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Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
![Magnetic Ice Dancer](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Magnetic_Ice_Dancer-580x400.jpg)
Magnetic Ice Dancer
Visit The Shop and combine a pair of magnets with paper craft to create a magical ice dancer with a rink to skate on. 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.
Find out more »![Visiting Artist Nicole Oliver](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Visiting_Artist_Nicole_Oliver-580x400.jpg)
Visiting Artist: Nicole Oliver
Join Visiting Artist Nicole Oliver to work together with your child to create a collaborative work of art. Parents are encouraged to provide guidance while responding to their child’s creative decisions, working collaboratively to create a truly unique piece. About Nicole Oliver Nicole has collaborated with her two-year-old daughter Mazie to paint garden scenes using acrylic paint on canvas. The process and the finished pieces reflect the joys and struggles of motherhood, as well as the growth that both parent…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Winter-Scene-580x400.jpg)
Simple Animation Machine
One event on December 11, 2019 at 2:30 pm
One event on December 14, 2019 at 10:30 am
Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials and your imagination to design and build a simple animation machine. Bring a beautiful winter scene to life with a machine that creates a simple looping animation. What you create is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Winter-Scene-580x400.jpg)
Simple Animation Machine
Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials and your imagination to design and build a simple animation machine. Bring a beautiful winter scene to life with a machine that creates a simple looping animation. What you create is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TechNight-580x400.jpg)
Tech!Night December
Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights feature a variety of high-tech tools and techniques, gadgets and games – command a robot, print in 3-D, and even code a new game – happening monthly in Spark!Lab Smithsonian.
Find out more »![Simple Animation Machine](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Simple_Animation_Machine-580x400-1.gif)
Simple Animation Machine
Reno, NV 89501 United States
Visit The Shop to combine a variety of materials and your imagination to design and build a simple animation machine. Bring a beautiful winter scene to life with a machine that creates a simple looping animation. What you create is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LED-Holiday-Card-580x400.jpg)
LED Holiday Cards
One event on December 18, 2019 at 2:30 pm
One event on December 20, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on December 21, 2019 at 10:30 am
Light up your holiday with a greeting card that glows! Visit The Shop to use a variety of available materials along with a battery, LED and copper circuitry to create a holiday greeting that shines like Rudolph’s nose. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
One event on December 26, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on December 27, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on December 28, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on December 29, 2019 at 10:30 am
One event on December 30, 2019 at 10:30 am
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LED-Holiday-Card-580x400.jpg)
LED Holiday Cards
Light up your holiday with a greeting card that glows! Visit The Shop to use a variety of available materials along with a battery, LED and copper circuitry to create a holiday greeting that shines like Rudolph’s nose. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LED-Holiday-Card-580x400.jpg)
LED Holiday Cards
Light up your holiday with a greeting card that glows! Visit The Shop to use a variety of available materials along with a battery, LED and copper circuitry to create a holiday greeting that shines like Rudolph’s nose. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/LED-Holiday-Card-580x400.jpg)
LED Holiday Cards
One event on December 14, 2022 at 4:30 pm
One event on December 17, 2022 at 10:30 am
Light up your holiday with a greeting card that glows! Visit The Shop to use a variety of available materials along with a battery, LED and copper circuitry to create a holiday greeting that shines like Rudolph’s nose. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/OpenBuild-580x400.jpg)
Open Build in The Shop
In The Shop, hands-on gets serious. During Open Build, take your pick from a variety of materials and use real tools to design and build nearly anything you can imagine. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Snow-Maze-580x400.jpg)
Winter Magnetic Maze
Navigate your way through a wintery maze you create in The Shop! Using available tools and materials, you can create a snow covered maze with a figure that finds its way through with the help of a magnet. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Snow-Globe-580x400.jpg)
DIY Snow Globes
Visit The Shop for a unique opportunity to create a classic winter snow globe. Combine a mason jar with a variety of items to set your scene and then add water and glitter to create a wonderful snowy scenes that comes to life! Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Snow-Globe-580x400.jpg)
DIY Snow Globes
Visit The Shop for a unique opportunity to create a classic winter snow globe. Combine a mason jar with a variety of items to set your scene and then add water and glitter to create a wonderful snowy scenes that comes to life! Space in each session is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Puppet-580x400.jpg)
Discovery Puppet Theater
One event on January 25, 2020 at 10:30 am
One event on January 26, 2020 at 12:30 pm
Be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Muppets creator Jim Henson when you visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own hand puppet. Using available materials, you can create a unique character all your own and learn about how The Muppets went from idea to hit television sensation.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NYE-Card-580x400.jpg)
New Year’s Pop-up Card
One event on January 1, 2020 at 10:30 am
One event on January 2, 2020 at 10:30 am
One event on January 3, 2020 at 10:30 am
One event on January 4, 2020 at 10:30 am
Celebrate the coming of the New Year with a pop-up card you create in The Shop. Using a variety of paper and some careful engineering, you’ll create a greeting card with an object that pops up when the card is opened. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/NYE-Card-580x400.jpg)
New Year’s Pop-up Card
Celebrate the coming of the New Year with a pop-up card you create in The Shop. Using a variety of paper and some careful engineering, you’ll create a greeting card with an object that pops up when the card is opened. 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pinball-580x400.jpg)
Prototype Pinball
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to experiment with the new Prototype Pinball exhibit. Arrange the various bumpers and figure out how long you can keep the marble from reaching the bottom of the game. Your feedback on this exhibit will help us develop the final version that will become a permanent part of the museum’s exhibit collection.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Pinball-580x400.jpg)
Prototype Pinball
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to experiment with the new Prototype Pinball exhibit. Arrange the various bumpers and figure out how long you can keep the marble from reaching the bottom of the game. Your feedback on this exhibit will help us develop the final version that will become a permanent part of the museum’s exhibit collection.
Find out more »