Curious George: Let's Get Curious! - A 2,500 square foot traveling exhibit from
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Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!
A 2,500 square foot traveling exhibit from
Curious George television series merchandise © Universal Studios. Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and
trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. All rights reserved.
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Overview 2-22 Exhibit Walkthrough 23 Design Framework 24 Goals and Messages 25 Audience 26 Cast of Characters 27-28 Curriculum Connections and Programs
OVERVIEW
More Fun Than a Barrel of…
Letting curiosity and inquiry be their guides, children explore familiar buildings and locales
from the Curious George book series and television series on PBS KIDS® in Curious George:
Let’s Get Curious! The exhibit presents key concepts in science, math, and engineering,
which are woven and layered throughout the exhibit. Activities invite children to learn like
George—through direct experience and problem solving!
Upon entry to the exhibit, visitors find themselves on an urban street and are transported to
the neighborhood in which Curious George lives with his friend, The Man with the Yellow
Hat. Children find themselves surrounded by familiar places and faces, while encountering
new challenges, materials, and ideas. The show’s supporting characters appear throughout
the exhibit, helping to provide context, deliver parent and take-home messages, and
inject humor.
Developed by
Minnesota Children’s Museum and Universal Studios Consumer Products Group
Size Primary Target Audience Exhibit Text Languages
2,500 square feet Ages 3-7, families and groups English and Spanish
Support
Development Resources, Evaluation Reports, Site Support Manual (programming activities,
marketing kit, maintenance and installation guides), Curious George indoor inflatable, and
Curious George costume character.
1
EXHIBIT WALKTHROUGH
Exhibit Entry
Visitor Experience
Immediately upon entering the exhibit, visitors find themselves standing on an urban street
lined with buildings. Here they are met by George who—with a buoyant bunch of balloons
in hand—is clinging by foot to the top of a traffic light. Visitors walk past this façade as they
enter the exhibit.
Street Facade
A three-dimensional structure suggests an urban street scene. A traffic light on the corner
features George in that famous pose, clinging to a bunch of balloons that threaten to carry
him away. A billboard above the buildings welcomes visitors to the exhibit, and a window
below presents additional graphics and credit information. A series of windows on an
adjacent building can be opened to reveal images of the show’s main characters and a bit
about their roles and personalities:
• Curious George
• The Man with the Yellow Hat
• Hundley
• Compass
• Charkie
• Gnocchi
• Jumpy Squirrel
• Neighbors, including the Doorman, the
Pisghettis, Professor Wiseman, Betsy and
Steve, the Donuts, Bill, and the Renkins
• The Fire Department
• A mirror—each visitor is included as one
of George’s friends
Elements
• Façade, Billboard and credits, Character
windows
Objectives
• To convey to visitors the exhibit title, licensing, funding, and sponsorship credits
• To provide visitors with a transitional experience that marks entry into the exhibit
• To introduce visitors to and reinforce the characters who are part of George’s world
and appear throughout the exhibit.
2
Apartment Building
This Monkey Does Windows
This area presents an iconic apartment building that visitors will recognize from both the
books and the show. Children can maneuver George up, down, and across the exterior
windows, and explore light, shadow, color, and shape inside the building.
Visitor Experience
Visitors encounter George swinging from the
top of the building, hard at work cleaning
all those windows! Children can operate
two wheels to move George on pulleys from
window to window. A fire escape zigzags
down one side of the building. Children can
climb up the lowest level of the escape and
enter the building through an open window.
Inside the apartment, children can manipulate
objects and explore the properties of light,
shadow, color, and shape to create dynamic
displays in the building’s windows. A video
monitor features a short clip from the Curious
George television series of children playing with shadows. Visitors can also walk through the
front entry into the small apartment lobby, where the tenants’ mailboxes serve as “curiosity
boxes,” each one opening to reveal a different effect, game, or mechanical toy. Here visitors
can take brochures illustrating
Curious George math, science, and
engineering activities to continue
the learning and fun at home.
3
Monkeying Around
George, with a squeegee in hand, hangs from the building exterior by a harness. At a console
below, children turn two steering wheels to manipulate pulleys that move George up and
down and left to right. There are 12 windows framed in 6 color pairs, allowing visitors to
help describe George’s movements (“Can you get Curious George to the blue window on
the left?”). Each window has a backlit silhouette of a different animal that George “saw” in
the apartment windows in the book and on an episode of the television series. The windows
are dark until George is maneuvered past each, at which point the light goes on and the
silhouette appears. The goal is to light up all the windows, and the activity challenges fine
motor skills as children use simple machines to accomplish the task. The activity will time
out and reset after not being used for a set amount of time. The cables, gears, and other
machinery that move George are visible behind clear Plexiglas.
A fire escape is painted on the side of the
building. As it nears the bottom, it becomes a
three-dimensional element. Children can climb
the lowest set of stairs to a small landing and
enter the building through an open window.
The building is also open on one side.
Elements
• Moveable George
• Backlit windows
• Control console
• Fire escape
Objectives
• For visitors to use visual discrimination/
observation skills
• For visitors to use motor skills
• For visitors to use simple machines to
get work done
• For visitors to use problem-solving
skills
• For visitors to use names of colors
• For visitors to use positional words (above, below, left, right, etc.)
4
Shadow Shapes
Inside the apartment, two lights shine onto one of the building’s windows, which is covered
with a translucent screen. A variety of 3D shapes—some opaque and some translucent—can
be placed on a platform in front of the lights so their shadows are cast onto the window.
Visitors can spin and move the
platform forward and backward,
and swivel the lights left to right
to see how the movement changes
the size and shape of the shadows.
A wheel of different colored gels in
front of the lights can also be turned
to change the colors of the shadows.
From outside the building, visitors
see shadows moving in the window
when the activity is in use.
A video monitor is located on the wall near this activity. Visitors can press a “START” button
to view a short clip from the Curious George television series of children casting shadows on
a sheet hung outside on a sunny day.
Elements
• Window/screen
• Moveable platform
• Moveable lights
• Video Monitor
Objectives
• For visitors to explore light, shadows, color, and shapes
• For visitors to explore the properties of three-dimensional shapes and the shadows
they create
• To encourage visitors’ creative expression
5
Stained Glass Window
A light table projects onto two other apartment building windows above the fire escape
entrance. Translucent pattern blocks—in six different shapes and colors—can be used to
create a pattern on top of the light table. This image is projected onto the windows so the
colorful pattern can be seen from inside and outside the apartment building.
Elements
• Light table
• Projector
• Windows/screens
Objectives
• For visitors to explore light,
color, shapes, and patterns
• To encourage visitors’ creative
expression.
Hand Shadows
A light shines onto another apartment window. Graphics encourage children to make hand
shadows and create a shadow play. Banana curtains hang on the window, helping to give it a
stage-like presence, and a wheel of different colored gels in front of the light can be turned
so children can change the color of their shadows. Visitors can watch the shadow play from
inside and outside the apartment building.
Elements
• Light
• Color gel wheel
• Window/screen
Objectives
• For visitors to explore light, shadow, and color
• For visitors to engage in creative expression
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play
6
Lobby
Stepping into the tiny apartment lobby, visitors encounter the tenants’ mailboxes and the
elevator. The mailboxes serve as “curiosity boxes,” with each one opening to reveal fun math,
science, engineering, or Curious George related activities, such as:
• a mechanical toy visitors can operate by
turning a crank—such as George swinging on
something
• a yellow hat graphic on a mirror, so visitors
appear to be wearing the hat when they look
into the mirror
• an observation and memory challenge
featuring a collection of objects. Visitors look
closely at all the objects in the box and then
close the door and try to name everything they saw.
The elevator sits at the enclosed end of the lobby. A graphic
asks, “Who’s in the elevator? Press the button and count down
to see! 10…9…8…” When the elevator button is pressed,
lights along the floor indicator arrow begin slowly going
down from the 10th floor to the 1st floor. When it reaches
the 1st floor, a “Bing!” sound is heard. When a visitor slides
the elevator door open, they see George and the entire Fire
Department all crowded into the elevator together.
A doorman costume hangs near the entrance to the lobby,
so visitors can play the role of the doorman. Take-home
brochures with exhibit-related activities and other resources
for use at home are also provided in a rack here.
Elements
• Curiosity boxes, Elevator, Brochure rack
Objectives
• To encourage visitors’ curiosity, observation, and
memory skills
• To provide visitors with a counting experience
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play in an
immersive environment
• For visitors to receive brochures encouraging further
math, science, engineering, and Curious George
related activities at home
7
Sidewalk Produce Stand
Fruit is Sweet, and Math is Too
This area is based on the sidewalk
produce stand outside the grocery
store on the television series. It
features math content: sorting by
multiple attributes; weighing; and
recognizing shapes.
Visitor Experience
A charming sidewalk produce stand
beneath an awning in front of
the grocery store is loaded with a
mouth-watering display of colorful
fruits and vegetables in wooden crates. A barrel with holes through which children can sort
produce sits at one end of the display, and a table with a cash box and a hanging scale is
located at the other end. Visitors play the roles of customer or salesperson, and explore shape,
sorting, weighing, and counting with fruit and vegetable props. A video monitor features a
short clip from the Curious George television series of children sorting materials.
Produce Sorting and Displaying
The produce stand sits on the sidewalk in front of a 3D façade of a grocery store. A variety
of play fruits and vegetables sit in one large barrel. Children can sort the produce into four
display bins, each containing dividers that create 6 slots for the produce to sit in (each large
enough to hold the largest prop). Children can play at working at the stand, stacking and
displaying the fruit and vegetables in the bins and selling it to customers.
A shelf runs along the front of the display bins. A graphic on the shelf prompts visitors to use
three spinners to sort the produce into the bins. One spinner has numerals on it, representing
how many items of produce to use. A second spinner has colors and shapes on it, representing
which types of produce to use (for example, all the red produce, or all the round produce).
A third spinner has an illustration of one, two, three, or four bins on it, representing the
number of bins to sort the produce into. Different combinations present different challenges,
and the graphic follows up by asking if all combinations are possible (for instance, you cannot
put one piece of produce in four bins) and if there are other ways to display the fruit or
vegetables to get the same result.
8A small barrel sits near the display. The top of the barrel has one round, one triangular, and
one oblong hole in it, through which young children can sort the produce. The front of the
barrel is open at the bottom and the props can be pulled from it to be used in the exhibit.
Elements
• Large barrel
• Bins
• Spinners
• Sorting barrel
Objectives
• For visitors to gain experience
with one-to-one correspondence
• For visitors to use fine motor skills
• For visitors to sort objects according to shape and color
• For visitors to use names of colors, shapes, and other descriptive vocabulary
• To encourage visitors’ flexible thinking
Produce Weighing and Sales
A table with a cash box and a hanging scale suspended from its end is located near the door
in the grocery store façade. Children can weigh produce to buy or sell to their customers.
Graphics encourage children to see how many total pieces of fruits and vegetables, or how
many different types of fruits and vegetables they can get in a pound. A simple cash box
and play money can be used to buy and sell produce, and an apron is provided for the
“shopkeeper” to wear.
A video monitor is located in the grocery store door. Visitors can press a “START” button to
view a short clip from the Curious George television series of children sorting materials at
Boston Children’s Museum’s Recycle Shop.
Elements
• Scale
• Cash box
• Video monitor
Objectives
• For visitors to weigh objects
• For visitors to count objects
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play
in an immersive environment
9Construction Site
Building Small and Building Tall
This area provides materials for designing and building structures, and tools for moving
materials. It features design, engineering, and building; simple machines; and measurement.
Visitor Experience
Visitors encounter a construction zone in the middle of George’s neighborhood. Oodles of
materials invite children to design and build structures, from small to tall, 2D to 3D. In this
bustling area children work together
to move materials using conveyer belts,
pulleys, and levers. The area provides
specific building challenges for children,
but also allows for and encourages free
building. The youngest children may
enjoy simply handling the blocks, while
older children experiment with selecting
the best blocks to complete specific
structures.
Construction Trailer
A construction trailer sits alongside the construction site. Inside, examples of architectural
drawings that utilize shapes found in the building materials outside are “tacked up” to the
wall. A light table is covered with a grid, and paper and pencils are provided for drawing and
designing a building. Tools are provided to help children with their designs, including two
triangles, a drawing template with standard shapes, and a ruler—with inches on one side and
bananas on the other. Once finished, children can bring their designs out to the construction
site to try building them or simply take them home. Hard hats and construction vests are
stored in the trailer for children to get ready for the job, and children can pretend to punch
in for work at a time clock with an old-fashioned “punch” sound!
Elements
• Architectural drawing examples
• Light table with grid
Objectives
• For visitors to explore engineering: design
• For visitors to explore spatial relationships
• For visitors to use standard and non-standard units of measure
• For visitors to explore the properties of two-dimensional shapes
10Building Site
Out on the construction site, large blocks of dense foam in various shapes are stored in a
bin. The floor is covered in a “graph paper” grid. Dimensions are noted on the floor, with
inches running one direction, and bananas running the other. Using the blocks, children can
build the structure they designed in the trailer, or any other structure, using the graph paper
surface in considering the footprint of their building.
Around the perimeter of the site, a building is under construction, and the “steel” girders are
visible. Using these girders as framework for more focused building challenges, children can
build an arch between two of the girders (against the wall or freestanding), or finish a wall
between two other girders, leaving space for a window. Graphics are “ghosted” onto the wall
behind these workspaces to invite visitors to try the activities, and provide the clues adults
may need to help children build.
Elements
• Construction space with “graph paper” floor
• Arch and wall/window building between girders
Objectives
• For visitors to explore engineering: material selection and construction
• For visitors to explore spatial relationships
• For visitors to use standard and non-standard units of measure
• For visitors to explore the properties of three-dimensional shapes
11Moving Materials
Cube shaped blocks can be loaded through a square-shaped hole into a conveyer system
built into the girders of the construction site. The system of conveyers, pulleys, and levers can
be used to move building blocks up and around part of the perimeter of the construction
site workspace. Situated high above the site, it creates a strong visual impact from several
viewpoints throughout the exhibit gallery. Visitors can interact with the system at several
points, moving a conveyer belt, lifting a pulley, and switching a lever. The system works best
when visitors work together, so this activity inherently encourages cooperation and interaction
between visitors. The modular design of the space allows multiple children to work together
at once to keep supplies moving. The workings of the machines are visible through clear
Plexiglas.
Elements
• Conveyer belt
• Pulley
• Lever
Objectives
• For visitors to use simple machines (inclined plane, wheel & axle, pulley, lever)
• For visitors to engage in cooperative play
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play in an immersive environment
12Park
A Place to Park
This area features a quiet space especially for the youngest visitors, and seating for adults.
Visitor Experience
Based on a city pocket park, this central
“green space” complements and contrasts
with the urban surround. A quieter space,
it welcomes infants, toddlers, and adults,
providing a spot for tired adults to rest, and
special activities for the youngest visitors.
A full-size George is here, too, and he will
doubtless receive millions of hugs and show
up in thousands of pictures during the run of
the exhibit.
Toddler Activities
Situated in a grassy area, a tree and curved, concrete-look benches create a semi-enclosed
infant and toddler activity area where they can creep, cruise, and crawl at their own pace.
The inside walls of two of the benches are home to several textures, sounds, and cause-and-
effect interactives. These benches provide seating for adults and help define the infant and
toddler space. A hollow cavity in the base of the tree is nestled between its roots, creating a
third activity station where toddlers can snuggle in and discover who lives in the tree. A plush
squirrel lives here, and a plush woodpecker family lives higher up in the branches (though still
within an older child’s or adult’s reach).
Elements
• Bench activities
• Tree activities
Objectives
• For visitors to have a comfortable and central place to sit
• For infants and toddlers to have a safe place to play and explore at their own pace
• For visitors to experiment with cause and effect
• For visitors to use motor skills
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play
13Huggable George
A life-sized, sculptural George is perched upon one of the benches—facing outside the toddler
enclosure—making him just the right height for countless hugs and a plethora of pictures!
Elements
• Sculptural George seated on bench
Objectives
• For children to have an opportunity to hug George
• For visitors to have a photo opportunity
14Mini Golf
A Place to Putt
This area features three miniature golf holes with obstacles children can manipulate to vary
the course.
Visitor Experience
Visitors putt their way through three miniature
golf holes, experimenting with physics,
engineering, and math in the process.
A Course in Physics
Three miniature golf holes meander near
the park. One hole has a shallow gap in the
course—a “water” hazard—that requires
players to build a way across. Like George and
Betsy in one of the television series episodes,
visitors use pipes, ramps, and funnels to get
their ball to the hole. Another hole challenges
children to putt across two spinning discs that
are operated by turning two hand cranks,
affecting the trajectory of the ball and
requiring players to predict where the ball
will end up. A third hole has a dogleg and is
tilted. Children set up bumpers to bank their
shot just right to make the turn and get the
ball into the hole.
Elements
• Three golf holes
Objectives
• For visitors to explore physics and engineering
• For visitors to use problem-solving skills
• For visitors to take risks and try new things in
a safe environment
• For visitors to use motor skills
• For visitors to count golf strokes
• For visitors to interact with each other in
a non-competitive game setting
15Rocket
Into Space
For Curious George fans, the exhibit wouldn’t be complete without the famous rocket in
which George went on his space adventure! The structure provides a place for gross motor
activity and a chance to go into space!
Visitor Experience
As visitors climb up the rocket, they can peek into
portholes to look at their families below and view
scenes from space. Through a porthole near the top,
they’ll catch a glimpse of George floating in space in
his space suit! Here a camera captures a photo of their
face in the porthole. The way back down to earth is
via a slide, and at a control station below, visitors can
capture their photo to email home.
Rocket
A three-dimensional rocket sits atop a low platform.
The rocket appears enclosed from the front, but feels
and appears more open at the back through the use
of grillwork. Portholes are located throughout the
rocket, further adding to an open feel.
Children climb up the inside of the rocket on steps to reach the top. Along the way they can
peek into portholes, some of which have scenes of stars, planets, and constellations, and
others that look out on the exhibit below. At the top they look through a porthole to see
George on the other side, floating in space in his suit and helmet! A digital camera is trained
on this scene at the top of the rocket and it captures each child’s photo as they peek out the
porthole. This photo is saved for a short time on a monitor below at the control station, and
visitors can email it home.
Elements
• Rocket
• Portholes and graphics
• Digital camera
• Slide
16Objectives
• For visitors to experience a gross motor activity
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play in an immersive environment
Control Station
Located next to the platform, the control station features a monitor
that archives digital photos of children in the rocket for a short time.
The photos are formatted with a Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!
graphic, and can include the hosting museum’s logo, as well. Visitors
can send this photo to an email address of their choice.
Elements
• Monitor
• Keyboard/console
Objectives
• For visitors to send home a photo of their experience
in the rocket
17Farm
Down on the Farm
Visitors can take a trip to the country and one of George’s favorite places: the farm! This area
features wind and engineering activities in a barnyard and a walk-in barn.
Visitor Experience
Visitors travel from George’s neighborhood in the city to the Renkins’ farm in the country.
Like George’s experience with the kite, children experience the power of wind and cause and
effect as they use wind to move a collection of windmills, whirligigs, windsocks, and wind
chimes. Using Tinker Toys and other materials, they can build their own whirligigs and see
how they move once put together. Children can also create a paper pinwheel or windsock
to take home. Plush farm animals in pens are located just outside the barn for children to
care for and cuddle. A video monitor features a short clip from the Curious George television
series of children making wind chimes.
Whirling, Twirling, Whirligigs
A collection of wind-powered yard ornaments stands inside a
fenced-in farmyard along the outside of the barn. Two blowers
can be pointed at the various objects from a distance, causing
them to move. A windmill stands as the tallest whirligig.
Elements
• Farmhouse barnyard
• Yard ornaments and
whirligigs to move with air
• Blowers
Objectives
• For visitors to see how wind
can make things move
• For visitors to experiment
with cause and effect
• For visitors to use motor skills
18Barn Workshop
Inside the barn, a build-your-own-whirligig station
sits in the center of the room. The long workstation
provides bins full of Tinker Toys and custom-made
parts, including rods, connectors, and various blades
to put together so visitors can design and build a
whirligig. With two moveable fans positioned at
one end of the worktable, builders can test their
whirligigs, make modifications, and re-test them. A few simpler parts, like bananas or other
George-related objects that simply fit on a spool and spin are also provided for younger
children. At another station, children can create a simple paper pinwheel or windsock to take
home.
Just outside the barn, children find
a bunny hutch with snuggly, plush
bunnies, a chicken coop with a soft
chicken, and a pigpen with delightful,
pink pigs. The closure for each animal
pen works in a different way, so children
can figure out how to open and close
each one as they move the animals in
and out of their respective homes, and
cuddle and care for them.
A video monitor is located on the interior of the barn door wall. Visitors can press a “START”
button to view a short clip from the Curious George television series of children making wind
chimes out of common house-hold items.
Elements
• Build-your-own-whirligig station
• Make-and-take-home activity station
• Bunny hutch
• Chicken coop
• Pig pen
Objectives
• For visitors to engineer and build a moving machine
• For visitors to use fine motor skills
• For visitors to use simple and compound machines
• To encourage visitors’ flexible thinking
• For visitors to participate in dramatic play in an immersive environment
19Retrospective
The Museum in the Museum
George loves to learn about new things at the museum; visitors will love to learn new things
about George in this museum! This area features a retrospective of H.A. and Margret Rey’s
work; the story of their escape from France to safety during WWII, which saved the Curious
George manuscript; and Curious George through the years.
Visitor Experience
Visitors step into a museum within the
exhibit as they walk through the entrance
to the retrospective. Taking its cue from
the books and the show on PBS KIDS®, the
retrospective is housed in a museum that
has the feel of a traditional natural history
or science museum.
Inside, the history of the Reys and their creative work is told through interactive displays of
text and images, photos of H.A. and Margret, images of memorabilia, sketches and dummy
pages, and other artworks. The story of Curious George’s creation makes connections between
the authors’ interests and lives and the now famous characters and storylines. The story of
the Reys’ wartime escape from France is told through an interactive scene from Paris and
a map, on which visitors follow their route to safety, highlighting some of the key places
and events along their way. A display of vintage and current Curious George merchandise
through the years sparks childhood memories of adults’ beloved books and toys. The display
creates a bridge from the classic George that most adults knew as children to the new George
today’s children know through the television series on PBS KIDS®.
The Reys and their Work
The green desk in the Man with the Yellow Hat’s home—which appears a number of times
in the Curious George books—is recreated as a full-sized, three-dimensional desk. Images of
artwork by the Reys surround the area, a black rotary-dial phone sits atop the desk, photos
and other images are presented in frames and mounted on the desk and in the drawers,
and the story of the Reys, their interests, their artwork, and the creation of Curious George
is presented in small, digestible text blocks. A velvet stanchion rope that surrounded the
display seems to have been disconnected, and George can be seen hanging from the ceiling
with the end of the rope dangling from his hand. A “Please Do Not Touch” sign has been
knocked over. Thus, the visitor is invited in to explore what looks like a traditional, “hands-
off” exhibit in a hands-on way.
20Elements
• Succinct biographical text and supporting graphics and photos
• A book cover to open to learn how Curious George was inspired and created
• Other Rey book covers on bookshelf
• Rotary phone with audio of Margret explaining how they created George
Objectives
• For visitors to learn about the lives and creative work of H.A. and Margret Rey
• For visitors to hear the story of the creation and growth of Curious George
• To elicit visitors’ emotional connection with Curious George, creating a bridge from
the books and television show to their experience in the exhibit
The Journey That Saved George
A bicycle is partially painted and partially dimensionalized into a representation of a Parisian
street scene. One of the bicycle tires spins and is solid except for one wedge between the
spokes. As the wheel is turned, this wedge reveals text, graphics, and photos. A 3D basket is
mounted to the back of the bike and opens to reveal an important manuscript that the Reys
brought with them: The Adventures of Fifi. A working bell is mounted to the handlebars. Next
to the bike, an interactive map allows visitors to follow the route of the Reys’ escape—from
Paris to Spain, Portugal to Rio, and on to New York—highlighting some of the main places
and events in their story with graphics and possibly audio effects.
Elements
• Bicycle with one 3D spinning wheel
• 3D bicycle basket
• Working bicycle bell
• Interactive map
Objectives
• For visitors to hear the
story of the Reys’
wartime escape and
how it saved Curious
George
• For visitors to hear the
story of the creation
and growth of Curious
George
21Decades of George
Playing on the theme of a traditional natural history museum, this collection of classic and
new Curious George books and toys is dramatically displayed in vitrines, a bit tongue-in-
cheek. Retro-looking labels explain the displays.
Elements
• Images of toys, clothing, plush, games, and the like from the 50s and on
• Objects: a few vintage and current Curious George toys, games, and books; PBS
television series and movie promotional materials; a few other objects that are “Other
Monkeys, not George” (such as sock monkeys, a barrel of monkeys, etc.)
Objectives
• To elicit visitors’ emotional connection with Curious George, creating a bridge from
the books and television show to their experience in the exhibit
• For visitors to identify with the exhibit through objects and images that spark their
childhood memories
Benches and Books
Three painted benches are located throughout the exhibit, each with pockets attached to
the sides to hold books—including the original Curious George books and a number of other
content-related books.
Elements
• Books, benches
Objectives
• For visitors to have a comfortable
space to rest and read together
22DESIGN FRAMEWORK
Exhibit design adheres to the following framework:
• Target an audience of children ages 3 through 7 years
• Encourage and accommodate family learning
• Support multiple entry points and varied learning styles
• Accommodate users with varied physical and cognitive abilities
• Will not discriminate against users based on gender, race, ethnicity, cultural
background, or physical abilities, and will not reinforce stereotypes
• Present objects and interactive devices in meaningful contexts
• Function effectively with minimal facilitation by staff or volunteers
• Support the developmental and ergonomic needs of the target audience
• Not exceed 2,500 square feet in floor plan and allow for low ceiling height of 9 feet
• Structures and components to be free-standing, adaptable to layout in a variety of
space configurations, and presentable on all sides
• Use scenic backdrops to enhance environments and increase flexibility
of exhibit layout
• Allow for the free flow of visitors in and out of the space
• Be of solid and durable construction to withstand 4+ years of travel to 10 venues
• Be easily installed by four people and require no preparatory
• Present instructional and explanatory text in both English and Spanish
23GOALS AND MESSAGES
Exhibit Goals
• Create an immersive environment based on the Curious George books and television
series on PBS KIDS® that sparks children’s innate curiosity about the world
• Provide fun, meaningful science, math, and engineering experiences that allow
children to use inquiry skills and broaden critical thinking skills for investigating the
world, solving problems, and making decisions
• Provide experiences that encourage conversations about science, math, and
engineering concepts
• Make children’s science, math, and engineering learning visible to parents
and caregivers
• Emphasize the critical role that parents and caregivers play in children’s
science, math, and engineering learning
Take-Home Messages
• Young children are naturally inclined to experiment with
science, math, and engineering. It’s what they do!
• Young children’s exploration with materials leads to science,
math, and engineering learning.
• Like George, children are curious, and solve problems and learn by doing.
• Activities that families already do at home incorporate science,
math, and engineering learning.
• Families can do more science, math, and engineering at home!
24AUDIENCE
Curious George: Let’s Get Curious! is targeted to children ages three to seven years old and
their caregivers including school groups. The activities throughout the exhibit maintain
enough flexibility to accommodate both individual and group interactions. Activities are
designed to offer safe and inviting experiences for the youngest visitors while offering
challenges for older children. Adult caregivers are addressed specifically through text and
graphics, which highlight the exhibit’s educational messages take-home messages.
25CAST OF CHARACTERS
Curious George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and recurring supporting characters from the
television series on PBS KIDS® appear throughout the exhibit, providing context, humor, and
delivery of parent/caregiver and take-home messages.
George appears in each main exhibit area, in addition to appearing at the exhibit entry and
in the park. In some cases, visitors play alongside George, helping him accomplish a task or
figure something out. This provides context for the activities and invites visitors into a story,
helping to define their role. In other cases, George appears in places where only George
could “hang out,” highlighting one of the things we love about George—he’s a monkey,
and he does things kids can’t do! Hundley, Compass, Gnocchi, and other animal characters
that don’t speak appear throughout the exhibit, interacting with George and/or situations,
providing context and humor.
Messages directed toward adults about children’s learning are delivered through a
combination of graphics and video. Each main exhibit area includes two of these messaging
graphics: one using the Man with the Yellow Hat, who calls attention to the foundational
science, math, and engineering learning or inquiry occurring through children’s play; and
another that shows an adult and child doing a common, complementary activity at home. In
a few areas, a flat screen monitor features a short clip of children exploring related science,
math, or engineering content. These clips are from the interstitials that run after the Curious
George episodes on PBS KIDS®. They further reinforce related activities children and families
can explore at home to extend the exhibit experience.
26CIRRICULUM CONNECTIONS AND PROGRAMS
The exhibit draws on and supports national science and math standards for young
children: the National Science Education Standards, K – 4; the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Principles and Standards for School Mathematics,
Pre-K –2; and Project 2061’s Benchmarks for Science Literacy, K –2.
Minnesota Children’s Museum develops programs that extend the exhibit experience.
These programs range from public programs for general visitors, to school programs
for visiting school and daycare groups, and educator workshops to train teachers in
related content, earning them in-service credits. Programs for Curious George: Let’s Get
Curious! includes, but are not limited to:
A Gallery Guide for general visitors orients them to the components of the exhibit and provides
ideas for interacting with those components.
A Take-home Piece includes a highly appealing graphic of Curious George, with a book list and
math, science, and engineering activities to do at home.
Gallery Programs are led by museum staff or volunteers to enhance and extend the math,
science, and engineering concepts in the exhibit. The Gallery Programs Trunk contains activities,
materials, and books to support those gallery programs.
Visitors drop in at the Exploration Station (a space outside the exhibit gallery) to participate in
facilitated, hands-on activities and create a take-home project.
Adults and children sign up for special Adult/Child Classes to explore math, science, and
engineering ideas together using different media and learning styles.
Museum-wide, publicized Special Events promote math, science, and engineering and draw
visitors to the exhibit, such as having the Curious George costume character at Story Time, a
Member Sneak Preview of the exhibit, or an Inventors’ Workshop Day.
27An early childhood math, science, and engineering (building) Summer Camp was developed
for hosting museums, who can modify it to meet their needs.
Educators bringing their classes to the exhibit will receive a Curriculum Guide focused on
exhibit concepts, a Gallery Guide, pre- and post-visit activities, and a book list.
Museum Classes are one-hour, instructor-led classes offered to school groups visiting the
Museum. These inquiry-based classes support national science and math standards.
Early Childhood Educator Workshops are three-hour workshops for educators that provide
them with ideas for science, math, and engineering (building) classroom activities and an
opportunity to explore the exhibit, earning them in-service credits.
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