Interactive Exhibition: Children Discover the Secrets in the Soil

For years, the Zoom Children’s Museum in Vienna has had a program of very interesting and well thought-out interactive exhibitions. The current exhibition is again dedicated to a very important topic, the ground under our feet, the soil. It explains to children aged 6 to 12 how important fertile soil is for humans, who rely on it for food, and what grows in and out of the soil. Due to the enormous enthusiasm of the visitors, the exhibition was slightly adapted and extended until September 1st, 2019. Long enough to plan a visit during a vacation in Vienna.

The interactive exhibition in Zoom has fixed start times. I recommend making reservations in advance and arriving on time. Lockers are available in the lobby to store jackets and valuables and this is where you will also wait with the group for the tour to begin. After a brief introduction to the topic and an explanation of the stations and behavior rules (you can do almost everything, just do not scream and run), the children have a good hour to discover the mysterious world of the soil at the exciting stations.

Terraforming, ZOOM Kindermuseum. copyright J.J. Kucek

The Stations in the Zoom Children’s Museum

What will you learn? For example, how soil is formed, what it is made of and that there is a great deal going on in the ground beneath our feet, because one square meter of soil is bustling with more creatures than people on the entire globe. Not only moles, beetles and worms live there, but also mites, woodlice and microorganisms such as fungi, algae and bacteria. The children can zoom in on these microorganisms under the microscope in the “laboratory” and afterwards dress up as funny creatures and “dig” through a soil obstacle course.
In the exhibition they will certainly discover the superhero of humus formation, the earthworm, and have the opportunity to watch it eat.

Microscope laboratory, ZOOM Children’s museum, copyright J.J. Kucek

In the newly created ant farm, the children can observe the fascinating forest ants “live” as they go about their work above and below the ground. In various interconnected terrariums, the children can see how the busy insects work on the forest floor, collect food and building materials for the nest and how they dispose of waste.

They will also have the opportunity to dig directly into the city soil at different locations, as well as shape seed balls made of soil and seeds. In the plant nutrition game, important nutrients are pumped from the soil and air to allow the plant to produce its own food. Here the children can watch the plants as they grow and later test their skills as farmers in the multimedia agricultural game.

Costume course, ZOOM Children’s museum, copyright J.J. Kucek

To finish off, they can play a round of “plant me”, a card game especially developed for the exhibition in which the children learn how farmers produce our food.

At the end of the exhibition, all the participants come together again and those who like can share what they enjoyed most and what new things they learned. Everyone will certainly come away from the exhibition with more awareness of how important it is to handle soil carefully and sustainably.

Opening Hours & Prices for the Zoom Children’s Museum

for children from 6 to 12 years (1st – 6th grade)
Interactive exhibition on the topic of soil until September 1st, 2019

Duration 90 minutes

Children: Admission free
Adults: EUR 6.00

Starting times:
Tue, Wed.: 1:00 p.m. & 2:30 p.m.
Thu., Fri.: 2:00 p.m. & 3:30 p.m.
Sat., Sun., public holidays and during the school holidays (except Mon.): 10:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, 2:00 p.m., 4:00 p.m.
Please take note of the changed start times during the summer holidays (July/August)!

Speaking of holidays, did you know that our Hotel City Central also offers apartments? Enjoy the comforts of a hotel in an apartment where you can spend a stress-free, relaxed holiday with your children. Give it a try!

Have fun in the Zoom Children’s Museum!

All fotos copyright J.J. Kucek