Celebrate the first National Lab Day at the Clay Center’s family fun day on May 8

Release Date: 4/29/2010 1:00:00 PM

Dateline (city): Charleston

Contact:
Katrina Harmon
kharmon@theclaycenter.org

Attachment: national_lab_day_042910.pdf

Celebrate the first National Lab Day at the Clay Center’s family fun day on May 8

(Charleston, W.Va.) 4/29/10 – Join the nationwide celebration of science and discovery. The Clay Center is jumping right in with a day of hands-on excitement at the first ever National Lab Day family fun day. The event takes place Saturday, May 8 from noon to 4 p.m.

As part of the festivities at the Clay Center, guests will get to participate in four hands-on labs:

  • Space science lab – Create your own crater and measure the results of the impact.
  • Environment lab – Perform different mini-experiments to learn about the natural world and meet the Clay Center animals.
  • Engineering lab – Learn about design and construction as you build structures with recyclable materials.
  • Creativity lab – Use food to create your own artistic masterpieces.

National Lab Day is a nationwide initiative, supported by President Obama, designed to reinvigorate STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education in the nation’s schools and after-school programs. Volunteers, university students, scientists, engineers and, more broadly, members of the community are working together with educators and students to bring discovery-based learning experiences to students in grades 6-12.

"Lifting American students from the middle to the top of the pack in STEM achievement over the next decade will not be attained by government alone," President Obama said. "I applaud the substantial commitments made today by the leaders of companies, universities, foundations, non-profits and organizations representing millions of scientists, engineers and teachers from across the country."

All activities are included in museum gallery admission, which is free for Clay Center members or just $5.50 for children and $7 for adults. For more information about National Lab Day and other great family events at the Clay Center, visit www.theclaycenter.org or call (304) 561-3570.