Ground Up - Science Works

A new space for little tinkerers!

Ground Up: Building Big Ideas, Together – a screen-free space where future innovators can develop foundational science, engineering and coding skills – is NOW OPEN.

Upon entry, young children and adults will encounter a space that is entirely screen-free. In a world where more and more ‘technology’ means ‘digital’, this space will allow children to build foundational skills in engineering and coding using simple machines and real materials, rather than devices or touch screens.
They’ll be greeted by a stunning 7m tall Kinetic Sculpture which introduces the concept of working machines.

By testing and tinkering, this is a space with open-ended and instruction-free experiences that encourage the development of problem-solving skills (not rote learning), emphasising that there is no one ‘right’ way of doing something.
Ground Up is divided into three broad age and activity zones, which each develop skills and provide experiences designed for targeted stages of development.

• Baby Landscape: enclosed with a rolling mount to create a safe area for babies and crawlers, it features nooks and mounds for climbing, a moving overhead light display and spinners to enable our youngest scientists to investigate how different materials move

• Tinkering Zone: for toddlers to 3 year-olds to engage in open-ended activities which encourage them to experiment and test their ideas.
  • Foundational Coding: a screen-free activity that develops skills such as cause and effect, sequencing and pattern making
  • Flight Tubes: where children can create contraptions to fly in huge wind tubes
  • Light-up Switch Wall: a wall featuring 1,376 light switches which children can turn on and off to develop deductive thinking.

• ​ Collaborative Zone: designed for 3 to 5 year-olds is an active, physical space where children use communication and social skills to solve problems and achieve goals
  • Car Wash: where children use gears to activate giant blue car wash brushes, learning that small movements can have a big effect in a large environment.
  • “The Hub”: a large climbing challenge, with an interactive ball run.
  • Build: based on the much loved exhibit from Nitty-Gritty, children can work collaboratively to build walls with foam blocks using conveyor belts, pulley-systems and wheelbarrows.

One of the reasons for the permanent exhibition Ground Up, Building Big Ideas, Together is that it's perfect for kids 0 to 5.
Specially Created to immerse children in an imaginative world of sensory discovery and construction-play and ignite engagement with Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

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OPENING HOURS
Daily 10am–4.30pm
Closed Good Friday
and Christmas Day

TICKETS
Included with museum entry
$0.00–$14.00

Scienceworks and Melbourne Planetarium
2 Booker St, Spotswood
Hours: Open daily
10am–4:30pm
(closed Good Friday and Christmas Day)
Phone:13 11 02