March Theme: Spring Into Science

Get ready for warmer, sunnier weather as we Spring Into Science this month at Adventure Science Center.

We'll be discussing plants, animals, and weather changes as we move into the spring season.

Check out a few of the activities we're facilitating this month and explore the science behind it all.

Plus, we're extending our operating hours on select days during the month of March. We will be open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on March 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 16, and 17.

Themed programming will take place:

• Every day in the i2 Makerspace
• Every Monday at 9:30 am in the Early Explorer Storytime in Eureka Theatre
• Every day in Live Science in Eureka Theatre
• Optional theme build in Tinkering Garage
  • This month, we're making gardening baskets as springtime begins!
• Floor cart activities on the floor throughout the month

Activities in the i2 Makerspace

• March 2-3: Spring Trees Paper Craft
• March 9-10: Air-Dry Clay Bobble Heads
• Mar 16-17: Hopping Origami Frog
• Mar 23-24: Spring Tree Paper Craft
• Mar 30-31: Air-Dry Clay Bobble Heads + April Fool’s Day Craft - Make Your Own BrownE’s

Please note: due to closed filming at the science center, i2 Makerspace activities will take place in Adventure Gallery on Friday, March 1 and Friday, March 8.

Early Explorer Storytime Books and Activities

• March 4: Who Will Plant a Tree?
  • Early Explorers will plant a Southern Red Cedar tree in a pot to take home and grow in their backyard.
• March 11: Planting a Rainbow
  • Early Explorers will use their sense of touch and sight to make art showing flowers, leaves, and branches.
• March 18: Tap the Magic Tree
  • Early Explorers will twist and fold a brown paper bag to make a strong, winding tree. They will add tissue paper to the branches to bring their spring tree to life.
• March 25: Bugs
  • Early Explorers will make lightning bugs out of LEDs and bottles. They will learn about the special chemistry of bioluminescence that some bugs have. 

Time: Every Monday at 9:30 am
Location: Eureka Theatre on the second floor
Ages: Pre-K (Kids Under Five)
Follow us on Instagram for a sneak peek at each week's story and associated activity.

Floor Cart Activities and Demonstrations

Leaf Relief Art 

Learn about leaves by rubbing crayons over raised plates in various leaf shapes. This form of art is called “relief art." Guests can learn about the orientations of leaves across different species of trees and a dichotomous key will be available so visitors can try and identify their leaves like ecologists and arborists do in the real world. 

Gold Doubloons

Visitors will turn copper pennies into gold doubloons using a series of chemical reactions. First, a penny will be coated in zinc to make it appear silver. Then, we'll add heat to the penny as it slowly turns into gold...or at least an alloy that appears gold. This is thought to have been the process used by early alchemists to make “gold.”

Butterfly Chromatography 

Visitors will observe the capillary action of water as it spreads dye from markers across a coffee filter. Visitors can turn their colorful coffee filter into a unique butterfly art piece. Guests can observe what happens when a washable marker vs a permanent marker gets wet.

Basketball Ball and Cup Craft 

It’s time for March Madness! Visitors will make a basketball-themed ball and cup craft and challenge themselves to flip the ball into the cup. Feeling competitive? Our facilitator will time guests to see how many times they can get the ball in the cup in 30 seconds. Try to get your name on the leaderboard!

Adventure Science Center is open:

Monday, Thursday, Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Join us this month for science fun for all ages!