Museum Field Trip

• Fantastic Forces, Grades 2-8 / What is a force? How do they impact our world and the way it moves?  We will explore the basics of forces as we demonstrate the power of magnets, gravity and more.  We will break down Newton’s Laws as we send objects flying and perform science ‘tricks’. 
  
  
• Lights, Color, Action, Grades PreK-4 / Explore the amazing world of light and color as we experiment with prisms, filtered light and more! We will make light bend, bounce, and transform as we demonstrate how light creates the colorful world we see around us! 
  
  
• The Science of Sound, Grades K-5 / Explore the science behind sound with interactive demonstrations.  Investigate the role waves play in the creation of sound and experiment with loud vs. soft and high vs. low sounds. 

• Magic of Electricity, Grades 3-12 / Discover how electricity affects the world in all forms through electromagnets, static electricity, plasma and more. Demonstrations include the Van de Graaf generator a hair raising experience! 

Sponsored by Consumers Energy

Join us for an engaging, discussion-based tour of our fine art galleries. Explore different artistic processes and techniques as you learn about the elements of art and principles of design with our curator.

Ages / High School to Adult
Cost / $2 per person
Tours run approximately 30 minutes

Students will identify the intersections found within scientific experimentation and the creative process as they explore kinetic art, sound, chemistry, architecture and design through a guided tour and hands-on classroom experience.

Grades / PreK – 3
Cost / $2 per person
Runs approximately 30 minutes

Spark!Lab® is a unique hands-on learning lab where visitors of all ages can explore what it means to be an inventor. Participants use their knowledge and provided materials to answer open-ended challenges. Creativity and collaboration abound in this safe space where if you fail it is just a first attempt in learning! 

Grades / PreK – 12
No cost but a reservation is required.
Sessions run approximately 30 minutes. Limit 25 students

Art Studio hands-on workshops offer students the opportunity to explore standard-aligned visual arts topics.

• Three Simple Colors, Grades Preschool-1 /  Students will join us as we read Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  Following our story time, students will experiment with primary colors, simple shapes, and line as they create a unique work inspired by Piet Mondrian.

• Express Yourself, Grades 2-5 / Students will be introduced to the work of Paul Klee as they explore the relationship between colors, emotions, and more.  Students will create their own self-portraits inspired by Klee.

• Introduction to Printmaking, Grades 6-8 / Students will learn about the techniques of printmaking as they make simple prints.  Students will draw influence from artworks of different cultures as they experiment with line and texture.

• Mini Art Intensive, Grades 9-12 / Students will explore subtle changes in value can have a large impact on an artwork. After examining works from various time periods and movements, students will take a deep dive into value as they create a torn paper value study.

Science Studio hands-on workshops offer students the opportunity to explore standards-aligned science topics. 

• Amazing Magnets , Grades Preschool-K / Explore the movement of objects and the basic properties of magnets during an engaging story time. After, students will create a unique magnetic work of art.

•  Light Explorers, Grades 1-2 / Uncover the properties of light with hands-on exploration and create a unique way of communicating using light.

• Evolving Earth, Grades 2-4 / Discover the many ways Earth changes from day-to-day, month-to-month and year-to-year.  Along this journey, students will learn how scientists track and even try to prevent some global changes!

• Miraculous Matter, Grades 5-8 / Learn about the properties of matter and its relationship with energy. Plus, they'll explore chemical and physical changes with hands-on experiments and engaging demonstrations.

• Rocket Power, Grades 6-12 / Learn about Newton’s Laws with interactive demonstrations then design, build and test straw rockets to see these Laws in action.