MIM's River Lab is an exciting place full of activities for Kids and their families.  Join Oci the Ocelot as she prowls around the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo.

Lab Activities at MIM

Included on this tour are related activities that you can do at home.  To check them out, just click on the links.

Do you know how we pollute water?  Car oil, fertilizers, fast foods?  Find out using the Enviroscape.

Home Activity: Pollution Solution

 

What is a NATIVE fish?  Where do we find them?  Figure it out a the Fish Tank Hunt or with the Habitat Puzzle.

Home Activity: Habitat

 

What tiny living things can you see in water? Get a BIG look at small life at the Microscope Station.

Related Activity: Micro Tools

 

Can you find a Great Horned Owl? Check out local wildlife of the Rio Grande at the Birding Station. Remember, get those binoculars out!

Related Activity: Nature View

 

Can you clean dirty water? What sorts of things would you use? Find out how at the City Filter. 

Related Activity: Filter

Kid Science - Activities for Home

Do you know how water LEAVES (hint) plants? 

Do you know why the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo does not run straight?

To find out, try these experiments.

Water and Plants

Plants need water to grow. They takes water up through its roots.  Do you know what happens afterwards. 

To find out, find a plant around your house that has big leaves, but not glossy or coated.

Take a ziploc baggie (ask permission first), and place it over a bundle of leaves. 

Then use the a rubber band or a twistie to hold the baggie at the base. 

Leave it alone for a day and make sure it has plenty of water. Check it the next day.

What happened? 

Is there anything in the bag?

Look closely.

Try it again, except with a plant without any leaves. Is there a difference? 

FOR ANSWERS: SCROLL TO BOTTOM

Wandering Rivers

Why do streams wander and not just travel straight?

To find out, take a portable flat surface and cover it with a thin layer of dirt.

Place one end a little higher than the other, so there is a slight incline. Place objects like rocks and little mountains of dirt around on your surface.

Now take a paper cup and make a hole on its side.

Place the cup at the top of the high end with the hole facing downward. 

Gently pour water into the cup.

What happens to the path of water?

Is it straight?

Now move a rock into the path of water.

When the stream moves around the rock, move another rock to block it.

What happens when you move a mound of soil in the path of water?

FOR ANSWERS: SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM

Answers:                 

1. Plants lose their water through leaves.  This process is called transpiration.

2. Water takes the path of least resistance. It finds the easiest way around an object, not through it.

Summer Hours

JUNE 6 - AUGUST 2, 1999

Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Sunday: 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

(FALL Schedule: TBA)

For special River Lab request, contact the McAllen International Museum (956) 682-1564 ext. 108 or email: