February Programs
Thursday, February 2
Celebrate Groundhog Day!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCreate a groundhog stick puppet that can pop out of its hole like Punxsutawney Phil. Will your groundhog see its shadow?
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumSing some songs and sample some stories; we’ll bring the books and you bring your imagination!
Adult & Teen Book Discussion
Offered with Acton-Boxborough Parent Involvement Program
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM The Discovery Museums
Do fixed or growth attitudes and mindsets affect all aspects of our lives? Participate in a book discussion about Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck, Ph. D. Sponsored by The Discovery Museums and AB PIP. www.actonpip.org. Teens and adults welcome. No fee, but pre-registration required. Call 978-264-4200 x 20.
Friday, February 3
Music and Movement with Miss Carolyn
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumExplore sound through singing and playing. Move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout! Music improves your child’s memory, cognitive development, learning skills, and ability to express emotion. Plus, it’s fun! Miss Carolyn is a professional musician, serves as a faculty member at Indian Hill Music School, and has been a licensed Kindermusik Educator for 5 years.
First Friday Nights Free!
Reaction Station: Adventures for Young Chemists!
4:30 PM to 8:30 PM Science Discovery Museum (both museums open for exploration) *Snow date February 10thJoin us with free admission and explore the museums at night on the first Friday of every month! We will gratefully accept donations for the Acton Food Pantry. Sponsored in part by Acorn Deck House Company and Emerson Hospital.
This month we are offering a special program—Reaction Station: Adventures for Young Chemists! Solve mysteries with chemistry by being a detective as you test mystery liquids, powders, and more in Reaction Stations—model glove boxes. Meet Brandeis University chemist Dr. Christine Thomas and Brandeis ACS students to learn how and why they use glove boxes for their research. Use natural indicators to identify acids and bases, identify mystery powders, and discover other wonders of chemistry! Reaction Station is funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Saturday, February 4
Meet an Owl!
Drop-In 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM Children’s Discovery MuseumSwoop in to meet owls from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Discover what makes these fascinating creatures unique hunters and how they fit into the New England ecosystem. For more information about the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, visit www.massaudubon.org.
FETCH!™ Eat Like a Bird
Drop-in 1:00 to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumYou eat different foods – crunchy, chewy, crisp, and soft. What about birds? Test different shaped and sized bird beaks to discover what it really means to “eat like a bird”! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Sunday, February 5
Face Painting Fun!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your cheek or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting. What design will you choose?
Green Chemistry
Drop-in 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Science Discovery Museum
Have you ever made glue out of milk or flour? Want to make your own small solar panel from fruit? Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of chemistry! Discover what materials are bad for the environment and what everyday items can be used to replace them! Learn about how scientists use nature as a basis for a lot of what they study. Put on your goggles and get ready to get your hands messy as we learn about how to be environmentally friendly!
Tuesday, February 7
Take Aparts
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumAre you curious about what’s inside telephones and computers? Discover resistors and capacitors as you uncover the inner workings of everyday objects. Sponsored by Analog Devices, Inc.
Thursday, February 9
FETCH!™ Float My Boat
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumTest different boat designs to see how many DUPLO™ people and animals you can load without sinking the boat. Then try your hand at building your own aluminum foil boat to test. Dive in! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumSing some songs and sample some stories; we’ll bring the books and you bring your imagination!
FETCH!™ Motion Picture
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumCreate a thaumatrope - an optical illusion toy that makes two pictures look like one. Learn about the persistence of vision as you make a fun toy that you can take home with you! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Friday, February 10
Messy Masterpiece: Nature’s Paintbrush
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse a feather as a paintbrush to create a unique work of art.
Saturday, February 11
Music and Movement with Miss Carolyn
1:00 PM Children’s Discovery MuseumExplore sound through singing and playing. Move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout! Music improves your child’s memory, cognitive development, learning skills, and ability to express emotion. Plus, it’s fun! Miss Carolyn is a professional musician, serves as a faculty member at Indian Hill Music School, and has been a licensed Kindermusik Educator for 5 years.
Sunday, February 12
FETCH!™ Motion Picture
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCreate a Valentine’s Day-themed thaumatrope (wonder turner) – an optical illusion toy that makes two pictures look like one. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Magic Show with Rupayan Neogy
12:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumJoin us as local young magician Rupayan Neogy shares his talents with us! Showcasing a variety of tricks, he will confound and amaze in an interactive performance geared toward family audiences. For more information about Rupayan’s magic, visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rneogymagic.
FETCH!™ Potion Commotion
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumWater and oil don’t mix. But watch what happens when you add the fizz factor! Double, double, toil and trouble. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Wednesday, February 15
FETCH!™ Eat Like a Bird
Drop-in 1:30 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumYou eat different foods – crunchy, chewy, crisp, and soft. What about birds? Test different shaped and sized bird beaks to discover what it really means to “eat like a bird”! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Thursday, February 16
Messy Masterpiece: Paint Like Duchamp!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumMarcel Duchamp didn’t believe in conventional art. He used everyday objects to make his art works. He loved the idea that accidents could create great masterpieces. Try your hand at our happy accident string drop, and see how little string drop accidents can create beautiful art works.
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumSing some songs and sample some stories; we’ll bring the books and you bring your imagination!
Friday, February 17
Dinosaur Discoveries
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumTouch a real dinosaur fossil and pretend to be a paleontologist digging for dinosaur bones in our mock excavation site!
Saturday, February 18
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO™ Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Sunday, February 19
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Monday, February 20
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s DiscoveryLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
Geodesic Domes
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumCelebrate National Engineers Week! Discover how math, geometry, structure, and engineering come together as you help construct a 6-foot dome! Learn about Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the geodesic dome, and see pictures of geodesic structures from sports stadiums and houses, to buckyballs, carbon nanotubes, diatoms, and viruses! Find out how to use everyday materials to create your own small dome at home.
Tuesday, February 21
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
FETCH!™ Motion Picture
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumCreate a thaumatrope - an optical illusion toy that makes two pictures look like one. Learn about the persistence of vision as you design a fun toy that you can take home with you! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Wednesday, February 22
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Thursday, February 23
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumSing some songs and sample some stories; we’ll bring the books and you bring your imagination!
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Friday, February 24
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Saturday, February 25
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Sunday, February 26
Build It with DUPLOS™!
Drop-in All Day Children’s Discovery MuseumLEGO building for toddlers! Bring your imagination to build, stack, and sort using our enormous collection of DUPLOS. Construct your own architectural wonder or work together to build a museum-community sculpture.
LEGO Zone
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumJoin LEGO lovers of all ages in community building projects. Design structures, spaceships, and more. Add your creation to our community board for display at the Museum.
Tuesday, February 28
FETCH!™ Potion Commotion
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumWater and oil don’t mix. But watch what happens when you add the fizz factor! Double, double, toil and trouble. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
