‘Sonic Sensations’ traveling exhibit sounds like fun

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Kids can create a soundtrack to accompany a short movie in “Sonic Sensations” at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview through May 17.

Updated: January 26, 2012 2:16PM

Like “See Me, Feel Me,” the Who ode to human senses, “Sonic Sensations” now at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview invites visitors to see and touch along with hear. Running through May 17, the traveling exhibit created by the Sciencenter in Ithaca, N.Y., uses the senses to explore the science of sound. The 1,200-square-foot exhibit features 11 interactive stations that create connections with many of the museum’s permanent exhibits.

“It’s a very interesting exhibit all about sound and hearing, but I think with more of an emphasis on how sound is made, measured,” said Sheridan Turner, Kohl CEO and president. “It becomes a wonderful complement to our music exhibit, which is how vibration makes sound, which becomes notes, which becomes music.”

Among the highlights is “Seeing Sound” in which visitors can adjust frequency and amplitude knobs connected to speakers at each end of a clear tube and watch beads in the tube jump around.

“Frequency makes the little pieces jump in one direction and amplitude makes them jump in another direction,” Turner said. “And of course when you put the two together it’s a really cool visual of seeing frequency [the number of sound waves per second] and amplitude [the energy of a sound wave], which are two words that I think are very vague to us.”

Turner believes the “Invisible Orchestra” station, reminiscent of the Tom Hanks’ film “Big,” will be another popular station.

“This is one where they can see the keyboard on a visual but they influence it by interacting [using motion] on this carpet. It’s all done by light sensors,” she said. “Once they get it figured out [they] can actually create tunes; it’s pretty cool. It takes a lot of hand-eye coordination and interacting and figuring out how it works.”

“Critters in the Cupboard” should be a hit with younger visitors (Kohl exhibits target kids from infancy to 8 years old). Kids hide a cricket or a kitten and their partners have to find it using their listening skills.

“It’s nicely designed conceptually to intrigue the adults and also to have things that are there for younger children as well,” Turner said of the entire exhibit, adding, “There’s a lot of neat science and concept in there and a lot of areas for children to explore both on their own and with their families or caregivers.”

Other stations include “Hearing Test” (Turner expects adults to gravitate to this one), “How Do We Hear?” (a large-scale model of the human ear), “Match the Sound” (shake containers and predict what’s inside) and “Create a Soundtrack” (add sounds to a movie).

Once families are done in “Sonic Sensations” they can head to the art studio where each week visitors can make a different musical instrument from recycled materials. Or drop by one of the permanent exhibits to extend what they’ve learned in “Sonic Sensations”; the Kohl staff has created many complementary activities found throughout the museum.

“It’s cool exhibit with a lot of different, innovative things to do that engage a variety of audiences,” Turner said.

KIDDING AROUND

† Snow Days takes over Navy Pier’s Gateway Park Jan. 27-29. Highlights include artists from around the world sculpting statues from 10-foot blocks of manmade snow, the Chicago Blackhawks Street Team, dog sled racing demonstrations and a snowboard rail jam competition. Warm up with indoor entertainment at the Family Pavilion. Hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 27-28 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Jan. 29. Admission is free. Navy Pier is at 600 E. Grand. Call (312) 595-7437 or visit navypier.com.

† Kids can learn about Native American cultures during drop-in hourlong weekend craft workshops at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 Central St. in Evanston. Designed for kids 5 and older accompanied by an adult, upcoming workshops feature Plains warrior shields (11 a.m. Jan. 28, 12:30 p.m. Jan. 29), Northwest Coast rattles (11 a.m. Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 5), children’s bolo ties (11 a.m. Feb. 11, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 12), God’s eyes (11 a.m. Feb. 18, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 19) and woven baskets (11 a.m. Feb. 25, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 26). Workshops are included in admission of $5 for adults and $3 for kids. Workshops continue in March and April. Call (847) 475-1030 or visit mitchellmuseum.org.

† Legoland Discovery Center Chicago hosts Lego Friends Weekend Jan. 27-29 at 601 N. Martingale Road in Schaumburg. Mini-dolls Olivia, Emma, Andrea, Stephanie and Mia hit the center to help design and build a large-scale model of Heartlake City. Also on tap: a scavenger hunt, a karaoke sing off, free ice cream (while supplies last) and prizes. Admission is $19 for adults and $15 for kids. Call (847) 592-9700 or visit legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

Jennifer Burklow is a local free-lance writer.