Omaha Children’s Museum recently joined forces with the University of Nebraska at Omaha Department of Bio-mechanics and College of Education to host a training for teachers and early childhood educators on how to incorporate science, vocabulary and concepts of bio-mechanics into curriculum for young learners.

It sounds like a difficult subject to teach toddlers, right? It’s not, and it fit in with the STEM-learning that occurs at the museum daily. Using our temporary exhibit, Super Sports, as a learning laboratory, these educators were instructed and learned about bio-mechanics and how to incorporate a visit to Omaha Children’s Museum into their lesson plans.

Dr. Amelia Lanier Karr and Dr. Anne Karabon stressed the importance of building vocabulary around the forces of bio-mechanics such as velocity, friction and force, and allowing learners to physically experience those forces with their bodies. Children are naturally born scientists, and this type of learning is fun for them. The best part is, the teachers learned they don’t need to buy expensive equipment to teach students. Kids can learn the basics of bio-mechanics using just their bodies.

There’s a great video about the Bio-mechanics Teacher night at the museum – click this link for more details: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hCwuPw-5rM 

This is just one of the many ways in which Omaha Children’s Museum works to find partners to support the important cognitive, linguistic, and physical growth of the young learners that visit each year.

Make plans to visit our special exhibits, Super Sports: Building Strength, Sportsmanship and Smarts, open now through April 14, and Santa’s Magic, open from Nov. 23 through Dec. 23. Visit www.OCM.org for more information about our permanent and special exhibits.