Kinetic Garden at Science Centre

A trip to the Science Centre almost always starts or ends with the kids lingering around the Kinetic Gardens. It is a great place to spent an hour or two exploring and enjoying the many play  and educational structures and plants while learning about science outdoors.

The Garden, which is near the entrance of Science Centre and right outside McDonald’s may be free, but it is filled with are plenty of educational structures, optical sculptures, mechanism with clear signs describing each of their functions. There are also plenty of space to run and climb.

Some are unique, one of a kind structures you will not see anywhere else in Singapore. Others are playground equipment with insights on the science behind.

Here are some of the items we really like in this fascinating garden.

Walk Your Weight

It is an interesting equipment where you can finding out your own weight by walking along the plank and balancing the metal ball.

Lift the Metal Block and Solar Fountain

Kids love trying out the ropes on this lever to experience first hand how it is easier to lift the block further from the fulcrum. The Solar Fountain pumps the water to a higher lever when there is lots of sun. Cover up the panel to see the water level go down.

Sundial and Lithophone

The sundial sure remember something to be climb for our excited kid. It is a relieve to go on to the musical potion of the garden where we can try making music with the help of the score provided.

We learned from the signs that a Lithophone is considered to be the most ancient musical instrument. “Lithos” means stone and “Phone” means sound. This lithophone comes with a music score and you can play some familiar tunes using it.

The Human Wheel

The kids love this. They can get pretty rough trying to get some space on the wheel so do watch out for the little ones.

Archimedes’ Screw

Named after the Greek inventor Archimedes, this devise direct water up its column when the top handle is turned. Our 5 year old have lots of fun turning the handle and watching the water being raised.

Water Wheel and the “Fireball”

See how the water wheel converts the energy of moving water into mechanical energy. A nice description of how the mechanism works with the note that the wheel will turn faster when water falls from a greater height makes a good learning point.

The Firewall basically spins faster or slow downs depending on whether you move your body towards or away from the central ring.

Energy Machine -Windmill

This windmill is simply too pretty.Kids love to run around and climb on it.

Signs about plants in the park

The signs about the plants are in multiple languages and very informational. Our boy got a good laugh when I told him that Frangipani’s Chinese name means “egg flower”.

Trampoline

Unlike those we usually see in a gym, this outdoor trampoline is really a large elastic rubber mat covering a shallow pit. It works extremely well. Our boy keep running back for second and third “helpings” of bouncing up and down.

Tunnels

These tunnels are fun to run through, but it’s more to it. Hidden inside are thermostat that tells us the temperature outside and inside the tunnels. Check out white, green and black tunnel to see how the colour make the temperature inside different.

Water Maze

The Water Maze like this is a frequent sight at malls. Watch the beautiful water sculptures and learn about kinetic energy. Or just have fun getting wet.

Star Gazing

Watch the night star under the dome and see the signs of the zodiac.

Where: Entrance of  Science Centre at 15 Science Centre Road Singapore 609081
$$$: Free
Hours: Daily 10 am – 6 pm.