Story Time + Tinkering with Balance Online

Trying to find a little more balance? So are we—the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio is teaming up with Story Time with Mr. Limata to playfully explore balance and stability.

Join us for a hands-on tinkering activity inspired by one of our favorite stories, Balance the Birds, by Susie Ghahremani. We'll read the book with Mr. Limata, meet Susie, and make our own moving balancing sculptures! You'll be invited to design your own whimsical kinetic sculptures by tilting, sliding, and suspending everyday objects and ordinary materials into surprising arrangements.

We suggested coming to this special edition of Story Time with Mr. Limata with some materials to explore.

Want a sneak peek? Get inspired by checking out the many ways our Tinkering Studio team explores balance through hands-on projects, and join the inquiry by sharing your ideas with the hashtag #ExploringBalance.

Peter Limata is a second-grade teacher at Emerson Elementary in the Oakland Unified School District. Mr. Limata and his second-graders love tinkering and science. Since the shelter-in-place order in March, Mr. Limata has hosted online Story Time With Mr. Limata to promote reading and literacy among students and their families. Mr. Limata is an alumnus of CSU East Bay and a recipient of the university's 40 Under 40 recognition award for 2020. Find Story Time with Mr. Limata online: website | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Susie Ghahremani is an award-winning illustrator and author of picture books such as Stack the Cats and Balance the Birds. She is also the designer of the popular illustrated gift brand Boygirlparty® and an internationally exhibiting fine artist. She is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and she lives in Southern California. Find her online at @boygirlparty // boygirlparty.com

Category: Arts | Visual Arts | Museum