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Tinkertoy arrives at Discovery Gateway

November 19, 2012 by Emily Hill 37 Comments

Thank you, Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum, for introducing my kids to Tinkertoys, one of my old-school favorites. I remember spending hours playing with my grandmother’s Tinkertoy set. It held my attention—and my imagination—far longer than Lincoln Logs or Spirograph.

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Discovery Gateway Children's Museum Tinkertoy exhibit
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The new Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination exhibit at Discovery Gateway offers the entire family a HUGE roomful of Tinkertoy fun combined with GE’s innovative technologies. You’ll find giant replicas of the classic Tinkertoy construction sets and numerous educational activities that “turn imagination into working solutions to real world challenges.”

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Discovery Gateway Tinkertoy exhibit
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Bet your Lincoln Logs can’t do that.

Here are some of the imagination-stretching activities you’ll find in the Tinkertoy: Build Your Imagination exhibit:

  • Invent ~ Children are encouraged to think about where ideas come from, and to explore the emerging field of biomimicry – nature’s influence on design. Visitors can match real inventions with their natural inspiration and create a design of their own.
  • Energize ~ Children can explore GE’s commitment to renewable energy as they use a kid-powered fan to test their own wind-powered TINKERTOY creations.
  • Change ~ A Rube Goldberg-like contraption illustrates the power of creative thinking and how simple mechanisms work. The activity lets children select and position words to build silly – but thought-provoking! – sentences that serve as the springboard for innovation.

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I’m a sucker for any Rube Goldberg machine. Throw in the ability to vary parts of speech to make a sentence and I’m pretty much oblivious to any other exhibits.

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Discovery Gateway Tinkertoy Rube Goldberg exhibit
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The larger-than-life and regular size Tinkertoys are on exhibit at Discovery Gateway through January 6th and included with your admission. For more information, click here.

While there, don’t miss some of my favorite exhibits—and by “favorite” I mean “the ones that keep my kids entertained the longest.”

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Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
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Not that I can’t be easily entertained too…

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Stephanie and Emily at Discovery Gateway Children's Museum

Steph & I rock the KSL booth at Discovery Gateway

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Don’t forget all the other events and activities included with your admission.

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Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
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Here’s a sampling:

  • Time for Tots ~ Nationally recognized literacy program for children 18 months to 3 years. | Tuesdays at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
  • Little Scientist ~ Class for children ages 2 to 5 years; children are encouraged to ask questions about nature and to seek answers through collecting things, counting and measuring, making observations and experimenting. | Thursdays at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3pm
  • Amazing Me! ~ Children ages 3 to 7 years participate in a variety of health, safety and self-esteem building activities. | Fridays at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 3 pm

Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum also offers birthday parties–yippee!

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Discovery Gateway Children's Museum
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I almost forgot—Discovery Gateway has a really cool FREE iPhone and iPad app called DGPlay App. With the DGPlay App, kids can do everything from explore exciting professions to choose and color their favorite bee character. Parents can use the app to learn more about the museum’s exhibits, get directions or make a donation.
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DGPlay app DGPlay app

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You can download the Discovery Gateway DGPlay App for FREE from the iTunes store.

Filed Under: contests & giveaways, DIY, reviews Tagged With: children's museum, Discovery Gateway, Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, giveaway, museums, Salt Lake City, The Gateway, Tinkertoy, Tinkertoy exhibit

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. jamie

    November 19, 2012 at 8:15 am

    what a fun event.
    sheesh…another reason to wish myself closer.
    ~j

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 12:47 pm

      I will keep giving you more and reasons…

      Reply
  2. Taralyn @ Keep Moving Forward With Me

    November 19, 2012 at 9:14 am

    Loved Tinker Toys growing up!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm

      Me too! So much fun!

      Reply
  3. Stacey M.

    November 19, 2012 at 9:21 am

    Sadly, we didn’t have either growing up, though school always had both. Guess I was deprived. lol

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 12:49 pm

      Well, we didn’t have them but my grandmother did. I think we had Play-Doh and Barbies at my house!

      Reply
  4. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes

    November 19, 2012 at 10:09 am

    I think my grandson is almost big enough to enjoy it. Can’t wait to take him.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm

      It is so great for little ones. My 15YO is getting a bit too old but the 12YO still loves it.

      Reply
  5. carrian

    November 19, 2012 at 10:40 am

    I never had either :(

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 12:50 pm

      I think that means you need to buy Lincoln Logs for your girls this Christmas.

      Reply
  6. Kendra @ My Insanity

    November 19, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    That looks so cool. Can I enter and give the passes to my family in the area if I win?

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:37 pm

      Totally!

      Reply
      • Kendra @ My Insanity

        November 19, 2012 at 3:09 pm

        Yea! I think we played with both at my Grandparents’ house. But don’t think we had either at my house.

        Reply
  7. Jones (@JoanieAtwater)

    November 19, 2012 at 1:43 pm

    We definitely were a Lincoln Logs family, but I have played with tinker toys before :)

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm

      I’ll forgive you. ;)

      Reply
  8. Jennifer Joiner

    November 19, 2012 at 1:45 pm

    Love tinkertoys! What a fun giveaway!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:38 pm

      I’m a huge fan too. :)

      Reply
  9. Stacie S-H

    November 19, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    I remember playing with and enjoying both but if I had to pick one I’d say I liked Lincoln Logs the most. I dont have kids but am entering to win these for a close friend if that is okay

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      That is way okay! Thanks for stopping by!

      Reply
  10. Pauline M

    November 19, 2012 at 2:09 pm

    Since we never had lincoln logs, we played with our tinkertoys ALOT! I remember trying to get our gadgets to hit the ceiling of our room!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      Did those gadgets ever make it? Perhaps you need to try again. ;)

      Reply
  11. Kim

    November 19, 2012 at 2:19 pm

    This trip would be amazing for my boys. One of them is autistic and I think this is something we could actually all enjoy together!! Crossing my fingers!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:36 pm

      I will keep my fingers crossed too!

      Reply
  12. Michelle

    November 19, 2012 at 2:30 pm

    Hooray! My kids love this place and we haven’t been in a couple of years! My kids love the ball blowing thing. We stayed there forever! The Tinkertoy thing looks fun! I love how they’ve integrated motor skills with reading!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 2:35 pm

      That ball blowing thing is always a hit as is that water feature. So much fun!

      Reply
  13. michelle riebeek

    November 19, 2012 at 4:22 pm

    I never had tinker toys but my kindergarten did have lincoln logs and i loved building houses.

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 8:45 pm

      I loved it as long as I had some sort of schematic to work from. I’m useless without directions!

      Reply
  14. Emily Woods

    November 19, 2012 at 5:23 pm

    Would love to take my son, he would LOVE the water feature! The contest form above isn’t showing up for me… I am a fan on facebook though! :)

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 8:46 pm

      Dang. Have you tried using another browser? I can see it in Chrome and Firefox.

      Reply
  15. Jamie M

    November 19, 2012 at 5:39 pm

    We LOVE tinkertoys at our house, going to have to check it out!!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 8:51 pm

      If you’re a Tinkertoy fan then you definitely need to check it out!

      Reply
  16. Angie

    November 19, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    We love Discovery Gateway!! I’ll admit….never played with Tinkertoys…perhaps that’s why I’m so excited to visit this new exhibit!

    Reply
    • Emily Hill

      November 19, 2012 at 8:51 pm

      Then it’s about time you did! Get on over there!

      Reply
  17. evonne

    November 20, 2012 at 11:00 am

    Since we have never been, this looks fabulous!!

    Reply
  18. becky f

    November 21, 2012 at 2:48 pm

    this place is my FAVORITE. thanks for the giveaway

    Reply
  19. Josie

    November 21, 2012 at 3:05 pm

    My kids really love this place and I love to see their smile when they are playing around there!! Its a great place for family time and partys!!!

    Reply
  20. Valerie

    November 25, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    I was more of the Lincoln Log Girl. I loved making cabins.

    Reply

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