Printable online certificate

Museums have been transformed over the decades from stodgy repositories to interactive wonderlands. One place succeeding handsomely, the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, was voted the No. 1 museum in the Midwest and ninth-best family destination by readers of FamilyFun magazine. The museum also offers a Web site (www.childrensmuseum.org) loaded with learning and fun.

"We created this site to provide information to the many people who visit and participate in our wide selection of programs," says Debbie Babcock, manager of client support and Internet services. "We want the site to provide the same type of experience for those who cannot visit the museum. We are hopeful that the site, like the museum, will appeal to kids and adults and be of particular benefit to teachers and those who homeschool."

The world's fourth-oldest children's museum has succeeded through innovation and a hands-on approach. Its Website mirrors this with colorful learning modules that use games, pictorial histories and animated scenes as well as plenty of text-based information and hints for parents and teachers. Visitors who click on the "Fun Online" section of the front page will be taken to five places of interest: "Kinetosaurs," "Geo Mysteries," "CosmicQuest," "Arts Workshop" and "Bones: An Exhibit Inside You." Of these, the latter two comfortably meld Internet technologies with real-world activities.

"Arts Workshop" allows children to express their creativity through a list of 11 offline projects, including "Lights, Puppets, Action!" Here, young producers develop a three-act story using drop-down menus (or by supplying original prose). They then select puppets from around the world to star in their show (of course, children learn the history of each figure, which all reside in the actual museum's collection). Finally, they choose a set, select music and give movement to the characters. They can post their play for others to enjoy, too.

The second outstanding module, "Bones: An Exhibit Inside You," hones visitors' knowledge of their skeletal frames by explaining the fundamentals of bone biology and the differences in animals' structures. Other features offer good learning experiences, too. "Cosmic Quest" looks at the stars and those who travel to them. A simulation titled "Living in Space," for instance, allows children to build a space station. They then must decide on menus for the astronauts; the amount of water, air and power they need; and even toilet facilities. Successful engineers are rewarded with a printable certificate touting their accomplishments.

The obligatory dinosaur section, titled "Kinetosaurs," includes a list of Earth's mightiest creatures, a look at fossils and information from artist John Payne on his dinosaur sculptures. The module offers detailed instructions on creating a papier-mache model of the triceratops.

The Children's Museum site does not overwhelm its guests -- which is a good thing -- yet it manages to give kids a lot of information as well as a great Web experience.

Joseph Szadkowski writes for Insight's sister publication, the Washington Times.