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Mid-America Science Museum’s Tinkering Studio is bringing imaginative education to the children of Hot Springs through its monthly programs.
January’s theme, “World of Paper,” teaches children about the various uses of paper, along with the science behind it.
MASM Educators Erin Long and Katie Charles said the studio is open from 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.
“We’re exploring something deceptively simple,” Long said. “When we think of paper, we think of typical things like coloring, cutting and gluing. But this month in the Tinkering Studio, we’re trying to focus on what we can do with paper beyond those means.”
Such uses include origami-like crafts, shaped cardboard tubes and the use of LED lights.
“I have found that families and students are surprised by how much engineering and science actually go into something so simple like paper that we use all the time,” Long said.
Charles said the studio’s purpose is to ignite the imagination of the children who come to the studio.
“We’re thinking beyond the general scope,” Charles said. “It’s all about expanding their knowledge of STEM.”
Charles said the studio has been a part of the museum for a long time.
“I remember coming here when I was a kid,” she said. “The space has elevated a lot for at least a couple of decades. We’ve added a lot of color and fun things to the walls to make it feel homey. The goal is to make you feel like you can come in and just chill.”
While young children are their priority, they said the studio is open to all ages.
The studio’s focus next month will be robotics, specifically robot blocks. Long and Charles said this will serve as a loose introduction to coding for children.
“This space is all about finding ways to introduce engineering and science in a way that is accessible to the whole community,” Charles said. “It’s not just a crafting studio.”
