16.9.11 - Singapore Science Centre

After Pulau Ubin, we made a visit to the Singapore Science Centre. This is our second time there and we went there mainly for the waterpark, which the boys liked immensely during their previous visit. Being a member of the Pusat Sains Negara, Malaysia, which was a participant of the ASTC passport program, we had free admission for 2 adults and 2 children into the Singapore Science Centre.

This time, we found that bars had been put up and kids weren't allowed to climb up onto the exhibit. It was a good thing, because I felt that it was quite dangerous for the kids to be up there. It lessened the fun, however, and the boys decided to play with the other exhibits instead.   

This is a large blower. Just press the button and stand in front of the blower to dry yourself. 

There was a Fire Tornado demonstration at 3 pm.

Pouring fuel

We can feel the heat outside the plexiglass

Some pictures of the Science Centre. We didn't spend a long time there.

There was a 1-day old chick

Skeleton of a frog

Skeleton of a bird

Will try this to get rid of cockroaches

Wriggling worms

Dancing iron dust

29.5.2011: Waterplay @ Singapore Science Centre

After lunch, we went to the waterpark area. The directions weren't clear and it was a quite tough to find the entrance to the waterpark area and we had to ask a few people.

The place was interesting and the boys found the following waterplay equipment most fascinating. The jet of water could carry the ball up into to another part where it would move again..

Top right: The ball falls into the "tornado-like" water and comes out at the bottom.

Top: The balls can balance on each of these jets of water. 

Left and right: Put the ball into this hole and it will shoot off and fall into a large container of water.

The boys played there for 1.5 hours and found this the most enjoyable part of the SSC. The strategy is to get them to see the other exhibits first and when they are tired, then come to this water park area to refresh themselves. We were there at the SSC from 10 am until 4.45 pm. 

29.5.11: Chemistry Carnival @ Singapore Science Centre

There was a Chemistry Carnival outdoors at the Singapore Science Centre. Several tables were set up, with different activities.

We did this Bubble Art, where we blew bubbles into a solution of liquid soap/ shampoo/ detergent that was mixed with colours.

 

The bubbles must be over (higher than) the rim of the container

Press a piece of paper onto the container. Try again with different colours. 

Below: Chromatography activity

Drawing a monster truck using a marker pen onto a piece of filter paper. Then, spray it with water / rubbing  alcohol. Then watch the colour spread out. 

There was some yellow seen around the orange, but it wasn't obvious. 

I forgot the name of the activity below. 

Drop a little colouring into the test tube.

Then drop a small quantity of water.

Then drop in some dry ice.  

  

It was fascinating to watch the bubbles

 

Blowing bubble with a star shaped bubble maker.

 

I learnt that this is called non-newtonian fluid, in which it  its flow properties differ from those of Newtonian fluids. It doesn't act like liquid or solid. This gooey slime is actually made from cornstarch mixed with water. 

29.5.11: Insectmania @ Singapore Science Centre

After breakfast, we left for the Singapore Science Centre. My GPS was peculiarly slow that morning, and just wouldn't locate where Singapore Science Centre was. I asked a couple who were boarding a bus for directions. They said that SSC is in Jurong. After the car moved a little, my GPS managed to detect Snow City at Jurong, and we followed the GPS which finally led us there.

Singapore Science Centre was located at 15 Science Centre Road, Singapore. As we were members of the ASTC passport program (as members of Pusat Sains Negara), we had free admissions for 5 people.

It was a large place and even though it was the second day of the Singapore and Malaysia school holidays, it wasn't as packed as I had expected. We took our time to explore the whole place.

At different time during the day, there were various presentations. We attended the Insectmania presentation which was held in one of the auditoriums. It was an interesting presentation as I learnt several things which we didn't know before. 

Ant essence - capsules containing dried and crushed ants, to be consumed for health benefits

Dried exoskeleton of beetles and bugs. I remember when I was in secondary school, my mum bought these from a chinese medicine shop to boil some tonic for me. I told her that it looked strangely like bugs, but with holes where the legs should be. She denied and I refused to drink it. 

Life cycle of insects

After the presentation, everyone was invited to come to the front table to take a look at the insects there. The facilitators there were very friendly and tried to answer our questions as best they could.

 

The Madagascar hissing cockroach. We didn't hear it hiss though.

 

The boys were encouraged to hold the large cockroach. It was said to be clean as it was bred in captivity in the SSC itself and was fed with only plants and vegetables. S bravely held the cockroach.

 

 

 

Bee honeycomb. My question: If we take the honey from the bees, are we depriving bees of their food?

A dragonfly remains a nymph in the water for up to 5 years!