Grandchildren can take the “plunge” to see the watery depths of the Shedd Aquarium with their grandmothers and grandfathers and discover how sharks and eels and other aquatic animals live. Because it’s Grandparents Weekend, the aquarium is offering free admission to one grandparent for each paid child’s admission. The two generations will be able to make hats with frogs on them and visit the exhibit “Frogs!”. To remember the occasion, families can have their pictures taken with costumed characters resembling frogs and turtles.
GRANDPARENTS WEEKEND, Saturday, Sunday; Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive. Free admission for one grandparent with paid child’s admission, $10 adults, $8 children. 312-939-2438.
In another celebration of family ties, children can discover how some qualities are passed down from one generation to the next when they visit “N.C. Wyeth and His Grandson: A Legacy” during Grandparent’s Day at the Terra Museum of American Art. Looking at the works in pen and ink that Wyeth created for classic romance and mystery books and works by his grandson, Jamie, similarities in technique and style appear. Youngsters can then create their own books.
“ILLUSTRATORS AND GRANDPARENTS,” 1 p.m. Sunday; Terra Museum of American Art, 666 N. Michigan Ave. Free but reservations required. 312-664-3939.
Children who have never heard of a Fluteasaurus, a Guitarodon or a Pianosaurus Rex will be able to meet these musical creatures at a free instrumental “Petting Zoo” at the Suzuki-Orff School for Young Musicians. The instruments are simply the classical ones, but the approach to getting acquainted with them is child-friendly. Pint-sized, would-be musicians learn how to blow into a flute by spitting rice, or how to follow a rhyme that instructs one to use a bow for a violin. Little ones between the ages of 6 months and 4 years of age will learn some finger play and movements in time to music. Parents learn the same fun and games to see how they can help their children absorb music and play it the same way, step-by-step, that their wondrous young brains learn to speak a language.
“PETTING ZOO,” 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday; Suzuki-Orff School of Young Musicians, 1148 Chicago Ave. Free but reservations required. 312-738-2646.
Douglas O’Connell has been known to make 7-foot-tall puppets, but when he does a workshop for children at the Kraft Education Center, he will show children how to make ones that are just the right size to fit their hands. Taking inspiration from characters such as Rip Van Winkle and St. George and the dragon in the works of art displayed in “Telling Images: Stories in Art,” kids will shape heads and hands out of clay. While the body parts are baking, the youngsters will create costumes so that their assembled hand-made characters can act out their comedies and dramas on a small stage.
PUPPET-MAKING WORKSHOP with Douglas O’Connell, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Sept. 13-14, 20-21 and 27-28; Kraft Education Center, Art Institute, Michigan Ave. and Adams St. $7 adult, $3.50 children. 312-443-3600.
Children of all abilities are welcome to participate in the Kids’ Dash of the Kemper Rehab Challenge ’97. Youngsters 5 and under will have a track 50 meters long, ages 6 to 7 will dash 100 meters, 8-year-olds will run or wheel 200 meters and 9- and 10-year-olds will be in a 400-meter event. All participants will receive ribbons, but the real winner of the Challenge is the Virginia Wadsworth Wirtz Program for physically disabled athletes which will receive the proceeds.
KIDS’ DASH, KEMPER REHAB CHALLENGE ’97, 8:15 a.m. Saturday; Columbus Drive and Roosevelt Road. $10 per child; 773-868-3010.