London landscapes: Creative kids engineering academy

Join in London Transport Museum's Kids Engineering Academy.

24 July to 29 August 2010

From Saturday 24 July families can join in London Transport Museum's Kids Engineering Academy. Using a variety of materials including construction straws, nuts and bolts, spaghetti, balloons, giant building bricks and water, discover how scientists and engineers have assisted London's ever-changing landscape as we help answer the questions what is engineering, what is an engineer and what do engineers do? With this new knowledge, budding builders and engineers are invited to help re-construct London's miniature Capital filling it with the tallest towers, strongest structures and brilliant bridges.

Every week we will explore a new theme and experiment; this programme of activities forms part of Capital Science, a celebration for the 350th Anniversary of the Royal Society.

To take part in any of the sessions listed below simply drop in to the museum between 12.00 and 15.00.

Week 1: Strongest structures
24 July to 1 August 2010
Are triangles stronger than squares? Participate in the spaghetti strengthening challenge, house of cards and triangle versus square experiments then build a platform that holds the weight of a model London Overground station.
Engineering Workshop suitable for ages 5+

Week 2: Tallest towers
2 to 8 August 2010
Tall towers and buildings have to withstand high wind force. Test this theory with Jenga, soft bricks and construction straws. The largest crane in the UK was used to build the new London Overground line. Reconstruct this magnificent machine with the use of everyday house-hold objects.
Engineering Workshop suitable for ages 5+

Week 3: Build a better bridge
9 to 15 August 2010
Engineers are creative problem solvers. This weeks experiment is the fabulous arch bridge, which can take the weight of a small child. Can you build a bridge across a model River Thames which will hold the weight of a tiny London bus?
Engineering Workshop suitable for ages 5+

Week 4: Rainy days
16 to 22 August 2010
Engineering is essential to our daily lives. Test out waterproof materials, trial roof shapes and be amazed at the moving water experiment. Nobody likes waiting for a bus in the rain; help us construct a miniature bus shelter that will keep three toy passengers nice and dry.
Engineering Workshop suitable for ages 5+

Week 5: Full to capacity
23 to 29 August 2010
Float, sink, submerge? Learn how to make a boat that will take the weight of a small passenger. Take your boat home and test it at bath time.
Engineering Workshop suitable for ages 5+

Sing along: Build it up with sticks and stones
Wednesdays and Fridays
11.30 & 16.00 (sessions last 20 minutes)
Budding baby builders can listen to transport tales and railway rhymes then sing-along to the old children's favourite London Bridge is falling down. These action-packed story telling sessions will help our littlest visitors understand the science behind engineering.
Storytelling, suitable for under 5s

Admission to the Museum is free to accompanied children under 16. Adults £10.00; Senior Citizens £8.00; Students £6.00.