We’re always looking for a way to get our kids to a museum, but it’s never very hard when it is the Arizona Science Center. Kids run around from one activity to another as they explore science through fun, hands-on exhibits. We typically leave the place exhausted, but better educated and talking about science. Strange Matter is a temporary exhibit about Materials Science – or the science of what makes up everything around us. You’ll learn about plastic, glass, metal, and all sorts of other fun stuff.

Strangely enough, a lot of scientific discoveries are made by accident. We’ve always loved hearing about the quirky ways some discoveries are made. While we certainly can appreciate the methodical scientific approach, sometimes a good accidental invention story simply tickles us. This week’s book, Mistakes that Worked, tells some of these stories. We also think it’s good for kids to understand that they need to make occasional “mistakes” to do great things. We read books like this when we were kids, and we still like relating some of the funny facts we learned.

The Book

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Book Title: Mistakes That Worked

Author: Charlotte Foltz Jones

Illustrator: John O’Brien

Recommended Age: 8 and up

Book Brief: Piggy banks, silly putty, potato chips, and frisbees are all things that were invented by mistake. Jones gathers these stories and more together in a splendid book that is as informative as it is entertaining. Jones has great fun with facts, dredging up plenty in a lively, anecdotal account that recollects the oddball origins of a variety of foods, clothing, toys, and devices. A gem of a book.

About the Author: Charlotte Foltz Jones lives in Boulder, Colorado. She is the author of more than a hundred magazine articles. She and John worked together on several books, included the closely related Accidents May Happen.

About the Illustrator: John O’Brien creates inventive, whimsical, witty, and wacky illustrations. He has contributed to The New Yorker, Highlights for Children, and The Washington Post. He has illustrated more than forty books for children, including the best selling Six Sleepy Sheep, Six Creepy Sheep, Six Snow Sheep, and Six Sandy Sheep.

Extras: Did you know that an Arabian and his camel accidentally invented cheese? Or that brown ‘n serve rolls were invented because a baker had to pull a batch of rolls out of the oven too early? Read about these accidents and more in this fun-filled book!

The Blast

Strange Matter Exhibit

Arizona Science Center

600 E. Washington St.

Phoenix, AZ 85004

(Click here to see a map and get directions.)

Website: www.azscience.org

When: Open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. through Jan. 6, 2008

Cost: Includes general admission to Arizona Science Center and admission to Strange MatterAdults – $11Children (3-12) – $8Seniors (62+) – $8Members – Free

It’s a Blast: You are surrounded by Strange Matter. Everything around you is made up of molecules and atoms: from the foam in your sneakers, to the plastic in your contact lenses, to the metals in your bicycle. Strange Matter explores the science behind this everyday stuff and introduced visitors to some cutting-edge materials that can do amazing things! Watch mountains of foam grow before your eyes. Feel metals morph from liquid to solid with the touch of a button. Squeeze in some destructive testing with the incredible “Smash the Glass.”

And then explore everything else the Arizona Science Center has to offer!

Extra Tips for a Good Time:

• Join a hands-on workshop to experience the science of materials in another fun format. Find out how different ceramics, including glass, behave when they are heated and cooled. Make your own glass beads from an everyday household product. Learn how ceramics can be used to make light. Family Workshop (Saturday, December 1, 1:30-3:30 p.m.) or Teen Workshop (Saturday, December 8, 1:30-3:30 p.m.). See the website for more details.
• Click here for information on parking.
• The IMAX theater is currently showing The Polar Express in 3D (among other things).
• No food is allowed in the Center, and the only drink you can bring in is bottled water.
• Bring your own stroller – there are none available for rental.
• Leave your valuables at home, because there are no lockers to stash your stuff.
• City Bakery at Arizona Science Center offers an all-organic menu.
• For little kids, check out the Stroller Science program that caters to their interest levels.