If you’re a parent of a school-aged child, you’ve undoubtedly heard of STEM or STEAM. And, much like veggies, you may find yourself trying to sneak Science, Technology, Math, Art and Engineering into your child’s daily life. What if I told you that you could teach your child about STEAM topics and get your Disney Parks fix all at the same time? It’s true! Look no further than the The Science of Disney Imagineering DVD series.
The Science of Disney Imagineering DVD series covers the following topics as they relate to Disney Theme Park attractions and experiences from around the world:
- Animal Adaptations & Communication
- Design & Models
- Levers & Pulleys
- Newton’s Three Laws of Motion
Each DVD runs approximately 30 minutes and presents the topics in an easily digestible format. The host, Disney Imagineer Asa Kalama, is enthusiastic and knowledgeable and makes science fun. Over the course of the episodes, Kalama rides attractions, visits prop shops, interviews fellow Imagineers and goes behind-the-scenes to give viewers a better understanding of how the scientific principles make the experiences possible. In addition, each episode features simple animations depicting the science behind the featured topic.
While the series was designed for kids in grades 5-8, younger children will enjoy (although not entirely understand) the topics covered by Kalama. Case in point: my 4-year-old son adores this series! As he has a limited understanding of the topics, he gravitates towards the episodes that feature antics and catchy phrases or sayings. The Levers and Pulleys episode is his favorite thanks to a large audio-animatronic named Mr. Tiki.
If you’ve ever wondered about the science behind your favorite attractions, I’d highly recommend picking up this critically acclaimed series. The entire family will enjoy getting a glimpse behind-the-scenes (and they’ll learn a little something too!).
DIStracted Tip: If you don’t want to shell out the money to purchase a copy of the series, check with your local library. Borrowing a copy is the best way to “try-before-you-buy”!
Magical DIStractions can be found on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+ so please take a moment to follow us. You can also sign up for the Magical DIStractions newsletter and watch videos on our YouTube channel. If you want to chat with the members of the Magical DIStractions team, we have a Facebook group on Facebook too! We will keep up up-to-date on all of the latest news!