Calendar of Events

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.

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.

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!

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…

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.

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.

Inspired by author Hiromu Arakawa, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to use cardboard and other recycled and consumable materials to invent a mechanical hand. In 2001, Hiromu Arakawa created “Fullmetal Alchemist,” a Japanese manga series. This series has sold over 64 million volumes worldwide. 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.

Inspired by author Hiromu Arakawa, visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to use cardboard and other recycled and consumable materials to invent a mechanical hand. In 2001, Hiromu Arakawa created “Fullmetal Alchemist,” a Japanese manga series. This series has sold over 64 million volumes worldwide. 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.

Even with modern engineering and technology, space travel is still a daunting and detail-oriented task. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to plan your own space mission by deciding what you must take to successfully reach the moon and return to Earth safely.

Even with modern engineering and technology, space travel is still a daunting and detail-oriented task. Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to plan your own space mission by deciding what you must take to successfully reach the moon and return to Earth safely.

Visit Spark!Lab Smithsonian to invent your own flying machine! Using a variety of materials, you can invent a contraption that will take a human into the sky. This challenging STEAM activity requires inventors to consider key concepts of flight including lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Best of all, what you invent is yours to keep! 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…

Get ready to strum or pluck your way to the top of the charts on a string instrument you invent in Spark!Lab Smithsonian. Using a variety of materials including cardboard, craft sticks, wood scraps, twine, and more, you’ll create a musical instrument that really plays! 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.

With fossil fuels in high demand and short supply, can you invent a vehicle that uses an alternate form of power? Not batteries, but wind! Using a variety of materials, invent a vehicle that harnesses wind power to transport people or parcels to-and-fro. 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.

With fossil fuels in high demand and short supply, can you invent a vehicle that uses an alternate form of power? Not batteries, but wind! Using a variety of materials, invent a vehicle that harnesses wind power to transport people or parcels to-and-fro. 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.

With fossil fuels in high demand and short supply, can you invent a vehicle that uses an alternate form of power? Not batteries, but wind! Using a variety of materials, invent a vehicle that harnesses wind power to transport people or parcels to-and-fro. 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.