Noah's Ark at Skirball

Today's activity was the Skirball Museum, a Jewish cultural museum. The kid's area, Noah's Ark, requires advanced reservations, which I made a few days ago for 10:30am (to visit Noah's Ark on Thursday, when admission is free, seems to require reservations months in advance). The trip was worthwhile, but we were tired enough after Noah's Ark, a Wildlife on Wheels show and a visit to the Art Studio that we didn't end up seeing the main part of the museum or the archeological dig. Noah's Ark started with a brief introduction before we got around to playing. Then we were able to go into the play area which consisted of 4 rooms decorated with whimsical creatures and containing a variety of hands-on activities. The kids' favorite activity in the first room involved loading animals on the ark (see photo). The second room had some small houses (one had a sunroof that Benjamin enjoyed opening and closing) and stuffed animals. The third room was their favorite because they could climb to a second level. It also had a cooking area with play food and accessories. The fourth room had fewer things to play with, but the kids enjoyed the large ark and animals (see photo).

We spent about 1 1/2 hours in the Noah's and then went outside to eat lunch and see the Wildlife on Wheels show, which included a spider monkey, alligator, and bald eagle. Then we made woven baskets in the art room and spent a few minutes in the superhero exhibit before heading home. I had hoped that we would be able to see some of the regular exhibit, but that will have to wait until next time.

(Dave here) Benjamins favorite things was the eggs. He would collect them, put them down the chute, come down the ladder and collect them again. He also like the Noahs Ark animal train, where he would collect the animals, put them on the chute, roll them to the top and collect them again. If only he would collect his laundry with such energy!

Joshua liked weaving at the art activity. He showed all the kids how to weave (but Benjamin already knew how). Then Daddy tied handles to the baskets they made.

Daddy's favorite was the animals, especially the African porcupine.

(Joshua here) Joshua's favorite part of the Wildlife show was the toucan, especially the poem. "One Can saves toucans".