Museums offer visitors both play and interactive activities that allow for learning. Yet it is challenging to understand learning in this context. How does it actually influence the learning process? This article stems from research on how a visit to a science museum may contribute to shaping the health concepts held by young people. The results identify the context of the museum as an environment favorable to meaningful learning and how meanings are grasped from the content explored during activities. Another important aspect of learning for these young people was the exploration of topics like the history of health, the relation between health and environment, science as a human product, and the role of the scientist within society.
education at museums; meaningful learning; history of health; health and environment; science and society
