March Programs
Thursday, March 1
Face Painting Fun!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your face or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting. What design will you choose?
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!™ Target Practice
Drop-in 1:30 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumHow good are you at flinging things? Design and test catapults and discover how to leverage your power! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Friday, March 2
FETCH!™ Stack ‘Em Up
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumA cup isn’t very tall. But what about a lot of cups? Your challenge is to build a tower just made out of cups. How high can you go? Remember, the sky’s the limit! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
First Friday Nights Free!
NanoDays@Night! 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM Science Discovery Museum (both museums open for exploration)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 Acorn Deck House Company and Emerson Hospital.
Join us for a special program, NanoDays@Night, part of the NanoDays™ nationwide festival of educational programs of hands-on nanoscale science and engineering activities. See nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play I Spy Nano, and more.. Find the nano in your everyday life and learn why scientists and engineers hope nanotechnology can solve problems—from energy efficiency to medicine. NanoDays activities were developed with support from the NISE Network, using funding from the National Science Foundation.
Saturday, March 3
Meet a Ballerina
11:00 AM Children’s DiscoveryJoin dancers from Commonwealth Ballet as they share the secrets, techniques, and language of ballet. Get up close and personal with costumed ballerinas as you learn about the art that combines music and movement. For more information about the company, visit www.commonwealthballet.org.
Sunday, March 4
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!
Got Compost?
Drop-in 1:00 to 4:00 Science Discovery MuseumDid you know that the average person produced 4.6 pounds of trash per day? And did you know that 27% of that trash is compostable? A team of eighth graders from R. J. Grey Junior High School is trying to make the Town of Acton a more green and environmentally friendly place by raising awareness about composting. Composting will help the town decrease its carbon footprint, save the town money on landfill spending, and provide residents with free fertilizer. Please give them 5 minutes of your time and take this survey to let them know your thoughts. Join us for a hands-on activity and take home resources to learn more about composting.
Wednesday, March 7
FETCH!™ Tempest in a Teacup
Drop-in 1:30 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumIt’s hot! It’s cold! It’s bubbly! You won’t believe the wild chemical reactions you can create in a cup! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Thursday, March 8
Be a Pirate!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumAhoy, me hearties! Join us to learn how to speak like a pirate, create your own hat and eye patch, search for hidden treasure, and practice how to walk the plank.
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, March 9
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, March 10
Messy Masterpiece: Paint Like Mondrian!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCelebrate the birth month of Piet Mondrian, an artist who used straight lines and simple colors to create paintings that expressed thoughts and feelings. Explore some of Mondrian’s masterpieces and then try your hand at creating your own work of art. What kind of feelings will you express?
FETCH!™ Motion Picture
Drop-in 1:00 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 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.
Sunday, March 11
Face Painting Fun!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your face or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting. What design will you choose?
Wednesday, March 14
PI DAY!
2:00 PM Science DiscoveryCelebrate 3.14, also know as “Pi Day”. Measure various circles from quarters to hula hoops and discovery for yourself the fascinating concept of Pi. Try other circular activities and solve fun math puzzlers.
Thursday, March 15
FETCH!™ Hang Time!
10:00 AMChildren’s Discovery MuseumTime to drop everything. Really! Build some copters and race them. The winner hits the ground LAST. Look out below! 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!
Friday, March 16
Build It!
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.
Saturday, March 17
Messy Masterpiece: Noodle Mania
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCelebrate National Noodle Month and St. Patrick’s Day as you use a variety of green pasta to create a stupendous sculpture or creative collage.
SMART Gals Do Brain Science!
Drop-in 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM Science DiscoveryCelebrate Brain Awareness Week with Harvard University neuroscientists. Try activities that will fire your neurons and test your brain. Discover the inner workings of your mind and learn how researchers do brain science! SMART Gals (Science Math & ART) is sponsored by the Ramsey McCluskey Family Foundation.
Sunday, March 18
Meet Bessie the Dinosaur!
10:00 AM & 11:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumMeet Bessie, the dinosaur mascot of The Discovery Museums. She’s loves to give high-fives and hugs! *Bessie is a costumed museum staff member.
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!™ Tempest in a Teacup
Drop-in 1:00 to 4:00 PM Science Discovery MuseumIt’s hot! It’s cold! It’s bubbly! You won’t believe the wild chemical reactions you can create in a cup! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Tuesday, March 20
FETCH!™ Thrill Ride
Drop-in 1:30 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumJoin with others and build a variety of roller coaster marble runs in our education room. Create tracks with tubes, cardboard, and wooden pieces to add to a community marble run inspired by Ruff Ruffman! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Thursday, March 22
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!
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!™ What’s the Buzz?
Drop-in 1:30 to 4:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumWhat’s the Buzz? Make your own kazoo and try it out in our SoundLab exhibit! Sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank, with additional support from Red Hat, Inc. © 2011 WGBH Educational Foundation.
Friday, March 23
Messy Masterpiece: Painting with LEGO DUPLOS
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumYou have built amazing structures using DUPLOS, but have you ever used them to make a painting? Join us as we use DUPLOS to make colorful works of art.
Saturday, March 24
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.
SMART Gals: Vernal Pools with Joan Ellis
1:30 PM Science Discovery MuseumDid you know that vernal pools reach their peak depth in the spring and are home to all kinds of amphibians? Join us to learn all about vernal pools: where you can find them, what they look like, and the kinds of animals that inhabit them. Artist Joan Ellis will show you how to make your very own reproduction of a vernal pool out of recycled materials. The SMART (Science-Math-Art) Gals Series is sponsored by The Ramsey McCluskey Family 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/EspeciallyforMe2012-2 to register. Funding provided by the Boston Bruins Foundation, Nypro, DCU for Kids, CVS, Acton-Boxborough Regional High School’s Youth in Philanthropy Club, and the Local Cultural Councils of Acton, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Dracut, Framingham, Harvard, Hudson, Lawrence, Leominster, Littleton, Natick, Waltham, Wayland, Westford and Weston with in-kind support provided by Not Your Average Joe's.
Sunday, March 25
Noodling Around
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumCelebrate National Noodle Month as you use colorful pasta to create a beautiful necklace or bracelet!
NanoDays Celebration!
Drop-in 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM Science Discovery
The Discovery Museums are partners in NanoDays™, a nationwide festival of hands-on educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. See nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play I Spy Nano, and more. Find the nano in your everyday life and discover the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale. NanoDays activities were developed by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Tuesday, March 27
NanoDays Celebration!
Drop-in 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery
The Discovery Museums are partners in NanoDays™, a nationwide festival of hands-on educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. See nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play I Spy Nano, and more. Find the nano in your everyday life and discover the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale. NanoDays activities were developed by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Wednesday, March 28
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, March 29
Build It!
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!
NanoDays Celebration!
Drop-in 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM Science Discovery
The Discovery Museums are partners in NanoDays™, a nationwide festival of hands-on educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. See nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play I Spy Nano, and more. Find the nano in your everyday life and discover the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale. NanoDays activities were developed by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Friday, March 30
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.
NanoDays Celebration!
Drop-in 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM Science DiscoveryThe Discovery Museums are partners in NanoDays™, a nationwide festival of hands-on educational programs about nanoscale science and engineering. See nano gold, make a DNA necklace, change the color of a butterfly’s wings, play I Spy Nano, and more. Find the nano in your everyday life and discover the special and unexpected properties found at the nanoscale. NanoDays activities were developed by the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) with funding from the National Science Foundation.
Saturday, March 31
Face Painting Fun!
10:00 AM Children’s Discovery MuseumUse your face or hand as a canvas for a colorful painting. What design will you choose?
NanoScience from Brandeis University
Drop-in 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Science DiscoveryMeet members of the Brandeis University’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and learn about their exciting interdisciplinary research that explores the interface of biology and nanoscale materials science. Try hands-on activities to discover how materials have unexpected properties at the nanoscale. NanoDays is a nationwide festival of education programs with the Nanoscale Informal Science Education Network (NISE Net) and the National Science Foundation.
