Past Events › Hands-on Activity
Gratitude Pop-up Cards
Show someone you appreciate the nice things they do for you with a handmade pop-up card you create in The Shop. Using a variety of materials and paper engineering skills, you’ll create a card that animates when it is opened by the recipient. What you make 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…
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Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
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Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
DIY Holiday Garland
Visit The Shop to create your own version of a festive holiday decoration. Using yarn, ribbon and a variety of other festive materials, you can create garland to share the holiday spirit. What you make 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 »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
DIY Holiday Garland
Visit The Shop to create your own version of a festive holiday decoration. Using yarn, ribbon and a variety of other festive materials, you can create garland to share the holiday spirit. What you make 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 »
DIY Holiday Garland
Visit The Shop to create your own version of a festive holiday decoration. Using yarn, ribbon and a variety of other festive materials, you can create garland to share the holiday spirit. What you make 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 »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
Paint on Clear Canvas
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.
Find out more »
DIY Holiday Garland
Visit The Shop to create your own version of a festive holiday decoration. Using yarn, ribbon and a variety of other festive materials, you can create garland to share the holiday spirit. What you make 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 »
James Webb Space Telescope Launch
In celebration of the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope launch, The Discovery will explore the wonders of the universe with a variety of special hands-on activities from 12:00 to 4:00pm. And while you’re here, be sure to explore the Sun, Earth Universe exhibition in The Discovery’s Under the Stars gallery. The James Webb Space Telescope is set to launch on December 18, 2021, and will be looking farther into the cosmos than ever before. Scientists at NASA will use the…
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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! To maintain safety and physical distancing, capacity in The Shop will be limited to 14 visitors per half hour session. Visitors must sign up for a 30-minute session once they arrive at the museum. Sign ups are on a first come,…
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DIY Grinch Traps
That Grinch is a pesky guy! To keep him from ruining your holiday festivities, visit The Shop to create your own version of a Grinch trap. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build a trap that’ll lure that mean-spirited and unfriendly guy and keep him from spoiling your holiday spirit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly.…
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DIY Grinch Traps
That Grinch is a pesky guy! To keep him from ruining your holiday festivities, visit The Shop to create your own version of a Grinch trap. Using a variety of materials, you can design and build a trap that’ll lure that mean-spirited and unfriendly guy and keep him from spoiling your holiday spirit. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly.…
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Invent a Holiday Ornament
Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own holiday ornament. Using a variety of materials and your creativity, you can invest an ornament perfect for holiday decoration. Best of all, what you make is yours to keep!
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DIY Confetti Launchers
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! Please note: The Shop offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young…
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DIY Confetti Launchers
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! 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 »
DIY Confetti Launchers
Get ready to ring in the New Year when you build your own confetti launcher in The Shop. Using a variety of materials, you’ll create a device that converts potential energy into kinetic energy to send festive confetti into the air. What you make is yours to keep and use as you celebrate the arrival of 2022! 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 »
Invent an Instrument
Take the entire family to the top of the charts with the new tune you play on the instruments you invent in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Using available tools and materials, design and build your own musical instrument you can actually play. Best of all, what you create is yours to keep! Please note: This activity offers access to real tools and materials that can be dangerous if used improperly. Parents are encouraged to help young inventors use the tools and materials safely…
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Cardboard City
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 through Sunday, January 9, so make plans to visit the museum again to see the completed cityscape! 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…
Find out more »
Cardboard City
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 through Sunday, January 9, so make plans to visit the museum again to see the completed cityscape! 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…
Find out more »