About This Blog
By Eric Garfinkel on July 20, 2009
We created this blog to keep you informed about the Wonder Rotunda as it evolves.
The Wonder Rotunda is a virtual, educational theme park designed to open the eyes of youngsters to the wonders of our world, much the way world’s fairs and expos have for prior generations. It is designed to get kids thinking about our world, finding things that they're passionate about, and exploring how they might make their mark some day.
Set on an island in New York Harbor, the Wonder Rotunda’s fifteen, interactive, animated adventures cover topics as diverse as tropical rainforests, African wildlife, marine life, the human body's digestive system, money and business, American government, nutrition, globalization, film making, classical music, performing and visual arts, space exploration and, making a difference in the world. The adventures move briskly and with excitement, while affording youngsters the option of probing more deeply where they have the interest.
To navigate the Park, youngsters create a personal avatar. They learn as they travel by hot air balloon over the Serengeti, zip-line through a tropical rainforest, steer a submarine through the human digestive system, dive the Great Barrier Reef or maneuver the command module of Apollo 11 to the Moon. Kids test their newly acquired knowledge on "TV game shows," search for gold coins, earn rewards and Wonder Dollars (the Park's currency) and shop for souvenirs. Keeping their avatars energized requires youngsters to make healthy choices at the Park's 12 food stands. Kids have personal TreePods in the Park which they customize and use to display the certificates, souvenirs and badges they earn.
The Wonder Rotunda is unique in that it allows parents to create their own avatar and join a child on a visit. The Park blends game play with rich educational content. With an emphasis on stimulating curiosity and learning, the Wonder Rotunda is an alternative to the internet’s typical offerings for kids. The Park is not a social network and is without ads and commercials.
