Calendar of Events

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of wood. 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.

Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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: 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.

Experiment with coding a robot in Spark!Lab Smithsonian to attempt to navigate your ’bot through an obstacle course.

Work with fellow museum visitors in The Shop 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: 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.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of textiles materials like fabric, yarn, and more. 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.

Ready to engage in battle? Register for one of our one-day classes and you’ll learn how to build the ultimate BattleBot using using LEGO® Mindstorm robotics. Then, test your bot’s capabilities when you pit it against your fellow participants in a head-to-head, sumo-style battle. Your objective? Push your competitors’ bot out of the ring to declare victory! Register today for one of two age groups. Age Group Time Member Nonmember Registration Ages 5-8* 10:00 – 11:30am $25 $30 Ages 9-12…

Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of a variety of plastics. 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.

Back by popular demand, paint or draw on the Clear Canvas in Da Vinci’s Corner and then watch as the canvas is washed clean to prepare for the next amazing works of art.

Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.

Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.

Celebrate Chinese New Year by creating and decorating your own paper lantern. Using paper, adhesives, measuring tools, cutting tools and battery-operated candles and LEDs, you can create your own version of this festive decoration. 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.

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to create nearly anything you can imagine out of yarn, ribbon, twine, mason line, and more! Learn to make t-shirt yarn and try other techniques like weaving, crochet, knitting, and macramé. 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…

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools like a sewing machine, hot glue and fabric glue to create nearly anything you can imagine out of fabric. 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.

Ever wonder what’s inside that favorite toy? How does it work? What makes it move? Find out once and for all in this hands-on activity in The Shop that will have you dismantling a variety of toys to see what’s inside. 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.

Coding and computer science are changing the face of nearly every industry on the planet. The Discovery’s Day of Code is your chance to explore the wonders of coding through a variety of hands-on activities. See live coding demonstrations with professionals in the industry, explore binary code, play coding games from Microsoft, use code to program a robotic insect, and much more! Attendees will receive a goodie bag from Microsoft, while supplies last! It all happens in one giant, code-filled…

Hands-on gets serious in The Shop! In this material-specific session of Open Build, you’ll use real tools to build nearly anything you can imagine out of a variety of plastics. 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.

On your marks, get set, go! Visit The Shop to build a recycled race car powered by physics. Using a variety of tools and recycled materials, you can create a racer that uses the level of a mousetrap to make it go! 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.

Inspired by inventor Maria E. Beasley, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to use a variety of materials to design, build and test your own life raft. In 1800, Maria E. Beasley was awarded two separate patents for her improved life raft design. Please note: This activity includes 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.

On your marks, get set, go! Visit The Shop to build a recycled race car powered by physics. Using a variety of tools and recycled materials, you can create a racer that uses the level of a mousetrap to make it go! 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.

Inspired by inventor Maria E. Beasley, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to use a variety of materials to design, build and test your own life raft. In 1800, Maria E. Beasley was awarded two separate patents for her improved life raft design. Please note: This activity includes 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.

Prepare for lift-off when you build a compressed-air rocket using the provided template and then test your rocket’s flight capabilities using the museum’s compressed air launcher to send your spacecraft soaring toward the moon! Note: This activity is designed for all ages. Younger rocket builders may require assistance from an adult/caregiver. Multiple attempts to successfully build and launch a rocket are encouraged.