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How true to life and history were the Ice Age movies? This was a question quickly answered but not necessarily with a clear cut response at the Page Museum at eh La Brea Tar Pits. Here Jayson and Kaitlin were able to see the full skeletal remains of ground sloths, saber-toothed cats, a Columbian Mammoth, and many other ice age mammals.
The first thing that both kids noticed was how large a ground sloth was. They both had seen Sid the Sloth in the movies, and Kaitlin had even held a three toed sloth once. Both of these experiences gave Jayson and Kaitlin the idea that sloths had always been quite small. The ones at the Page Museum blew their idea out of the water with how large the ground sloth skeletons were. In fact, they appeared to be about the size of the bear that existed at the same time. However, the sloth was still small compared to the Mammoth.
Another point that interested the kids was the fact that there had been camels and lions in California at one time. Both Jayson and Kaitlin relate these two animals to Africa, yet here were remains of both animals that were dug up right here in LA. It really gave the kids a sense of how much the earth has changed .
The only parts of the Page Museum the kids did not seem to like were the tar pits. Just looking at them reminded Jayson and Kaitlin of how sticky oil and tar could be. Also, Kaitlin could not get over the smell. She said, "they smell as bad as a new street". I could not help but laugh.
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After chasing Jayson through the Natural History Museum at Exposition Park, the movie, Night at the Museum, has taken on a whole new meaning for Kaitlin and I. I believe it is probably Jayson's favorite museum. You could just see his imagination working as we went from one hall of mammals to another with animal noises included. There was one point in witch Kaitlin and I were sure we'd loose him to a herd of African elephants.
Though she loves seeing all of the animals, Kaitlin's favorite is the Gems and Minerals exhibit. She likes all of the gems still in the rocks along with all of the crystals much more than she likes the beautifully cut gems. In fact, the priceless red diamond wasn't worth the line as far as she was concerned.
Of course the T-rex and triceratops skeletons in the main hall are always a must to see. Along with this, Kaitlin and Jayson were very interested in the new Dino Lab as well. They both watched the scientists work with the fossils for quite a while. With everything they wanted to see, I could not get them to the car in time to make it home for soccer. Though Jayson fussed about missing his sports, both kids fussed more when it came to leaving the museum for the day.
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