EXPLORING “Our Earth”

Learning Team 31 May 2024

Understanding ‘our place in this world’ is a lifelong journey for most. But so many of the most important lessons are learned early in our lives, at home. 

To help facilitate the important conversations to have with children about our earth, MoPA’s educators have developed a brand new series called “OUR EARTH” with a range of in-museum activities happening this winter:

ART & CRAFT
What better way to create impactful conversations than provide opportunities to make things to take home? You simply MUST check out our new “Happy Earth” slider-art activity!

LITERATURE
We’ve curated some of the most wonderful new children’s books that will make your heart sing. Learn about the land, the sea, the sky, our bodies, our planet and our place in it…

MINDFULNESS
We’ll introduce some basic (and very very cute) concepts of mindfulness, taking some time to pause and reflect on the miracles of mother nature. You do NOT want to miss “Mindfulness YOGA”!

All “Our Earth” activities will run all day, every day, here at MoPA.

But ALSO, as a reminder of how easy it can be to make a difference, we’ve put together…

A BIG LIST OF SMALL THINGS (THAT ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE) 

  1. Ride your bike or scooter
  2. Plant some veggies
  3. Buy second hand or swap with friends
  4. Cook at home
  5. Eat more vegetables and less meat
  6. Organise a community clean up
  7. Save water
  8. Buy less packaged products
  9. Recycle
  10. Turn off the lights
  11. Use a blanket instead of the heater
  12. Clean with natural products
  13. But the imperfect produce
  14. Mend it instead of replacing it
  15. Air dry your washed clothes
  16. Compost organic waste
  17. Refill water bottles
  18. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth
  19. Carpool
  20. Eat leftovers instead of throwing them out
  21. Use energy efficient lights
  22. Use both sides of the paper
  23. Plant a tree
  24. Eat seasonal produce
  25. Recycle batteries and buy rechargeable
  26. Walk more
  27. Make a bird feeder
  28. Plant flowers for the bees
  29. Buy less plastic toys
  30. Up-cycle for craft projects
  31. Donate old clothes and toys
  32. Visit the library instead of buying a book
  33. Plant native plants
  34. Organise a toy trade with friends
  35. Use reusable bags
  36. Keep your cat indoors
  37. Clean up your favourite park
  38. Have a quick shower
  39. Use cold water to wash clothes and dishes
  40. Water your plants in the morning
  41. Use a reusable coffee cup
  42. Only run the dishwasher when full
  43. Install slow-flow shower heads
  44. Use reusable straws
  45. Use Beeswax wrap
  46. Avoid aerosol cans
  47. Use fans instead of aircon
  48. Turn off unnecessary electronics
  49. Pack lunches in reusable containers
  50. Be kind to creatures

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🎫 TERM 2 - ON SALE NOW!! 🎫 

Term 1 classes filled up in just a few days - and all our students are re-enrolling, so we’ve decided to DOUBLE the intake spaces for Term 2!! 🥳 

All the group sizes are small, the activities are wickedly fun, and the educators are the most talented, engaging, creative teachers ever. This gorgeous little video is just a sneak peak of the action you’ll miss if you don’t enrol in MoPA’s Term 2 ART CLASS ❤️

Heaps of deets on our website - Or call us any time on 1800 00 MOPA (6672).
After a lil’ pause for Harmony Week celebrations, our regular programming (“THE ART OF NATURE”) is back. 

Here’s a sneak peak at just some of the beautiful creations - we LOVE the inspiration nature provides for wonderful creativity!! Just gorgeous. xx
Harmony Week is well underway at MoPA and the Museums are filling up with gorgeous lil’ artworks that represent the exact diversity we’re celebrating!

The joy these community contributions create is hard to put into words. Just… LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. 

Join in on Harmony Week celebrations - all activations are in play all the way up until close of play Sunday (23rd March). 

xx MoPA
WE CAN’T THINK OF A MORE IMPORTANT CELEBRATION… 

Every one of us (including YOU!) is unique and special. Harmony Week is a celebration of these differences. 

To help visualise and celebrate the diversity of our gorgeous MoPA community we’re inviting guests to decorate their own character and we’ll add your art to our community collage in the museums. Starts Monday!
BE INSPIRED... BY NATURE!

As the Autumn breezes blow in, and the bugs fill the garden, we’re reminded that nature truly is one of the greatest sources of creative inspiration. MoPA’s educators have been digging in the dirt (not even joking)... and, inspired by all the furry, wriggly, winged things they found, they’ve designed some gorgeous new activities that celebrate nature.

“THE ART OF NATURE” runs from March 3 to May 31. All the activities and art supplies are included with your ticket.
WE ARE HIRING!! 

OK, so… We may look like a full pack of pencils, but we’ve always got room for more greatness.

Are you the best Barista in the WORLD? Or the most passionate student of the Early Learning profession in the entire UNIVERSE? ORRR… The loudest advocate of creative learning that this milkyway has ever seen? Well then we’d lurrrrve to meet you!

All the available rolls at MoPA are advertised on our website, but we’d like to call special attention to our barista roll at MoPA Sandringham - the families of Bayside LOVE our coffee, and with your help we’re levelling up up up!! ☕️🍭🍬 xx MoPA
Working with people and organisations that are values-aligned has always been such an important aspect of the work we do at MoPA. Our guests, our team, our partners, they’re all hugely passionate about play and creativity. 

And when the team at @tonies_anz chose to celebrate their Australian launch at MoPA, and arranged for @emmamemmamemma to drop in for a dance party, we were absolutely THRILLED. 

The team were a true delight to work with and the launch of @tonies_anz was a huge success. Wishing you all a happy and successful 2025!! x
Mmmmm… Heavenly! 😍🎨🧑‍🎨

Q: Is it a real car?
A: Yes, and each has a special place in our ♥️ 

Q: Do you ever clean it?
A: Yes, but the timing is a hot debate. 🧽 There is so much beauty in the layers, but also purity and timeless charm in its bare form. 

Q: How do you choose the colours?
A: Have you ever stirred up a slurpy? 🥤 If we’re not careful, it ends up brown; our team have become experts in avoiding that! 😆 

Q: Why? Just why?
A: All our exhibits are thoughtfully crafted to support early learning and creativity. Our world is full of boundaries and conformity (in most cases, for good reason!). The MoPA Art Car exhibit 🚗 is designed to give children an opportunity to do something that doesn’t “feel” within the confines impressed upon us; to help them see, experience first-hand, and learn, that creativity can so often be found in media and forms we never imagined would combine. 

🏆 WIN WIN WIN 🏆 

Hands up if the Art Car is one of your faves 🤚? We’ll choose one hand up, tomorrow (25/2/25) at 5PM Melbourne time, from the comments below, completely at random, and if your name is the one that comes out of the hat you we’ll be sending you over a $100 Gift Voucher to come and lay down the next coat of paint on the Art Car 🎨❤️ 

PS, Don’t forget — it’s “Forever Young February” at MoPA this month and you still have a few days to enjoy FREE entry for Grandparents!! xx
Dear Casual Job Seekers of Geelong, MoPA would ❤️ to meet you! 

If you know someone that might be a great fit at MoPA Geelong, please tag them below (or FWD this post and let us know via PM)... And if your friend ends up joining the team, we’ll happily gift you a free annual membership to say thanks!! 

PS. Pic for attention only (is it NOT the cutest pic ever ❤️)

ART CLASS ENROLMENTS NOW OPEN FOR TERM 2!

Suited for children aged 5 to 12, with options for carers to ‘drop-and-run’ or ‘stay-and-play’. 4pm weekdays. Limited spots available.

Classes occur weekdays (select your museum for times)

All of the art materials & textiles required are provided

Chef-prepared snacks are available for extra convenience

CHECK AVAILABILITY