A Colorful Education

As if any of you parents needed it, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is offering proof that children can make amazing leaps in perception when their creativity is engaged. "'Learning Through Art' uses work in the collection and ties it into the school curriculum," says Margaret Mims of the MFAH. "It doesn't have to be an art class -- it can be math or science." Students look at famous works like Alexander Calder's The Crab and use the shapes to study geometric proportions. Then they create works of their own based on the same theme. "I think Calder would be real proud," says Mims.

Courtesy of MFAH

A work by Jimmy Salinas, fifth grade, James L. Ketelsen Elementary, inspired by André Derain's The Turning Road

Darryl Kluskowski

Borders hosts some Seussentennials.

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More About

• Lisa Simon
• Margaret Mims
• Alexander Calder
• The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
• Visual Arts

The museum is exhibiting these student works in "Learning Through Art in Action" at the Caroline Wiess Law building. Pieces include A Colorful World(featuring the work by fifth-grader Jimmy Salinas, pictured here), A Three-Dimensional World, A World of Patterns and Faces and Family.Exhibit runs through June 27. 1001 Bissonnet, 713-639-7300, www.mfah.org. $3.50 to $7. -- Lisa Simon

No Crying in Baseball

FRI 2/7

The grass has turned that electric green of early spring, and the sun is busy drying out baseball diamonds all over town. You can send your kids out into the gorgeous weather to play weekend baseball and softball free of charge, March 8 through May 1, in the Grand Slam for Youth baseball program. All players are provided with equipment, league T-shirts and caps. End of registration: Friday, February 27. To register, call 713-845-8077 or visit www.houstonparks.org. Free. -- Lisa Simon

Oh, the Places You'll Go

Is "hop on pop" your little darlings' all-time favorite game? Then take them out to your local Borders store on Read Across America Day for a Dr. Seuss storytime. Celebrate the 100th birthday (or "Seussentennial") of the man who coined the phrase "A person's a person, no matter how small." 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 2. Three locations: 3025 Kirby, 9633A Westheimer and 570 Meyerland Plaza. For information, call your local store or visit www.borders.com. Free. -- Lisa Simon