r=ccccff> « back to results for ""
Below is a cache of http://www.stillwaterchildrensmuseum.org/docs/stillwater.depot.pdf. It's a snapshot of the page taken as our search engine crawled the Web.
The web site itself may have changed. You can check the current page or check for previous versions at the Internet Archive. Yahoo! is not affiliated with the authors of this page or responsible for its content.
Stillwater Depot 3
7










Stillwater Depot 3
8

The Stillwater Depot

Description
The Stillwater Depot is created through a partnership with the Payne County Model Railroad Club.
While there are numerous train-themed interactives and learning opportunities, a primary feature of this
exhibit is a highly detailed and functioning model railroad system of central Oklahoma. A brightly-
colored child-scaled steam engine with two boxcars line the back wall.

The Model Railroad System
The model railroad system fills about a third of the exhibit space and is protected by Plexiglas. Visitors
interact with the system by pressing buttons to light up train stops and landmarks or to move objects
such as turning a windmill or blowing a train whistle. The model shows major cities in our area such as
Oklahoma City and Tulsa and their relative placement and distance from each other as well as
Stillwater. Several crawl tunnels run under the system and lead to Plexiglas bubbles which give visitors
different vantage points of the model.

The Steam Engine
Visitors climb up inside the steam engine and pretend to be the engineer by pulling a low-volume
whistle. The dashboard inside is covered with dials, switches, and buttons. Pressing one button shows
a video on the wall of the view ahead. Another button turns on the flashing lights of a Rail Road
crossing sign on the wall alongside the train. A switch lowers and raises a small traffic barrier situated
on the wall with painted cars behind it. Conductors hats hang on hooks inside. Open a small door and
see the glowing coal inside the engine.

The Boxcars
The boxcars of the steam engine create small rooms with one open side that house train-themed
activities. The activities are on the floor with no need to step up or be careful about falling out while
playing. The first boxcar is home to a train table with wooden trains, track pieces, bridges and more.
Visitors can also design their own track on the felt board on the back wall of the boxcar. Felt pieces
include train track shapes, train engines and cars, conductors, as well as stations and other scenery.

The second boxcar houses a craft where visitors use paper, masking tape, straws, wagon wheel pasta,
and other useful craft items to create their own 3-Dimensional and operational train. An example hangs
above and supplies are kept in recessed bins in the center of the table. Several tracks at different heights
along the back wall of this boxcar give visitors the opportunity to run their train through a tunnel or up
and down a hill.

Signage inside the boxcars and around the exhibit show pictures and facts of different kinds of trains,
the trains operating in Oklahoma today, a map of Oklahomas railroad tracks, and the different purposes
of trains both in the past and present.
39
How the Public May Use the Stillwater Depot
Age 0-2 years
Sensory Exploring
Age 3-5 years
Problem Solving
Age 6-8 years
Inquiring and
Experimenting
Age 9-12 years
Interpreting and
Understanding
Adults Interaction with
exhibit
Press buttons to
interactive railroad
system S, F
Press buttons and
notice it causes
something to happen
C, S, F
Press a button to cause
wanted reaction C, S,
F
Interact with railroad
system
Interact with railroad
system
Watch lights, look at
landmarks, view
windmill, hear whistle
blow S
Observe and name
some items on
interactive railroad C,
S, L
recognize and identify
landmarks C, L
Recognize and identify
landmarks, notice
distance between
landmarks C, L
Discuss landmarks with
children
Crawl through tunnels
and look into Plexiglas
bubbles S, G
Crawl through tunnels
to get to Plexiglas
bubbles S, G
Crawl through tunnels
to get to the Plexiglas
bubbles S, G
Crawl through tunnels
to get to Plexiglas
bubbles S, G
Talk with other adults
and caregivers while
watching children
Climb into steam
engine with assistance
S, G
Climb into steam
engine and pretend
play with interactives
C, S, SD, SE, G
Climb into steam
engine and pretend
play with interactives
C, S, SD, SE, G
Climb into steam
engine and pretend
play with interactives
C, S, SD, SE, G
Talk with other adults
and caregivers while
watching children
Interact with steam
engine interactives
including pulling cord
to hear whistle, use
dials, switches, buttons
C, S, SE, F, G, L
Interact with steam
engine interactives
including pulling cord,
using dials, switches,
buttons, pretend play
C, S, SD, SE, F, G, L
Interact with steam
engine interactives
including pulling cord,
using dials, switches,
buttons, pretend play
C,S, SD, SE, F, G, L
Interact with steam
engine interactives
including pulling cord,
using dials, switches,
buttons pretend play
C, S, SD, SE, F, G, L
Talk with other adults
and caregivers while
watching children
Attempt to put
conductor hat on head
S, F, G
Use conductor hat to
role play S, SD, SE, F,
G
Use conductor hat to
role play S, SD, SE, F,
G
Direct others in
creative play, assist
younger children,
imagine being a
conductor on a train
C, S, SD, SE, L
Take on assigned roles in
pretend play
Touch and play with
wooden trains S, F
Play with trains and
build own train track
C, S, SE, SD, F
Work with others to
build train track C, S,
SE, SD, F
Build a very
extravagant track with
well thought out plan
and work with others
C, S, SE, SD, L
Help children build a
track
Cognitive = C: Thinking, identifying, reasoning, problem-solving, planning, follow directions, calculating, creativity
Sensory = S: Touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, looking
Social Dramatic = SD: Role play, imagination, drama
Social Emotional = SE: Self concept, independence, interdependence, relationships, turntaking, sharing, negotiating,
leading, following, understanding diversity
Fine Motor = F: Using hands and fingers, eye hand coordination
Gross Motor = G: Using arms and shoulders, legs and feet
Language/Literacy = L: Speaking, listening, listening with understanding, reading pictures, words, sentences, pages,
numbers 4
0
How the Public May Use the Stillwater Depot
Age 0-2 years
Sensory Exploring
Age 3-5 years
Problem Solving
Age 6-8 years
Inquiring and
Experimenting
Age 9-12 years
Interpreting and
Understanding
Adults Interaction with
exhibit
Touch felt pieces, stick
pieces to the wall, look
at scenery of box car
C, S, F
Use different shaped
felt pieces to build
track for the train C, S,
SE, F
Work with others or
alone to build a
creative track and train
C, SD, SE, L, F
Build a train and track
using different shaped
pieces, working alone
or with others C, SE,
F, L, SD
Use felt pieces to build a
train and track
Not age appropriate
Use craft pieces to
build a simple train C,
S, SE, F, L
Use craft pieces to
build a creative train
C, S, SE, F, L
Use craft pieces to
build a creative and
unique train C, S, SE,
F, L
Assist children if
needed, use craft pieces
to build a train
Look at signage and
pictures, listens to
others read it S, L
Look at signage and
pictures S, L
Reads signage and
pictures about trains
C, S, L
Reads signage,
understands different
purposes of trains past
and present S, C, L
Reads signage
Cognitive = C: Thinking, identifying, reasoning, problem-solving, planning, follow directions, calculating, creativity
Sensory = S: Touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, looking
Social Dramatic = SD: Role play, imagination, drama
Social Emotional = SE: Self concept, independence, interdependence, relationships, turntaking, sharing, negotiating,
leading, following, understanding diversity
Fine Motor = F: Using hands and fingers, eye hand coordination
Gross Motor = G: Using arms and shoulders, legs and feet
Language/Literacy = L: Speaking, listening, listening with understanding, reading pictures, words, sentences, pages,
numbers