Poop: Gateway to a World of Science

By C.J. Hirschfield

You know what they say about business success: “Always listen to your customers.”

At Children’s Fairyland, we’re always listening. And what do we hear our customers talking about? Poop.

"Everyone Poops," a favorite in Fairyland's Reading Room.

A Surprising Substitute

By C.J. Hirschfield

A couple of weeks ago, Fairyland’s education director and animal caretaker were all set to visit East Oakland’s Markham Elementary School as part of Science Alive!, our life-sciences outreach program, when disaster struck. Melissa Tauber, who is charged with caring for the park’s 20-plus animals, came down sick—the first sick day she’s ever taken.

What to do? We had two kindergarten classes that were expecting a very special day, and the show had to go on.

Up stepped Nick Mitchell, Fairyland’s facilities manager.

Nick Mitchell and his son, Axel.

Getting "Realia" About Kids and Science

By C.J. Hirschfield

No, that isn’t a typo in the headline. “Realia” is a real word that means “objects and material from everyday life, especially when used as teaching aids.”

Well, Fairyland has realia in spades, and we love to share it. Case in point: beginning Oct. 11, first-graders from six underserved Oakland schools and 18 classrooms will get to see, smell and touch plants as part of our “Science Alive” program, designed to get them excited about biology.