Bright Light

In this illuminating exploration of light and color, students make exciting discoveries as they experiment with lasers, diffraction glasses, and giant water prisms. Through real-life applications, the scientific concepts of refraction, diffraction, and reflection are illustrated with engaging educational activities related to spectrum analysis and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Harmonies in Color (Art Exhibition Guided Tour or Exploration), Seeing!, and Cosmic Colors: An Adventure Along the Spectrum (Planetarium Shows).

Engineering Encounters

Through bridge-building activities, students gain a new appreciation for the relevance of civil engineering and design in their daily lives. Creative problem-solving strategies motivate aspiring engineers to explore concepts such as force, balance, and stability.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Dream Big: Engineering Our World (Planetarium Show), and Robot Design Challenge (Class).

Robot Design Challenge

Students sharpen their critical thinking and problem- solving skills to build modular robots. Working in teams, they will use the Science and Engineering Practices to develop inventions that sense, compute, and act upon the world around them. As students design their robots, they actually build a program through hands-on coding. This class culminates in a race that challenges each group to create the smartest and fastest robot.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Dream Big: Engineering Our World (Planetarium Show) and Engineering Encounters (Class).

Shake, Rattle, & Roll

Dr. Decibel, the Museum’s Super Sound Scientist, leads students in an interactive exploration of the world of sound. “Junior Sound Scientists” will become familiar with key vocabulary terms and concepts relating to sound, learn about the anatomy of the ear, and experiment with unique musical instruments from across the globe. This engaging program can easily be adapted for various grade levels.

Layered Experience: Pairs well with America’s Musical Journey (Planetarium Show).

The Magic of Science

Is science magical or is magic scientific? Students will explore the wonders of chemistry and physics in this interactive, presenter-led program that creatively engages them in the learning process. As they investigate the scientific principles behind exciting experiments and demonstrations, learners will discover that science is interesting, relevant, and fun!

The Traveling Trunk Show

Join our puppet pals Sheldon the Sheepdog and Frederick the Mouse on an imaginative, multidisciplinary exploration of the art and science of the seasons. Young students will enjoy songs, stories, and educational activities sprinkled with laughter and fun as they discover the exciting surprises awaiting them in the mysterious big red trunk!

Layered Experience: Pairs well with Flight of the Butterflies (Planetarium Show) and Beetles, Bugs, & Butterflies (Class).