Shell out at Exploris this Spring
27th January 2006

From March 17th 2006 to Mid November2006, by popular demand, ON THE BEACH – UNDER THE SEA will be coming to take pride of place in the exhibition hall at Exploris – the Northern Ireland Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary. This exhibition, designed especially for children under ten, lets little ones discover the magical world hidden in and around the seashore. Through playful and imaginative games and activities, the exhibition stimulates children’s curiosity about the world around them.

The exhibition created uniquely for children of this age group, ON THE BEACH – UNDER THE SEA strikes a balance between independent activities and the chance for children to play and learn on their own, in groups or with their adult carers.

Taking the familiar environment of the beach as a starting point, the exhibition leads children on a journey of discovery to the depths of the sea. After a story-telling session in a beach hut, they move inside a big shell, through a camouflage tunnel and into an underwater cave, complete with its own sea creature costumes and watery sound and light effects. As they move through each stage, they continually encounter a wide range of new textures, surfaces and sounds.

From story telling, to role-play, dressing up and tactile play, children can develop their play and learning skills in a variety of different ways. With activities to stimulate the senses, the exhibits are intuitive, created to appeal specifically to the minds of early years and key stage 1 users.

A specially written and illustrated storybook, telling the tale of a hermit crab looking for a new home, lets carers lead children into a magical world of life beneath the sea while they play an interactive role in the learning process.

Like the hermit crab's tale, each area of the exhibit reinforces the importance of the role of the adult in encouraging the child to play and use the equipment to its full potential. Whether collecting and identifying sea shells, dressing in sea creature costumes to mimic movement, playing in the big shell, or taking up a camouflage challenge, the exhibits actively encourage adults to join in the fun.
        
Rory Martin – Exploris' Events and Marketing Officer said, 'Creating an exhibition for this age group is a real challenge as children's abilities and what they enjoy changes so much in their first six years. ON THE BEACH – UNDER THE SEA is a fantastic exhibition that really achieves this; it is fun, safe and intuitive while appealing to different types of children right across the age range. It's appearance at Exploris is set to be very popular!'

On The Beach Under The Sea has been extended (due to its popularity) to run until mid November.

ON THE BEACH – UNDER THE SEA is designed by At-Bristol’s in-house team and supported by the Clore Duffield Foundation. It covers 100 sq metres.

For more information please contact Rory Martin or Howard Scott at Exploris.
Tel: 028 42 72 8062, fax: 028 42 72 8396 or email info@exploris.org.uk

Note to Editors:
1. Exploris is a fully accessible Ards Borough Council tourism facility.
2. Children under four go free!

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