About Grain
Step into a bustling farm in miniature at the Grain exhibit, where teamwork and curiosity move mountains of “grain.” Children use pulleys, augers, gears, and conveyors to guide thousands of plastic pellets through a marvelous, working machine. It takes ten sets of hands to keep everything running smoothly, so friends must cooperate, communicate, and experiment together to see the pellets travel from start to finish. This one-of-a-kind machine is one of only eight in the world and gives visitors a hands-on understanding of how farms, factories, and machines work to move and process materials. The sound of pellets rolling and the feel of levers under little hands make every visit a sensory adventure that fascinates children and adults alike.
Fun Facts
The “grain” in this exhibit is thousands of plastic pellets which are typically used to manufacture plastic bottles. As part of the manufacturing process, some of these pellets fall to the factory floor, or different colors of pellets are mixed for specific jobs and cannot be reused for other projects. These pellets would typically be thrown in the trash as a waste product of manufacturing. Our grain exhibit gives these pellets, which are food-safe plastic and safe for play, a new life simulating grain.
Brain Building
Sensory Play, Communication
Body Building
Hand-Eye Coordination, Small Muscle Development (Fine Motor)
