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Calendar of Events
Past Events › Hands-on Activity
![](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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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/2017/09/Glowing_Eye_Critters-580x400.jpg)
Glowing-eyed Critters
With LED eyes peering through the darkness of night, these Halloween-inspired light up decorations are sure to be a hit. Using construction paper and light emitting diodes (LEDs) you can create a spooky decoration with eyes that light up in the dark! 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 October
Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will 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. Specimen Examination During this Tech!Night activity inspired by Mexican-American biologist Lydia Villa-Komaroff, visitors will examine a variety of specimens using a microscope.…
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Glowing_Eye_Critters-580x400.jpg)
Glowing-eyed Critters
With LED eyes peering through the darkness of night, these Halloween-inspired light up decorations are sure to be a hit. Using construction paper and light emitting diodes (LEDs) you can create a spooky decoration with eyes that light up in the dark! 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/2017/09/Glowing_Eye_Critters-580x400.jpg)
Glowing-eyed Critters
With LED eyes peering through the darkness of night, these Halloween-inspired light up decorations are sure to be a hit. Using construction paper and light emitting diodes (LEDs) you can create a spooky decoration with eyes that light up in the dark! 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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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/2017/10/Make_a_Tail-580x400.jpg)
Make-a-Tail Workshop
Just in time for Halloween, visit The Shop to create a tail using a no-sew technique. Choose from a variety of materials to create almost any tail you can imaging—horse, rooster, peacock, even a T. rex! 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/2017/10/Make_a_Tail-580x400.jpg)
Make-a-Tail Workshop
Just in time for Halloween, visit The Shop to create a tail using a no-sew technique. Choose from a variety of materials to create almost any tail you can imaging—horse, rooster, peacock, even a T. rex! 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/2017/10/Costume_Studio-580x400.jpg)
Costume Workshop
Put the finishing touches on your Halloween costume in The Shop here at The Discovery. Tap into The Shop‘s library of real tools and materials to create a custom costume only you can imagine. 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/2017/10/Costume_Studio-580x400.jpg)
Costume Workshop
Put the finishing touches on your Halloween costume in The Shop here at The Discovery. Tap into The Shop‘s library of real tools and materials to create a custom costume only you can imagine. 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/2017/09/Fossil_Fish-580x400.jpg)
Exploration Station: Fossils
Stop by this quick, hands-on activity to explore a variety of fossils and understand how the fossilization process works as it did with A T. rex Named Sue. Activity available 11:30am to 1:30pm.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Costume_Studio-580x400.jpg)
Costume Workshop
Put the finishing touches on your Halloween costume in The Shop here at The Discovery. Tap into The Shop‘s library of real tools and materials to create a custom costume only you can imagine. 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/2017/10/Costume_Studio-580x400.jpg)
Costume Studio
Put the finishing touches on your Halloween costume in The Shop here at The Discovery. Tap into The Shop‘s library of real tools and materials to create a custom costume only you can imagine. 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/2017/10/Wood_Scrap_Animals-580x400.jpg)
Wood Scrap Animals
Put your carpentry skills to the test when you visit The Shop to build a sculpture of your favorite animal using scraps of wood. Choose from The Shop‘s selection of real tools and saw, hammer and drill your pieces of scrap wood into an artistic interpretation of your favorite member of the animal kingdom. 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…
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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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/2017/09/Where_Did_Dinos_Live-580x400.jpg)
Exploration Station: When Did Dinos Live?
Stop by this hands-on activity to find out about the land where dinosaurs lived. You’ll explore the landscape they inhabited and understand how recently they roamed the Earth, especially when you consider the age of our universe. Activity available 11:30am – 1:30pm
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pinecone_Turkeys-580x400.jpg)
Pinecone Turkeys
Use your creativity and a variety of materials in The Shop to transform and ordinary pinecone into a whimsical and festive holiday 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Where_Did_Dinos_Live-580x400.jpg)
Exploration Station: When Did Dinos Live?
Stop by this hands-on activity to find out about the land where dinosaurs lived. You’ll explore the landscape they inhabited and understand how recently they roamed the Earth, especially when you consider the age of our universe. Activity available 11:30am – 1:30pm
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pinecone_Turkeys-580x400.jpg)
Pinecone Turkeys
Use your creativity and a variety of materials in The Shop to transform and ordinary pinecone into a whimsical and festive holiday 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/TechNight-580x400.jpg)
Tech!Night November
Visit The Discovery on the second Wednesday of every month for Tech!Night, a new program designed to put emerging technology in the hands of museum visitors. Tech!Nights will 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. Invent a Flavor In this Tech!Night activity, you’ll have the chance to invent an icing flavor for cupcakes. Yum! Generously supported by:
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Pinecone_Turkeys-580x400.jpg)
Pinecone Turkeys
An event every day that begins at 10:30 am, repeating until November 11, 2017
Use your creativity and a variety of materials in The Shop to transform and ordinary pinecone into a whimsical and festive holiday 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.
Find out more »![](https://nvdm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Fossil_Fish-580x400.jpg)
Exploration Station: Fossils
Touch and explore real fossils and learn about the fossilization process in this quick, hands-on activity. You’ll also have the chance to make your own fossil imprint fossil to keep. Exploration Station activity available 10:30am to 4:30pm.
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, whatever you create is yours to take home! 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/2017/11/Beaded_Corn-580x400.jpg)
Beaded Corn
Using wire, pipe cleaners and a variety of beads in The Shop, build clever little ears of corn for a festive holiday 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.
Find out more »