The Pacific Northwest’s short winter days provide the best time of year to seek indoor venues for family entertainment and activities. This weekend through Thursday, fun-for-the-family events can be found from Seattle to Tacoma, with topics as varied as learning about underwater creatures and experiencing a historic part of the nation’s past.

On Sunday, the Seattle Aquarium continues its series of “Family First Sunday” events with the first session of 2007, “Amazing Pufferfish.”

Parents and kids are invited to visit the aquarium for activities related to pufferfish. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., kids get the chance to express their artistic talents during a craft session.

“Pufferfish” also are known as “blowfish,” in addition to several other generic names. They come by this name as a result of their ability to swallow air or water; thus increasing their size when they feel threatened. Sunday’s event also will shed light on common habitats, food sources and other basic information on these underwater creatures.

An aquarium spokesperson says the staff member who runs these sessions has a background in early childhood education. As a result, the series was created because the aquarium staff sought a new method to help kids learn during their visits, and also to allow them to show their imagination and creativity, with the craft time.

Family First Sunday activities, which occur on the first Sunday of every month (hence the name), are free with aquarium admission. Registration is not required.

Upcoming themes will include “Sensational Seastars,” “Crabs, Crabs, Crabs!” “Amazing Octopus” and a “Migratory Bird weekend.”

Families seeking a more serious, but equally educational outing may want to consider attending the public film showing of “Mighty Times: The Children’s March” at 5 p.m. Thursday at Tacoma’s Washington State Historical Museum, which is part of the Washington State Historical Society.

The 2005 Academy Award-winning documentary details the period beginning May 2, 1963, when 4,000 African-American children left their classrooms, sparking a week of civil rights demonstrations.

A commentary and discussion period with spoken-word artist Josh Reisberg, who has made appearances throughout the Pacific Northwest to share his poetry, will follow the film.

Photos courtesy Wikpedia

A white-spotted puffer (Tetraodon-hispidus)(above) and black-spotted puffer (below) are only two of many varieties of fish that fall into the puffer category.