Lab Live: Why oh Why? with OKIDO

You’re invited to…Lab Live: Why oh Why? with OKIDO

We’ve teamed up with OKIDO, the independent arts and science magazine for young children and their families, for an extra special Lab Live. Instead of one day, we’re running Lab Live over two days – so you’ve got double the chance to come and join us and OKIDO for all the tinkering and experimenting you can handle!

At Lab Live: Why oh Why?, we’ll be asking the MOST important questions, for young inventors and explorers to come up with the answers.

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What can I expect at Lab Live?

This Lab Live aims to inspire the next generation of scientists, makers and inventors by asking questions and providing hands-on activities to come up with the answers! Through posing some simple questions about everyday science, each activity will give children the chance to experiment, build, create, invent or explore different outcomes.

Each activity will use a different STEAM subject at its heart, but get children thinking about and combining lots of skills and approaches.

What can I explore:

You will be able to explore over 15 activity stations, which will generate experiments and activities using different ‘science questions’, such as:

• What is my habitat?
• What makes a city?
• What causes lift-off?
• What am I made of?
• What’s inside my body?
• Why do I fall?
• Why do I fly?
• Why do I dream?
• Why does sound travel?
• Why do I move?

What activities will there be?

We’re teaming up with a fantastic range of partners to deliver these activities, including:

• Using their WeDo kits, Lego will be investigating whether robots can clean the planet by asking you to build your own cleaning robot and code it to remove plastic from the Thames.
• Science of Sound will be exploring how sound influences your emotional experience of watching a video – then you’ll be able to make your own!
• Square Egg, an illustration collective, will be asking you to create paper creatures to fill their giant art mural composed of a variety of habitats.
• Mama Codes will be exploring and animating movement through a series of interactive coding projects, using the ScratchJr app.
• Hexbug will be helping children to discover the animal habitats and environments that are needed for survival, using Hexbug creatures. We’ll be building environments, dens, tunnels, community and play spaces, food areas and more for the Hexbugs to live in.
• BubblyMaths will be bringing maths to life with their ‘edutainment’ approach!
• Code Kids Robotics will be helping children to discover the relationship between forces and motion, using Lego models and motors.
• Arun, an aeronautical engineer, will be challenging the fundamentals of flight and demonstrating the complex phenomenon of aircraft lift.

You’ll also be able to visit our wind tunnel at the Imagination Lab, plus see our cultural residencies Anemone and Super City.

Plan your day using this map of our activities.

What is STEAM?

The event is all about STEAM and how combining STEAM subjects can help children to use and stretch their imaginations for creative and inventive outcomes.

Science – play with experiments and reactions

Technology – get hands-on with technology like coding and electronics

Engineering – design and build, think about movement and mechanics

Arts – get creative and mix up materials, movement, sounds and crafts

Maths – numbers can be fun! Find out how to use simple maths in creative thinking

When is Lab Live?

Lab Live: Why oh Why takes place on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 September. There are morning (10:00am-1:00pm), afternoon (2-5:00pm) and all day tickets available on each day. You can attend on either day, the same (or very similar) activities will run on both days.

There will be an hour break between 1-2:00pm between the morning and afternoon sessions. Those with morning only tickets are welcome to stay for lunch, but will need to leave the Lab by 2:00pm. Those with afternoon tickets are welcome to arrive at 1:00pm for lunch, but activities will not begin until 2:00pm.

Who is Lab Live for and how much does it cost?

This event is ideal for children aged between 3-10 years old and their families, friends and carers. Please note, all children must be accompanied by an adult.

Children under 3 are welcome to attend and you need to register them for an ‘under 3’ ticket, which is free of charge. Please note, activities are aimed at children 3+ so there will be limited activities for very young children to take part in.

Tickets cost £7 for a half day and £12 for a full day. All activities can be enjoyed as part of the ticket price, but some stalls and activities include an enhanced or take-home option, which is paid.

Our allocation of free tickets for Lambeth residents is now sold out. Sign up here to be the first to hear about future events at the Imagination Lab.

Do you take cash or card?

We prefer payments by card for food, drinks and at the Imagination Store and the OKIDO Store. We are able to take cash, but have limited change available.

Is there food and drink at Lab Live?

There will be hot drinks available to purchase throughout the day and a lunch break between 1-2:00pm, where a street market vendor will be on site selling food. Those with morning only tickets are welcome to stay for lunch, but will need to leave the Lab by 2:00pm. Those with afternoon tickets are welcome to arrive at 1:00pm for lunch, but activities will not begin until 2:00pm. As always, we welcome you to bring your own food, which can be eaten in the Lab.

Can’t see the information you need here? Take a look at our frequently asked questions.

About OKIDO

OKIDO’s mission is to create the next generation of scientists. That’s why they put STEAM learning at the heart of everything they do, combining art and science to ignite curiosity and creativity in young children. OKIDO is also the creator of hit adventure-comedy Messy Goes to OKIDO on Cbeebies.

OKIDO Magazine is an independent arts and science magazine for young children and their families. It was started by parents on a kitchen table in Brixton in 2007, designed to fire up imagination and understanding of art and science. Founders, scientist Dr Sophie Dauvois (PhD BSc PG Dip.) and artist Rachel Ortas are passionate about engaging young kids in the scientific world around them through play, art and fun.

OKIDO magazine’s content is heavily focused around child development. Play is crucial to how children develop and learn about the world around them and OKIDO encourages this through thoughtful ‘hidden-learning’ and ‘learning-through-play’ strategies. OKIDO has activities for all stages of development to support a child’s education. All our activities are generated by scientists, reinforced by educators and closely aligned with EYFS and KS1, OKIDO’s topics introduce children to the wonder of science whilst also supporting literacy and numeracy. Find out more about OKIDO.

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