Education Programs at the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum

Have you ever wondered how lava lamps work? Want to make one of your very own? Learn how to make your own lava lamp using simple materials at home, all while exploring the science behind the chemical reactions that make the lava inside the lamp move!

What is a life cycle? Do all living things have one? Join us as we go through how living things look different throughout their life cycle and why. We'll also learn more about three main components to a life cycle: The stages, the traits, and why it's all about survival!

Join us as we explore different natural areas in Michigan to ID some common, native wildflowers! Enjoy this year's Mother's Day with this virtual experience, and we hope those that are watching get the chance to take their own outdoor wildflower hike!

Adapted from NISEnet’s activity “Imagining Life”, Life on Earth comes in many different forms. Kids will be encouraged to take a walk and observe local wildlife and think about the questions: What would life look like on another planet? What adaptations would be needed to survive?

What are fossils? Where can you find them? Learn answers to these questions while we show off some cool fossils of our own!

Ever wonder how you can be more sustainable to help keep our earth healthy? Recycling is a great first step! Learn the basics of what it takes to become a recycling expert.

Can you think of any plants or animals on Earth that live in extreme environments? Learn all about extremeophiles as you imagine your very own world and the life that could live there. View PDF here.

Learn about constellations and stars with this easy and fun activity. View PDF here.

Learn about how colors mix and create beautiful designs. View PDF here.

See if you can find all these insects in your backyard! View PDF here.

See if you can find all of these birds in your backyard! View PDF here.

Get outdoors and learn more about Spring with this fun scavenger hunt. View PDF here.

Use this scavenger hunt to find pollinators and the host plants that they're attracted to! View PDF here.

A nebula is a large cloud of gas and dust in space. It can be created by a dying star (such as a supernova) and is also where new stars are born. Learn how to make your own nebula using a salad spinner! View PDF here.

Learn all about Kenyan Sand Boas. View PDF here.

Learn all about Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches. View PDF here.

Bat Biology Echolocation Activity for 4th Grade. View PDF here.

Students will create adaptations for each stage of an animal’s life cycle in order to give it the ability to survive in a new habitat. View PDF here.

Extension Activities for Kindergarten Forces and Motion. View PDF here.

Extension Activities for 4th Grade Sound Energy. View PDF here.

Join us with your family, Pod or homeschool for fun outdoor STEM and nature family activities!

Come explore the science behind music! Kids will interact with pitch, tempo, and volume to learn how music is created. Register today!

Make magnets float in mid-air while testing their ability to attract and repel each other! Students learn all about magnetism by using a variety of materials to explore and design. Register today!

Students will use tools such as lenses, flashlights and mirrors to investigate how light travels. Several interactive activities make up this exploration! Register today!

Look Beyond the four stages of the water cycle. Engage in experiments and become a water drop as you experience the many paths of a water molecule. Register today!

Investigate series and parallel circuits as well as the parts that make them work. Students get to design their own alarm and much more with our safe, interlocking electronic components. Register today!

Dissect a real cow eye to investigate the inner workings of eyes! Students will be able to make connections to eye structure through this hands-on exploration. Register today!

Together with the Leslie Science & Nature Center, we will create a food chain using LIVE animals (hawk/owl, snake, frog, spider and roach). Along the way we will discuss how they survive in the wild. Register today!

Explore the three states of matter by making two types of slime. Get up and moving to determine what state your matter is in!   Award-winning program!   Register today!

Leslie Science & Nature Center joins us with LIVE reptiles in our lab as we explore what makes a reptile a reptile. Feel the snake or lizard skin specimens we send you while you learn the adaptations that make these animals so successful in the wild. Register today!

Take a look at actual fossils, discover the clues that they hide, and learn how to interpret their stories which unfolded millions of years ago.   Award-winning program! Register today!