February Programs
Friday, February 1
First Friday Nights Free!
4:30 pm to 8:30 pm - both museums openPlease note that for our First Friday Night Free on February 1st (only), the 2nd floor of the Science Discovery Museum will close at 5:30 pm.
The 1st floor of the Science Discovery Museum, and the entire Children's Discovery Museum, will be open with free admission from 4:30 to 8:30pm.
We apologize for any inconvenience.
Join 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 Emerson Hospital with additional support from Alexander, Aronson, Finning and Company, P.C. and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton-Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Harvard, Hudson, Waltham, Wayland, and Westford.
Saturday, February 2
Groundhog’s Shadow
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumWe will see lots of shadows today whether Punxsutawney Phil can see his shadow or not. We’ll create shadow puppets to play with light and shadow. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
FETCH!™ Hang Time!
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumTime to drop everything. Really! Build some copters and race them. The winner hits the ground LAST. Look out below! © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Especially for Me! Free Evening for Families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children
5:30 pm to 8:30 pm - both museums openJoin in all the fun during this special free evening for families with deaf or hard of hearing children in conjunction with the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Program of Children's Hospital Boston. ASL Interpreters will be available. Pre-registration required. Visit http://tinyurl.com/EspeciallyforMe2013-3 to register. Funding provided by MathWorks, Hologic and Acton-Boxborough Regional High School’s Youth in Philanthropy Club.
Sunday, February 3
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.
Tuesday, February 5
Peep Science Adventures: Making Parachutes
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumExplore science today by making parachutes and letting them drop. How fast will your parachute fall? © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments with additional support from Emerson Hospital.
Wednesday, February 6
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. and Genzyme.
Thursday, February 7
Messy Masterpiece: Self Portrait
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumFollow in the footsteps of the some of the world's greatest artists and paint your own self-portrait. What will you see when you look in the mirror? Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments with additional support from Acton Real Estate Co.
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 am Children’s Discovery MuseumJoin us for our weekly story time. We’ll bring the books; you bring your imagination! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Adult & Teen Book Discussion
Faster Isn't Smarter: Messages about Math
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM The Discovery MuseumsParticipate in a lively book discussion based on Faster Isn't Smarter: Messages about Math, Teaching, and Learning in the 21st Century by Cathy L. Seeley, President of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. Discuss thought-provoking issues in K-12 math education, from the impact of rising expectations and the trap of timed tests to the role of technology in math. Sponsored by The Discovery Museums and the Acton-Boxborough Parent Involvement Project. www.actonpip.org. Teens and adults welcome. No fee, but pre-registration required. Call 978-264-4200 x 20. To borrow the book email actonpip@gmail.com.
Friday, February 8
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 7 years. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
FETCH!™ Rescue Mission
Drop-in 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Science Discovery MuseumCan you meet Ruff Ruffman’s challenge? Design hooks that can grab different capsules out of the water. © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Saturday, February 9
Rubber Duck Rescue
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumOh no! The little ducks have swum away from their mother. Help create a device that leads them back to their mom! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Exploring Nano: DNA Necklaces
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumJoin us for hands-on educational programs about nanoscale science, engineering and technology. Learn about self-assembly while making a strawberry DNA necklace! Explore the nano in your everyday life and discover the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Sunday, February 10
Face Painting
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your face or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Celebrate Chinese New Year
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumJoin us as we learn about and celebrate the Year of the Snake! Make your very own Chinese New Year craft to take home with you. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Tuesday, February 12
Mini Mardi Gras
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumMusic makers, masquerade masks, and a mini march make Mardi Gras a mighty merry moment! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
FETCH!™ Hang Time!
Drop-in 1:30pm to 4:30pm Science Discovery MuseumTime to drop everything. Really! Build some copters and race them. The winner hits the ground LAST. Look out below! © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Thursday, February 14
Valentine’s Day Card Making
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s DiscoveryJoin us for a fun Valentines Day craft complete with hearts and glitter! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 am Children’s Discovery MuseumJoin us for our weekly story time. We’ll bring the books; you bring your imagination! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Valentine’s Day: Simply Engineered
Drop-in 1:30pm to 4:30pm Science Discovery MuseumUse simple engineering and your creativity to make one of a kind Valentines to share with family and friends. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Friday, February 15
Story Time with Buddy Love the Therapy Dog
10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumCome meet Buddy Love and her handler Christine Macdonald from the Pets & People Foundation. They will read us a story and Buddy Love will bark along! Learn about people therapy through pets and all about Buddy Love’s role in the organization. Buddy Love is a mixed breed that was rescued from a shelter and he’s ready to greet you! For more information on the Pets & People Foundation, please visit www.petsandpeoplefoundation.org Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Sunday, February 17
Celebrate National Engineering Week: Cup Towers
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! Construct a tower using only cups. How high can you stack ‘em? Remember, the sky's the limit! Sponsored by Genzyme.
Monday, February 18
Celebrate National Engineering Week: Under Pressure
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! Is it possible to support a book with just one sheet of paper? Find out as we put our engineering skills to the test. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Tuesday, February 19
Celebrate National Engineering Week: Marble Runs
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! Join with others and build a variety of roller coaster marble runs in our education room. Engineer tracks with tubes, cardboard, and wooden pieces to add to a community marble run. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Wednesday, February 20
Celebrate National Engineering Week: Bridge the Gap
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! Use simple household items, books and paper, to build a bridge. How much weight can your bridge support? Sponsored by Genzyme.
Thursday, February 21
Celebrate National Engineering Week: Pasta Challenge
Drop-in 1:00pm to 4:00pm Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! Pasta isn’t for eating today. What’s the longest, tallest, most unique structure you can create using uncooked spaghetti? Bring new meaning to “play with your food”!
Sponsored by Genzyme.
Friday, February 22
Celebrate National Engineering Week: LEGO ZONE
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! You bring your imagination and we’ll supply the LEGOs. Try your hand at one of our LEGO challenges or build your own unique creation. Add to our community board to inspire your fellow visitors. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Saturday, February 23
Celebrate National Engineering Week: LEGO ZONE
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! You bring your imagination and we’ll supply the LEGOs. Try your hand at one of our LEGO challenges or build your own unique creation. Add to our community board to inspire your fellow visitors. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Sunday, February 24
Celebrate National Engineering Week: LEGO ZONE
Drop-in All Day Science Discovery MuseumCome join the Science Discovery Museum as we celebrate National Engineering Week! You bring your imagination and we’ll supply the LEGOs. Try your hand at one of our LEGO challenges or build your own unique creation. Add to our community board to inspire your fellow visitors. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Tuesday, February 26
Peep Science Adventures: Flying Paper Airplanes
Drop-in 10:00am Children’s Discovery MuseumCreate and decorate your own paper airplane and then we'll put them through a flight test! © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments with additional support from Emerson Hospital.
Wednesday, February 27
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 7 years. Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
FETCH!™ Rescue Mission
Drop-in 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm Science Discovery MuseumCan you meet Ruff Ruffman’s challenge? Design hooks that can grab different capsules out of the water. © 2012 WGBH Educational Foundation. Sponsored by Genzyme.
Thursday, February 28
Thursday’s Tales
11:00 am Children’s Discovery MuseumJoin us for our weekly story time. We’ll bring the books; you bring your imagination! Sponsored by MEFA’s U.Fund and Fidelity Investments.
Explore the Tiny World of Nanotechology
Pre-registration class 3:00pm to 4:30pm Science Discovery MuseumHave you heard of nano and nanotechnology? Join this exciting class to explore the surprising world of the very small! Discover for yourself how ‘unexpected properties’ happen at the nanoscale when you do a series of experiments with everyday things. Learn how snowflakes come together and create edible gummy capsules to learn about self-assembly. Make a liquid crystal nanosensor and Buckyball to take home, and do other fun experiments to learn why the tiny world of nano is such a big deal!
Instructors: Discovery Museums educators
Ages: 7 to 12
Fee: $12 for members; $15 for non-members
Space is limited. Pre-registration required by February 22; please register and pay online at http://tinyurl.com/NanoClass2013-1.
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