Even Marvin the Martian would be entertained by the activities planned for Sunday's Mini Martians Day at Oakland's Chabot Space & Science Center.
For a few hours, youngsters can explore the tactile weirdness of slimy Gak, punch some liquid-solid oobleck, taste "alien food" - dehydrated astronaut ice cream - and make alien masks, among other activities, says Liz Austerman, Chabot's visitor and community engagement manager.
"With Mini Martians Day, we really want to highlight some of the early-learner programs we have here," she says. "Many families may not realize that we have space here at the center called the Discovery Lab that's really designed for younger children. Our programs are really cognizant of early learners, and we aim to provide open experiences, like dramatic play with the miniature rocket that kids can play in."
The hands-on Discovery Lab is outfitted with fun stuff for preschoolers, including microscopes, wooden blocks, Lego gears and gadgets. And while you're at the center, the entire family can enjoy Chabot's exhibits, like the "Beyond Blastoff: Surviving in Space" show where you can check out real spacesuits and take a spin on astronaut exercise equipment.
Over at the "One Giant Leap: A Moon Odyssey" exhibit, visitors can squeeze into a Mercury capsule or try their hand at landing a lunar module. (Note that Mini Martians Day is free with museum admission.)
Besides the activities, and some story-telling time about friendly aliens, families can also catch the Chabot's new 30-minute planetarium show, "We Are Aliens," which will run throughout the day. Narrated by Rupert Grint of "Harry Potter" fame, the larger-than-life show explores the possibility of life beyond Earth in eye-popping 360-degree digital animations.
Also running Sunday will be planetarium shows including "Secret of the Cardboard Rocket," an adventure through the solar system, and "Tales of the Maya Skies," which introduces audiences to the history and ancient astronomy of the Mayan people.
"It's a day where we hope to make people aware of everything that we do," Austerman says, "that we will be beefing up our programs for early learners, but there are activities that are really interesting for all ages and great for the whole family."
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