This February half term (15–23 February 2020), the National Science and Media Museum will be exploring the world of CBBC’s online games.
Visitors can discover how their most loved CBBC characters come to life in online games, including fan favourites Danger Mouse, The Worst Witch, Operation Ouch! and The Dumping Ground. A play zone will be open daily with opportunities to have a go at popular CBBC games, alongside new additions, and the CBBC Own It team will be on hand showing cool tips and tricks to help youngsters boss their online life.
There will also be a chance for families to show off their coding skills in the A-maze-ing Code activity. In these hands-on sessions kids can make a LEGO maze and use their coding knowhow to work their way through it, before challenging their grown-ups to test it. They can also try their hand at designing and drawing their own game in the No Code Needed sessions.
For aspiring games designers there are also exciting game design workshops on Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 February 2020. Using Scratch programming, attendees will learn how to create a basic game with experts from the world of videogaming. These workshops can be booked via the museum website or on the day.
Visitors can also see the CBeebies Playtime Island set up close before the brand-new online version launches and the littlest games fans can explore CBeebies apps, games and stories full of their favourite characters.
Throughout the week visitors can pick up a free museum family trail, with fun puzzles, facts and challenges for all the family to enjoy.
The museum’s popular interactive gallery, Wonderlab, will also be open to explore, with a chance to join museum explainers for STEM-focused experiments, surprising science and fun activities. Visitors can get involved in the debut of Science Showdown: Game On!, a brand-new family game show in Wonderlab. Players can take control of this live science show as different experiments battle it out to be crowned the winner.
For those wanting to learn more about the treasures in the museum’s collection, there will also be bookable curator-led insight tours and object handling drop-in sessions throughout half term.
The museum’s Pictureville Cinema will also be showing a selection of films for all the family throughout half term, including special weekend Kids’ Club screenings of Frozen 2 Sing-a-Long (15 and 16 February 2020) and StarDog and TurboCat (22 and 23 February 2020).
On Saturday 22 February 2020 there will also be an autism friendly screening of StarDog and TurboCat at 10.30 as part of the museum’s Early Birds event, for families with children who have an Autism Spectrum Condition, an anxiety disorder, or a Special Educational Need that means they would benefit from a quieter, more relaxed museum opening. Tickets for all cinema screenings can be booked via the museum website.
John Darnbrough, Learning Programmes Developer at the museum, said:
“We are thrilled to be welcoming back CBBC this February half term following the success of last year’s Operation Ouch! event. CBBC Games have something for all ages to enjoy, and as well as being fun to play, they can be excellent learning tools.
“This is a great opportunity to explore the science behind our favourite videogames, uncovering how they are made and what it takes to be a games developer.”
A CBBC Games Half Term, 15–23 February 2020, National Science and Media Museum, Bradford. Free entry; booking may be required for some activities.
ENDS
For further details or images please contact: katie.canning@scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk, 01274 203027
Notes for editors
The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, West Yorkshire, opened in 1983, and has since become one of the most visited UK museums outside London. The museum explores the science and culture of image and sound technologies, creating special exhibitions, interactive galleries and activities for families and adults. It is home to three cinemas, including Europe’s first IMAX cinema screen and the world’s only public Cinerama screen outside the USA. Entry to the museum is free.
