We're studying South Korea in our homeschool this month, and the best part of our adventure has been a trip to the Children’s Museum of Houston. Their interactive “Heart & Seoul” exhibit is a highly engaging highlight of Seoul, the capital city. Earlier this year, my 6-year-old took a kuk sool won class (Korean martial arts), and at the museum exhibit we learned that taekwondo is a Korean martial art as well. Overall, the exhibit was outstanding! We were able to practice martial arts moves with video instruction, watch and dance to Korean hip hop videos (my 4-year-old's favorite part, by far), learn about kite flying (a popular pastime in S. Korea), enter a Korean home (take off your shoes first!), visit a Korean cafe and examine some of the food dishes, visit a S. Korean classroom setting, visit a modern S. Korean high rise apartment, and much more.
The exhibit occupied a large area and there was so much to do and learn! Playing the janggu and buk (traditional Korean drums) and locating S. Korean on an interactive electronic map were other highlights we enjoyed. We were also able to read a S. Korean fairy tale about croaking frogs, and we learned that the number “4” is unlucky in S. Korea (as such, many buildings won’t have a “4th’ floor. The floor after floor 3 is floor 5).
Heart and Seoul: Growing up in S. Korea will be an exhibit at the Children's Museum of Houston through May 10, 2015. I highly recommend checking out this fun, educational exhibit while it's in town!
