The Science of Rainbows

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By Annie Savinon, STEM Educator

Annie’s STEM Lab: Happy March to all! If you are like me, March reminds you of green shamrocks and vibrant rainbows! But have you ever wondered how rainbows happen in the sky?! Read along and share with your little one, the science of rainbows!

To get an outcome of a rainbow in the sky, there needs to be both sunlight and rain drops. But how do rain drops and sunlight create this beautiful multi-colored spectacle?

An interesting fact to help support this is that rainbows are formed in the opposite direction of the sun. If the sun is to the right of me, someone who is standing outside, the rainbow will be on the left of me, and if the sun is behind me, the rainbows will be in front of me.

Rainbows happen to be one of the many, beautiful scientific phenomena in our world. A (scientific) phenomenon is any event that is observable, including the use of instrumentation to observe, record, or compile data.

Another very eventful phenomena example that is coming up in our neighborhood is the Solar Eclipse! Phenomena are truly beautiful, and fascinating, which causes one to wonder and ask questions about the world around us! 

We know that we only see rainbows during the daytime, not ever at night when the sun has set. That is due to the light of the rainbow, which comes from the sun’s rays. But one may ask, how do the colors of a rainbow in the sky become multicolored?

This also happens with a prism, when a single ray of white light breaks up into several beams of colored light. Although it is hard to imagine, white light is comprised of seven colors! These are the same seven colors that are found in a rainbow. 

In the sky, raindrops act as miniature prisms and with the necessary help of the sun’s rays, they reflect the seven colors into the sky, formed as a rainbow. We know these colors as violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red!  

Another fun rainbow fact is that each person who can see a rainbow, will not see it exactly the same, unless they are standing at the exact same spot, they will see the rainbow from a slightly different angle. How fascinating! 

Next time it rains, I hope you and your little one can see a rainbow!  

Happy hunting! 

Community & Inclusion

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By Alexis Turan, Access & Inclusion Intern

March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

Every year, the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), highlights the many ways in which people with and without disabilities come together to form strong, diverse communities.

Their campaign seeks to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life, as well as awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still often face.

In order for everyone to be able to participate in everyday community activities, practices and policies need to be designed to identify and remove barriers. These can include physical barriers that prevent accessibility, communication barriers and people’s attitudes toward how disabilities are perceived. It is important to not define people by their disability or what they are unable to do.

Instead, the priority should be fixing physical and social environments to meet everyone’s needs. An example of this type of shift in thinking would identify “small print” and “stairs” as barriers, not vision issues or the use of a wheelchair. Solutions such as magnifiers, elevators and ramps assist many people at different times in their lives. This change in focus toward universal accessibility can benefit everyone in the community.

This month, take time to reflect on how you can impact your community toward becoming more inclusive.

  • Explore on-line diversity awareness trainings and disability etiquette. United Spinal Association distributes a booklet that provides tips to help promote positive interactions between people and raise everyone’s comfort levels. It also reinforces how important it is to respect people as individuals and to not make assumptions about their needs. The guide is free as a download.
  • The National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) has a resource guide to promote National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. Their website also provides DDAM 2023 logos and artwork to download and share through social media during the month of March.

Introducing: The Broadway Market Exhibit at Explore & More!

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By Will Kawalec, Cultural Program Educator 

I am taking this months Culture Corner as an opportunity to discuss an exciting change to Explore & More. Some may have heard the news that the Being Good Neighbors exhibit, (made up of the Hispanic Heritage House, Puppet Theater, and West Side Bazaar), is undergoing a major makeover. This transformation will change this exhibit space to an exhibit modeled after a Buffalo landmark, The Broadway Market.

Revitalize the Market

With gracious funding from the City of Buffalo, the team at Explore & More is excited to be creating a space that not only honors the history of the Broadway Market, but also introduces a whole new generation of Western New Yorkers to the historic community space. In conjunction with the City of Buffalo, and the Broadway Market itself, we hope this exhibit works to revitalize the market and captures the imagination of children and their families who visit Explore & More. This exhibit transition has been a long time coming, and here at Explore & More, we are exceptionally excited to share these changes with you.

The Broadway Market was established in 1888 by Polish immigrants, looking to create a meeting place and marketplace that was reminiscent of their homeland of Eastern Europe. Broadway Avenue on the Eastside of the city was the site selected for this new public space. The Eastside during the late 19th century was an area that was predominately occupied by Polish immigrants, and with the creation of this market, a cultural meeting place was established that became a cornerstone of the Buffalo community.

The Market Today

Today the market is still a cultural pillar, and is reflective of the eastside neighborhood, though where the neighborhood was once predominantly Polish, it is now one of the most diverse areas in the Western New York region and the market reflects this demographic changes. You can still buy your butter lamb, and pierogis, though you can get soul food favorites, South Asian cuisine, and enough desserts to satisfy any sweet tooth.

The Broadway Market has seen its fair share of changes since its organic origins in 1888. Over the next century and a half, the market would undergo several changes including its location, and storefront. The market is currently in its third iteration, and there are plans for major renovations in the near future.

As we approach the sesquicentennial of the founding of the original market, both the Broadway Market and Explore & More’s version will combine to usher in the next hundred and fifty years of commerce, culture, and community. So in the very near future, please join Explore & More in the opening of a revitalized exhibit space, the Broadway Market!

Don’t miss Explore & More’s Eclipse Readiness Days

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By Annie Savinon, STEM Educator

Hello to all! I hope you are staying warm and enjoying the new year. This month, I am highlighting a wonderful event that is currently being held at the museum monthly and is free with guest admission.

Any guesses what this event is?! Hint: There is a natural phenomenon happening in April, and Buffalo happens to be lucky enough to have front row seats to view it… 

Cue our Eclipse Readiness Days with LaBella Associates! 

Have you heard? Buffalo just so happens to be within complete totality for the solar eclipse that is happening on April 8, 2024! We encourage you to come stop by the Tinkering Tank the first Saturday of every month leading up to the big day from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. to grab some child-friendly resources and learn something new about this truly special and eventful day.

Our next Eclipse Readiness Day is set for March 2.

Here we have activities to make and take, to help explain to your little one about this special day, and how we can enjoy it to the best of our ability, safely. Also, bring any questions you may have about the eclipse.

We hope to see you there! 

A special shout out to our sponsors for making these days possible! Thank you, LaBella! 

The 8 Play Personalities and how grown ups can have fun, too

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By Mara Gordon, Play to Learn Facilitator

Did you know that play is beneficial for all ages, not just for young learners? You are never too old to have fun and play!

Often, it is easy to get caught up in the daily routine & responsibilities of life and to stop having fun. Many adults struggle to find ways to play or schedule a time to get into the “play state.”

Dr. Stuart Brown, researcher and founder of The National Institute for Play, defines the “play state” as a “state of mind that one has when absorbed in an activity that provides enjoyment and a suspension of sense of time.” It is important to carve out some time in your life to achieve that play state and forget about all those commitments.

Play brings joy to life, relieves stress, helps stimulate brain activity, and connects you to others & the world around you. Dr. Brown has identified eight “play personalities” that can help you find out what kinds of play work best for you:

The Collector: You enjoy building collections, such as collecting stamps or vintage cars.

The Competitor: You enjoy playing (and winning) games with specific rules, like playing for a neighborhood soccer league.

The Creator or Artist: You find joy in making things, or making things work. You might enjoy doodling, woodworking, decorating, fixing machinery, or sewing.

The Director: You enjoy planning and directing, like hosting themed birthday parties.

The Explorer: You play by discovering something new; either physically (a new place) or mentally. You might play by going on a vacation to a new place or discovering a new type of music.

The Joker: You enjoy being silly and foolish. You might enjoy improv theatre or simply making your friends laugh.

The Kinesthete: You enjoy moving your body as play. You might practice yoga or take a dance class for fun.

The Storyteller: You play by listening to or creating stories. You might enjoy going to the theater or writing in a journal.

As you grow up and stop having structured playtime built into your schedule, it is essential to figure out what kind of play personality you have and find activities that are challenging and enjoyable.

Remember: if it’s not enjoyable, then it’s not play!

There are so many types of play that work with different play personalities, but sometimes it’s good to go back to what made you happiest as a child and then work from there. Or try joining your child in their play state to strengthen your bond together & build some great memories.

Explore & More encourages play for all age groups, including adults! On February 16, we are hosting Total Eclipse of the Heart: Grown Up Night of Play, a 21+ evening event to celebrate Valentine’s Day, learn about the upcoming solar eclipse, and play in the museum!

Source: Brown S, et al. (2009). Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination, and invigorates the soul

Field trips are back! Please be aware that it will be busier than usual.