I was recently invited to the member preview of Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™: Shear Genius at The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The exhibit officially opened to the public on February 2nd and will continue through April 20, 2025. Hours 9:30 am-5:00 pm in the Gallery by General Motors.
Each member received a goodie bag with an adorable Shaun the Sheep plushie and more.
This is a hands-on exhibit for children specifically for ages 3 through 9.
Your little ones will step into a fun little world of Wallace, Gromit, Shaun and other familiar Aardman characters. Your children will get to experience dramatic play and other interactive opportunities. While I don’t have little ones anymore, I do possess a child development degree and I must say, this is fantastic and had to share this experience with my readers who do have little ones.
What else does this exhibit do for your child?
The exhibit is designed to build on problem-solving themes throughout both shows. The activities in the exhibit encourage children to solve and talk about problems but through fun and engaging ways.
“Exhibit components and activities encourage children to playfully solve STEM-based and social-emotional problems in fun and engaging ways — from completing a circuit and deciphering expressions to fixing a machine and using the power of collaboration to help a farmyard friend.” ~The Henry Ford
Kiddies will find themselves immersed in Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep! Here are some of the activities in the exhibit:
- Explore 62 West Wallaby Street (Wallace & Gromit’s home) and Mossy Bottom Farm (the home of Shaun the Sheep)
- Blast off in Wallace’s rocket, make a slice of cracking toast and race to complete a puzzle before blast-off
- Experiment with iconic inventions in Wallace’s workshop: launch the porridge cannon, fix Autochef and activate the Knit-O-Matic and Get-U-Up-Device
- Get moving around the farm by traversing the wall, balancing on barn doors and tending to plush sheep
- Mix up Bitzer’s face to create new facial expressions
- Create a stop motion animation using materials found in the scrap heap
- Plant and harvest vegetables in the garden, deliver the mail and hop into Preston’s truck for a drive
- Learn about the history and people behind the Wallace & Gromit films and see miniature props from a film
Families can even take advantage of featured programs ranging from Greenfield Village farmers and presenters to an Innovation Exploration Scavenger hunt!
Have you ever visited The Henry Ford’s Giant Screen Experience? You don’t want to miss out on Wallace & Gromit Pop-Up Films:
- Wallace and Gromit: A Grand Day Out
- Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
- Wallace and Gromit: The Wrong Trousers
- Wallace and Gromit: A Close Shave
Click here for more details including dates and run times.
At the end of your experience with the kiddies, shop the Wallace & Gromit™ and Shaun the Sheep™: Shear Genius! toys, books, plush and more in the Play-Museum store and purchase cheese and crackers special (Wallace’s favorite snack) in Plum Market.
To learn more and to stay up to date on exhibits and activities at The Henry Ford, visit Facebook and Instagram.