Night, “To Kill a Mockingbird:” 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, part of Black History Month. Free.
Under the Big Top class: 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28. Learn science behind favorite circus tricks. Cost $16/members, $20/non-members. Ages K-5th grade.
Young at Art
10-11 am every Tuesday
Cost: Free
Ages: 2-4 years
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Young at Art is a toddler art class that strengthens the bond of parent and child through the use of arts and crafts. Participants must be between 2-4 years and accompanied by an adult. Reservations are required for groups of 10 or more. For more information contact Elise Askew at 870-536-3365.

Museum of Discovery, Little Rock
Good Vibrations through April 5
“See” sound, interrupt a tornado and more. FREE with Museum admission.
 more info

Beat. Breathe. Think. March 11-14
Discover the function and importance of the circulatory, respiratory and nervous systems by watching or participating in a brain or heart dissection.  FREE with Museum admission.
more info
 
Saturday Discoveries: Lights! Camera! Action!  March 14 1-4pm
The science of theatre. 501-396-7050 for reservations more info
 
This Little Piggy Went to Market March 26- 28
The Arkansas Children’s Theatre presents a lively production that features a curious pig and her visit to the Market.  FREE with Museum admission. more info

To see what else is going on at our partner sites across the state, see our Events page.

The Arkansas Discovery Network would like to keep you informed about everything going on in the Network, including where we've been and our plans for the future. If you'd like to keep informed on the more "grown-up" side of what we're doing, you can sign up for our monthly Grown-Up E-Newsletter. If you'd like to see some of our past Grown-Up E-Newsletters, go to http://www.arkansasdiscoverynetwork.org/grown-ups/newsletter.html.