Il était une fois, the science in tales exhibition at Paris Cité des Sciences

Approaching science through fairy tales - that's what the Cité des Sciences is offering with its annual "Once upon a time" exhibition. Visible from October 3, 2017 to November 18, 2018, this exhibition takes children aged 7 to 11 to discover physical, chemical and mathematical concepts by observing them in action in their favorite fairy tales, from Pinocchio to Jack and the Beanstalk.

Mom, Dad, why are the Seven Dwarfs ' yawns contagious? Is brick stronger than wood, as in the story of the Three Little Pigs ? Could the Princess and the Pe a have been awakened by mites living in her mattress? These are just some of the original questions that will be answered in an enriching and entertaining exhibition at the Cité des Sciences: Il était une fois la Science(Once upon a time in science).

In fact, the Cité des Sciences has come up with a wonderful exhibition that explores science through the lens of 10 fairy tales familiar to our little ones. It's a fun and interesting way to learn and question through the stories and characters of our favorite fairy tales.

For Bruno Maquart, President of Universcience, this exhibition is a way of getting children interested in science. He explains: "Children are insatiably curious. One of our missions is to help them discover and enjoy the world. In the exhibition Once upon a time, science in fairy tales, fairy tales are unexpectedly revealed as a privileged means of explaining certain scientific phenomena in a different way to young visitors".

A total of 33 interactive experiments await our children, explaining the scientific "moral" behind their fairy tales. Thanks to the video "The Big Bad Wolf", the biology of the wolf (sight, hearing, food, smell) will no longer be a secret. " The Lying Camera " teaches children not to believe everything they see or hear (because people's noses don't grow longer like Pinocchio's), and a demonstration shows that the strength of a house depends not only on the materials used, but also on the construction technique!

The exhibition is structured around 10 giant books that illustrate, like pop-up albums, the worlds of ten well-known children's stories. Each book features the beginning of the tale written on its cover and a modified moral, narrated by an actress. It then features two to five interactive multimedia activities. The books are arranged around a central area, La Forêt enchantée, featuring museological devices that encourage sensory stimulation in children (smell, touch, feel, listen...).

In short, we've adopted an exhibition that's both fun and enriching. And to help children visit the exhibition, don't forget the 32-page activity booklet sold for €4.90.

Practical info :
Il était une fois, la science dans les contes at the Cité des Sciences
From October 3, 2017 to November 18, 2018
Place : Cité des Sciences
Times: 10am-6pm Tuesday to Saturday, 10am-7pm Sunday
Admission: €12 full price, €9 concessions
Exhibition for 7-11 year-olds

Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 6pm
and Sunday, 10am to 7pm

Ticket includes access to all Explora exhibitions, the Planetarium, the Agronaute submarine and the Louis-Lumière cinema.

Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.