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Ah, the week after Christmas. The youngsters have no school and no outdoor place to blow off steam. They can stay at home and fight or they can bend, twist, light, sculpt and animate at workshops, demos, art installations and other activities at the New York Hall of Science. From December 27th to December 30, the Corona museum will offer daily theme projects, ice sculpting with Bill Bywater and a screening of Bag It, a movie in which Jeb Berrier embarks on a tour to unravel the plastic world. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a wholesale investigation into plastic’s effects on oceans, environment and living creatures. Here’s a breakdown of the fun:

December 27th: Wire It (circuitry-based projects)

  • Hack an electronic toy with DiYAbility;
  • Turn recycled paper and cards into lanterns with LEDs, noon to 4 pm;
  • Recycle wire into Calder-like mobiles with Skraptacular, noon to 4 pm;
  • Reinvent the lightbulb, noon to 4 pm;
  • Create snowflakes using recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Ice sculpting by Bill Bywater, noon to 2 pm;
  • Ice sculpting demonstration with Bill Bywater, 2 pm;
  • One-on-one ice sculpting with Bill Bywater, 10-minute sessions at 3, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30 and 3:40 pm;
  • Origami with staff from Invent-abling, noon, 12:45, 1:30, 2:15 and 3 pm;
  • Screening of Bag It, 3:15 pm.

December 28th: Build It (3D design, building, architecture and printing)

  • Recycle Newspaper Building Challenge, noon to 4 pm;
  • Build the next city or skyscraper with Skraptacular using recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Make gingerbread houses under the guidance of GingerBread Lane creator Jon Lovitch, 2 to 4 pm;
  • Learn a variety of free and inexpensive building techniques with staff, noon to 4 pm;
  • Create unique snowflakes with recycled material, noon to 4 pm;
  • Ice sculpting by Bill Bywater, noon to 2 pm;
  • Ice sculpting demonstration by Bill Bywater, 2 pm;
  • One-on-one ice sculpting with Bill Bywater, 10-minute sessions at 3, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30 and 3:40 pm;
  • Screening of Bag It, 3:15 pm.

December 29th: Animate It (moving image and animation)

  • Watch a 15-minute selection of old cartoons and learn how film strips and old projectors work, noon to 4 pm;
  • Experience a new portrait technique with an animated photobooth, noon to 4 pm;
  • Learn how to repurpose animations into 3D sculptures with folks from Mappathon, noon to 4 pm;
  • Upcycle used DVD cases into animation travel kits and learn about Thaumatropes and other forms of animation with Unplug Kids, noon to 4 pm;
  • Create unique snowflakes using recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Ice sculpting by Bill Bywater, noon to 2 pm;
  • Ice sculpting demonstration by Bill Bywater, 2 pm;
  • One-on-one ice sculpting with Bill Bywater, 10-minute sessions at 3, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30 and 3:40 pm;
  • Screening of Bag It, 3:15 pm.

December 30th: Wear It (sewing, garments and accessories)

  • Make garments and accessories from recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Make a button or pendant from recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Beginner sewing sessions, noon and 12:45 pm;
  • Sew and use zippers to create cases for phones, tablets or laptops, 30-minute sessions, 1:30, 2:15 and 3 pm;
  • Learn about e-textiles and how to use fabric to build a switch with Invent-abling, noon to 4 pm;
  • E-textiles;
  • Use textile paint and stencils to remake garments or accessories, noon to 4 pm;
  • Hair and makeup by professional stylists, 1 to 3 pm;
  • Trashion Show Runway, 3:45 pm;
  • Create snowflakes using recycled materials, noon to 4 pm;
  • Ice sculpting by Bill Bywater, noon to 2 pm;
  • Ice sculpting demonstration by Bill Bywater, 2 pm;
  • One-on-one ice sculpting with Bill Bywater, 10-minute sessions at 3, 3:10, 3:20, 3:30 and 3:40 pm;
  • Screening of Bag It, 3:15 pm.

Details: ReMake the Holidays, New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street, Corona, December 27 and December 30, 9:30 am to 5 pm, December 28 and December 29, 10 am to 6 pm, free with admission ($8 to $11) except some activities cost extra. Plus, some activities are on a first-come, first serve basis.

Photo: Skraptacular

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