January Programs
Thursday, January 5
Messy Masterpiece: Sparkle Your Snowflakes
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse glitter and glue to create your own shimmering snowflake masterpiece.
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, January 6
Build It!
10:00 AM 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.
FETCH!™ Float My Boat
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumEven large ships weighing hundreds of thousands of tons stay afloat. But how? Investigate floating by building tinfoil boats and loading them with pennies until they sink. Discover how a boat’s size and shape make a difference in how much of a load it can carry. Time to roll up the shirtsleeves and dive in! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
First Friday Nights Free!
4:30pm to 8:30pm, both MuseumsJoin us with free admission and explore the museums at night on the first Friday of every month, now through June 2012! We will gratefully accept donations for the Acton Food Pantry. Sponsored in part by Acorn Deck House and Emerson Hospital.
Saturday, January 7
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, January 8
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!
Take Aparts
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 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, January 12
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!™ Canine House of Cards
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumAre you ready for a challenge? Ruff Ruffman begs you to build a two-story structure strong enough to hold his jumbo dog biscuit! Can you do it with just index cards? Sharpen your engineering and design skills with this fun FETCH! activity. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc.
Friday, January 13
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.
FETCH!™ Rescue Mission
11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumOops, we’re missing the hook we use to rescue baby ducks that swim too far away from their mother. Your challenge is to design a hook, pull the baby ducks from the water, and carry them to dry land. A preschool-level adaptation of this popular FETCH!™activity in honor of National Rubber Ducky Day. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Reaction Station: Adventures for Young Chemists
Drop-in 2:00 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumImagine yourself a chemist and use real laboratory tools to do experiments. Try your hand at doing wet chemistry in a model glove box and learn why some chemists use glove boxes and hoods. Reaction Station is funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Saturday, January 14
Dress Up Your Stuffed Pet!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumIn honor of National Dress Up Your Pet Day, bring in your favorite stuffed animal and create a special costume for your furry friend.
FETCH!™ Copper Cleanup
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumPennies become dull when their surface is exposed to oxygen. See if you can make a penny sparkle with ketchup, baking soda, or cola. Explore whether acids or bases work better at restoring a penny’s shine. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Sunday, January 15
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?
Monday, January 16
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Both buildings open 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Celebrate Friendship
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCelebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day by listening to the story Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King Jr. by Jean Marzollo and making friendship bracelets. Make one for yourself and one for a new friend you might meet while visiting The Discovery Museums today.
Celebrate Friendship
Drop-in 2:00 to 4:00 PM Science DiscoveryCelebrate this significant day by learning about Martin Luther King, Jr. Receive a special bookmark and make a friendship bracelet. Make one for yourself and one for a new friend you might meet while visiting The Discovery Museums today.
Wednesday, January 18
FETCH! Race for Survival
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumAll animals have features that help them survive. Some animals use camouflage to hide from predators or to lure unsuspecting prey. In this challenge, you will be a predator searching for prey. Find out just how important camouflage is in a race for survival! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Thursday, January 19
SMART Gals: Caring for Pets
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumIn honor of Drs. Elinor McGrath and Florence Kimbell, two of the earliest known women to earn veterinarian degrees (in 1910) and pioneers in the practice of pet care, come learn about the profession and how to care for your own pets using our collection of stuffed animals. The SMART (Science-Math-Art) Gals Series is sponsored by The Ramsey McCluskey Family 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!
Reaction Station: Adventures for Young Chemists
Drop-in 2:00 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumImagine yourself a chemist and use real laboratory tools to do experiments. Try your hand at doing wet chemistry in a model glove box and learn why some chemists use glove boxes and hoods. Reaction Station is funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
Friday, January 20
Face Painting Fun with Frosty the Snowman!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your cheek or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting and meet Frosty the Snowman! Frosty the Snowman is a costumed staff person.
SMART Gals: Clara Driscoll Stained Glass Creations
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumJoin us as we celebrate the life and work of Clara Driscoll, a woman who was the chief director and designer of more than thirty iconic Tiffany lamps produced by the company between 1880 and 1910. Learn about stained glass and the techniques used to put the lamps together. Inspired by the colors and designs of the Art Nouveau period, explore the art of stained glass by making your own “stained glass” craft to take home with you. The SMART (Science-Math-Art) Gals Series is sponsored by The Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation.
Saturday, January 21
Messy Masterpiece: Paint Like Van Gogh!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumJoin us as we explore the life and masterpieces of Vincent van Gogh. Learn about one of his most famous paintings called The Starry Night, and try your hand at making your own Starry Night painting in the style of van Gogh.
FETCH!™ Canine House of Cards
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumAre you ready for a challenge? Ruff Ruffman begs you to build a two-story structure strong enough to hold his jumbo dog biscuit! Can you do it with just index cards? Sharpen your engineering and design skills with this fun FETCH! activity. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc.
Sunday, January 22
Silly Songs & Stories
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumLet your silly side run wild as we sing some songs and share some stories that are sure to tickle your funny bone!
Monday, January 23
Especially for Me! Free Morning at The Discovery Museums for Families with Children with Hearing Loss
9:30am to 12:30pm at Children's Discovery Museum and Science Discovery MuseumCome join in all the fun during this special free morning for families with infants and toddlers with hearing loss. Pre-registration required, please contact Amy Spencer at aspencer@discoverymuseums.org to register or for more information. Funding provided by the Boston Bruins Foundation, CVS, Foundation for MetroWest, Morgan Stanley, Nypro, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School's Youth in Philanthropy Club, and the Local Cultural Councils of Dracut, Harvard, Hudson, Littleton, Natick, Waltham, Wayland, Westford and Weston.
Tuesday, January 24
FETCH!™ Copper Cleanup
Drop-in 1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumPennies become dull when their surface is exposed to oxygen. See if you can make a penny sparkle with ketchup, baking soda, or cola. Explore whether acids or bases work better at restoring a penny’s shine. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Wednesday, January 25
Celebrate the Chinese New Year!
Drop-in 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumJoin us as we learn about and celebrate the Year of the Dragon! Make your very own Chinese New Year craft to take home with you.
Thursday, January 26
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, January 27
Celebrate Chinese New Year!
10:00 AM Children’s DiscoveryCelebrate the Year of the Dragon! Listen to a reading of My First Chinese New Year by Karen Katz and make a dragon puppet to share in a dragon parade.
Saturday, January 28
FETCH!™ Toy Chemistry
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumExplore the ingredients of play dough and use our special tools to create unique play dough sculptures. A preschool-level adaptation of this popular FETCH!™ activity. Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Especially for Me! Free Evening at The Discovery Museums for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum
5:30 to 8:30 PM at Children’s Discovery Museum and Science Discovery MuseumCome join in all the fun during this special free evening for families with children on the autism spectrum. Pre-registration required. Visit http://tinyurl.com/EspeciallyforMe2012-1 to register. Funding provided by the Boston Bruins Foundation, CVS, Morgan Stanley, Nypro, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School's Youth in Philanthropy Club, and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Harvard, Hudson, Lawrence, Leominster, Littleton, Natick, Waltham, Wayland, Westford and Weston with in-kind support provided by Not Your Average Joe's.
Sunday, January 29
Noodling Around
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse colorful pasta to create a beautiful necklace or bracelet!
FETCH!™ Float My Boat
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumEven large ships weighing hundreds of thousands of tons stay afloat. But how? Investigate floating by building tinfoil boats and loading them with pennies until they sink. Discover how a boat’s size and shape make a difference in how much of a load it can carry. Time to roll up the shirtsleeves and dive in! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Tuesday, January 31
Reaction Station: Adventures for Young Chemists
Drop-in 2:00 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumImagine yourself a chemist and use real laboratory tools to do experiments. Try your hand at doing wet chemistry in a model glove box and learn why some chemists use glove boxes and hoods. Reaction Station is funded by The Camille & Henry Dreyfus Foundation.
