Calendar of Events

Take inspiration from Orville & Wilbur Wright when you visit The Shop to design and build your version of a flyer machine. Using available materials and real tool, you can create your own rendition of the famous Wright Flyer! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Work with fellow museum visitors in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to create an expansive cardboard city. Build homes, skyscrapers, churches, parks, stores… whatever you can imagine. This is an ongoing collaborative project that will grow and change throughout the day. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely.

Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely.

Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Let the performance begin! Visit The Discovery’s Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own version of a hand puppet. Using a variety of materials, you can design and create a hand puppet and then conduct a performance for friends, family and fellow museum visitors on the Spark!Lab puppet stage. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely.

Visit The Shop to make your own pocket field notebook, a tool in science for collecting scientific observations. Use available tools and materials to personalize your field notebook and follow our provided guide to create your first field entry. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

While making a topographical map out of recycled materials, visitors can anticipate a creative and educational experience. They will construct 3D maps that represent terrain elevations, using materials like cardboard and paper. Through this activity, participants will learn about topography, scale, and contour lines. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

While making a topographical map out of recycled materials, visitors can anticipate a creative and educational experience. They will construct 3D maps that represent terrain elevations, using materials like cardboard and paper. Through this activity, participants will learn about topography, scale, and contour lines. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

For this edition of Cotton Ball Splat Art, create their very own Hot air balloons in honor of the Hot Air Balloon Races! young visitors will use cotton balls to create colorful patterns and designs on pre-made hot air balloon templates. Visitors will use fine motor skills to paint with cotton balls, identify colors and patterns, encourage self expression, and learn about cause and effect. This activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under

Join us to build your own insect and bee hotel! Perfect for nature enthusiast. This hands-on activity helps support local ecosystems. Create a cozy habitat for beneficial insects while learning about their vital role in our environment.* Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visitors can use a variety of pieces that could be used to create a new sport, or innovate a sport they like. pieces are cones, various sports pieces, some baskets, small pallets, Tinkertoys and Lego.

Join us to build your own insect and bee hotel! Perfect for nature enthusiast. This hands-on activity helps support local ecosystems. Create a cozy habitat for beneficial insects while learning about their vital role in our environment.* Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visitors can use a variety of pieces that could be used to create a new sport, or innovate a sport they like. pieces are cones, various sports pieces, some baskets, small pallets, Tinkertoys and Lego.

Join us to build your own insect and bee hotel! Perfect for nature enthusiast. This hands-on activity helps support local ecosystems. Create a cozy habitat for beneficial insects while learning about their vital role in our environment.* Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Visitors can use a variety of pieces that could be used to create a new sport, or innovate a sport they like. pieces are cones, various sports pieces, some baskets, small pallets, Tinkertoys and Lego.

Young visitors will enjoy a game of bowling with child-friendly pins and balls, developing hand-eye coordination and motor skills. This activity is offered as part of The Discovery’s Small Wonder Wednesday program and is limited to attendees ages 5 and under.

Visitors can use a variety of pieces that could be used to create a new sport, or innovate a sport they like. pieces are cones, various sports pieces, some baskets, small pallets, Tinkertoys and Lego.

It’s Officially Fall Y’all! In this activity visitors will use available supplies like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, store bought decorations, and more to create fall decorations for their home. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.

Using recycled materials visitors will build what they think a time machine would look like, thinking about what it needs to “travel through time” and how it would protect them from that travel. Please note: This activity includes access to tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely in this space.

It’s Officially Fall Y’all! In this activity visitors will use available supplies like wood, cardboard, fabric, plastic, store bought decorations, and more to create fall decorations for their home. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents/caregivers are encouraged to help young tinkerers use the tools and materials safely in this space.