When we visited Planet Word Museum in Washington, DC, we encountered an exhibit that engaged my daughter in learning all kinds of synonyms and antonyms. This time, she remembered the words: because she used them as paint.
Innocuous though it appeared, this little three-sided room was full of learning. Full-color interactive scenes on the wall were altered when my children dipped their paintbrushes into the meanings of the words next to the paint pots. As my children gestured across the wall, their scenes became either more verdant, surreal, or luminous. They made it into a competition to change each other’s scenes. The visual context allowed better understanding of each descriptor.
Housed in the 1869 Franklin school, the space itself is instructive. Thankfully, parking nearby is feasible, too. This is always one of my considerations when taking my children downtown.
Though it’s hard for a admission-charging museum to thrive in a city of free Smithsonians, this one is going to last. It’s been open now for almost 3 years and will certainly continue to attract visitors. We spent almost two hours enjoying the exhibits and my children asked to return soon.
