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Self-guiding in the Galleries
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here for printable version of all resources “Kid Stuff is one of the most popular exhibitions in Berkshire Museum history, and we are delighted to bring it back home for the summer,” said Stuart A. Chase, executive director of the Berkshire Museum. “We realized that there are many families in our region who weren’t around eight years ago to experience this fun exhibition of great toys, so why not give them a chance? And of course adults of all ages will remember these toys and enjoy the nostalgia.” Try a scavenger hunt of the exhibition for PreK - 2 or Grades 3 - 5. Featured Toys: Ten retro themed areas of the exhibition explore the vintage toys. Each section provides historical information about the toys’ origins, includes period advertisements, and features hands-on activities for all ages. In “Go To Your Room,” visitors will encounter the Magic 8 Ball, Whee-Lo, Labyrinth, Slinky, Silly Putty, Magic Slate, Wooly Willy, and Raggedy Ann & Andy. “Can I Try?” highlights creative and hands-on toys, including Nerf Ball, View-Master, Etch-A-Sketch, Duncan Yo-Yo, Spirograph, Mr. Potato Head, and Colorforms. Practical jokes are the focus of “That's Not Funny,” which includes joy buzzer, spilled ink, whoopee cushion, snake-in-the can, and similar Adams gags. “I'll Never Ask For Anything Else” features the ever-popular Lionel Trains. The train layout includes both vintage Lionel trains and a modern train set that visitors can operate by pushing a button. “Don't Make A Mess” includes Magic Rocks, Crayola Crayons, Play Doh, Easy-Bake Oven, and Ant Farm Outdoor fun is the theme of “Go Outside and Play,” in which visitors will learn about Flexible Flyer, Balsa Planes, Frisbee, Radio Flyer Wagon, Wiffle Ball, Tonka Trucks, and Hot Wheels. Classic board games including Twister, The Game of Life, Monopoly, Candyland, Cootie, Go to the Head of the Class, Yahtzee, and Chutes and Ladders are explored in “It's My Turn.” “I'll Trade Ya” showcases the popular collectibles Pez and Matchbox cars. “Wanna Play Dolls?” features vintage Barbie and G.I. Joe. Visitors will have the chance to pose for photos with life size versions of these childhood favorites in front of realistic backdrops. Finally, “Look What I Made” showcases building toys such as Lincoln Logs, Lego, Erector Sets, Legos, and Tinker Toys. Visitors may operate an Erector Set ferris wheel with the push of a button. What is there to DO in KID STUFF? Visitors to Kid Stuff will not only see vintage toys, but have the chance to play. Visitors can throw Nerf Balls at objects or create different Mr. Potato Heads with magnetic parts. Wooly Willys, YoYos, Wheelos, Etch-a-Sketches, Magic 8 Balls, View-Masters, and Slinkys are all available for hands-on play. A six-foot long board provides for an ever-changing Colorforms “mural” created by visitors. A small staircase serves as a place for Slinkys to walk, and visitors may race Hot Wheels side-by-side on a track. The exhibition also features a Lego construction area and a Raggedy Ann and Andy reading area. Many visitors will be transported back to childhood memories at the sniff jar station, where they can experience the distinctive smells of Crayola Crayons and Play-doh. Kid Stuff is based on the 1996 book Kid Stuff: Great Toys of Our Childhood, by David Hoffman, with photographs by Victor Budnik. Accompanying the exhibition will be two works by contemporary artist Wendy Walgate. Walgate is a ceramic artist based in Toronto. She casts groupings of brightly colored, toy-like animals to create whimsical ceramic sculptures that are commentaries on collecting and accumulation. The Berkshire Museum aquarium will add Sea Monkeys. Sea Monkeys is a registered trademark of Transcience Corp., which began selling this unique species of brine shrimp as pets in the 1960s. Kid Stuff: Great Toys from our Childhood is sponsored by Greylock Federal Credit Union, Hasbro, and Mattel. National Tour Since originating at the Berkshire Museum in 1999 Kid Stuff has been seen at: the Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, Vt.; the Museum of Science & Industry, Chicago; the Duluth Children’s Museum, Duluth, Minn.; the Capitol Children’s Museum, Washington, D.C.; the Henry Ford Museum, Dearborn, Mich.; the Memphis Museum System, Memphis, Tenn.; the Strong Museum, Rochester, N.Y.; the Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, N.J.; the Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, N.M.; Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland; Neville Public Museum, Green Bay, Wis.; the Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond; Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, Fort Worth, Tex.; the Ohio Historical Society, Columbus, Oh.; the Iowa State Historical Museum, Des Moines; Calgary Science Center, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Following its 2007 run at the Berkshire Museum, Kid Stuff will be next seen at the Orange County Regional History Center in Orlando, Florida. Weblinks History Channel’s Toy Timeline Fact Monster: 20th Century Toys and Games Timeline History Slice: Toy Timeline Nerf Ball History History of Barbie History of GI Joe How Stuff Works: Etch-A-Sketch How Stuff Works: Yo-Yos Silly Putty Slinky Woolly Willy http://www.smethporttoy.com/woolywilly/timesherald.html
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