Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist

Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist. Museum of Science, Boston. URL: http://www.mos.org/leonardo/

This fun and informative website is an ideal resource for tweens hoping to learn more about the life and work of one of the world’s most influential thinkers, Leonardo da Vinci. The site was created by the Museum of Science, Boston following their 1997 exhibit, “Leonardo da Vinci: Scientist, Inventor, Artist.” The site states that nothing can compare to seeing the exhibit in real-life, but the museum sought to preserve some of the magic by creating a website dedicated all things da Vinci.

The site is divided from the homepage into four main sections: “Leonardo @ the Museum,” “Renaissance Man,” “Exploring Leonardo,” and “Multimedia Zone.” Each section contains a bevy of information to educate viewers on da Vinci’s amazing life. Various subpages have interactive quizzes, maps and other activities, as well as many images of da Vinci’s art and inventions.

What makes the site so welcoming for tweens is the light-hearted nature of the wording, images and overall set-up. For example, the center of the homepage features a very famous picture of Leonardo, but as the mouse moves around the screen, so do his eyes. The link to reach the “Multimedia Zone” is a picture of the Mona Lisa wearing a futuristic visor that snaps over her eyes as the mouse rolls over the link. The fun feeling of the site, however, does not detract from the fact that it contains quite a bit of useful information.