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OutreachIt's Science on Wheels: We bring the Museum to you! We offer fun, inquiry-based programs for the students in your classroom, library, festival or youth center! All programs address objectives outlined in the Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations and include pre- and post-visit activities.
Outreach
- View a brochure highlighting all our education programs.
- Jump to a complete list of Outreach offerings.
Types of Outreach Programs:
Single Visit Workshops for PreK-8th grade
- 50 and 90minute workshops for individual classrooms
- Variety of topics designed for specific grade levels
New! Series Workshops for classes that wish for more in-depth science exploration
- Meets all the requirements for Title-One Funding in Washtenaw County
- Each program consists of a series of workshops ranging from 3 to 12 weeks led by a highly qualified, Michigan teacher and an assistant
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Each workshop includes a writing component and scientist journals for every student. Students will also receive a goody bag at the conclusion of the series.
Family Nights (evening) for families
- Interactive science and math activities geared towards the whole family, encouraging parental involvement in their children’s learning
- Special Young Scientist Family Night for preschoolers!
Super Science and Math Days (daytime) for PreK-8th grade
- Interactive activities during the school day
- Science and math-based program for individual grades or the whole school
Try-This-At-Home (and Other Demos) Auditorium Programs
- Auditorium-styled assembly programs for the whole school
- Variety of themes available in accordance with grade levels Summer Science Festivals
- Available all yearlong! Infuse your event with fun, educational activities
- Great addition to end of the year parties
Custom Programs
- Want to see something else? We can customize almost any program. You never know what’s possible until you ask!
To Register for an Outreach Program
- Contact the Outreach Coordinator at 734.995.5439 (if you encounter a recorded message, please leave complete information and we will return your call — no reservation request left as a recorded message can be guaranteed)
- In addition to program fees, a round-trip mileage fee will be charged. This rate varies, but is currently $0.60/mile. If different, we will let you know when booking!
- Scholarships are available through the Discover Science Assistance Fund to those who qualify.
- A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your reservation
- Final payment is due 30 days prior to your scheduled program
- If a program is cancelled less than 4 weeks before the scheduled date, the Museum keeps the entire fee (this fee can be applied to a rescheduled date)
- For more information please contact the Outreach Coordinator at 734.995.5439 or use our Contact Form to send an email.
Severe Weather Policy
In the event of severe weather, programs may be cancelled. The Museum will cancel a program if school is cancelled in the AAPS school system, the location of the event or in between. If you choose not to reschedule your make-up Outreach Program, payment will be refunded less a 25% registration fee, which may be applied to a future program. Rescheduling is the responsibility of the school and not the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum.
Outreach
FAMILY NIGHT: Young Scientist!
Get your preschoolers engaged in science. This collection of 15 activities is great for the youngest of scientists. Activities include measurement, animal adaptations, mixing colors, magnets and more. Register today!
FAMILY NIGHT: STEM!
Invite the whole school to an evening of fantastic, STEM-based fun and see why this is our most popular program. We offer you a wide range of science, technology, engineering, and math activities. We even have a STEM for middle school audiences. Register today!
FAMILY NIGHT: Science!
Invite the whole school to an evening of fantastic, science-based fun! We mix Natural and Physical Sciences to give you a unique look into how the world works. You provide 20 volunteers and we’ll fill 20 of your tables with creative hands-on activities. Educators and families love this casual, self-directed evening of fun science activities. All activities are linked to the Michigan Science Standards. Discount coupons for a visit to the Museum for all participants! Register today!
FAMILY NIGHT: Technology!
Invite the whole school to an evening of intriguing, technology-based fun! Learn how a 3D printer works! Make your own stop motion animation film! Explore our 10 technology themed activities in this program. Educators and families love this casual, self-directed evening of fun and learning. All activities are linked to the Michigan Science Standards. Discount coupons for a visit to the Museum for all participants! Register today!
FAMILY NIGHT: Math and Engineering!
Invite the whole school to an evening of interactive, math and engineering fun! Family members can work together or compete with each other to be the math and engineering champion! You provide 20 volunteers and we’ll fill 20 of your tables with creative hands-on activities. Educators and families love this casual, self-directed evening of fun science activities. All activities are linked to the Michigan Science Standards. Discount coupons for a visit to the Museum for all participants! Register today!
PREMIUM FAMILY NIGHT: Science+Literacy
Meld your science and literacy curriculum together with this new Premium Family Night! We'll bring a series of interactive, dynamic activities that can serve your whole school population. To integrate writing and literacy, students will also receive an Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum pencil and Scientist Journal with writing prompts that will link to each of the twenty science and math-centered activities. Students will be able to take these journals home with them or use them in the classroom to extend their Family Night Experience long after we leave. Register today!
PREMIUM FAMILY NIGHT: Wind Energy!
Invite the whole school to an evening of fantastic, STEM-based fun and see why this is such a popular program. Make a mini wind mill and test out its power! Want to know how windy it is in your neighborhood? Make your own anemometer and take it home to test! Register today!
WORKSHOP Bubbles all Around
Take a look at surface tension in this interactive, bubble adventure. Students will learn how to make and measure different bubbles. Register today!
WORKSHOP Chemistry
Awaken the chemist in you. Students explore states of matter and what happens when you go between them. They’ll learn the difference between a physical and a chemical change. Register today!
WORKSHOP Circuits
Introduces information on the principles of electricity and circuits. Test these principles by using interlocking components to build your own circuits. Register today!
WORKSHOP Nanoscience: The Science of Small
What’s the smallest thing you can think of? We’ll learn about the science of the teeny tiny with activities that discuss scale, nano in nature and nanotechnology. Register today!
WORKSHOP Crime Lab
Students are immersed in the intriguing world of forensics as they work together to solve a mock crime. Register today!
WORKSHOP Preschool Universe
Now your littlest students can explore the wonders of the universe. You choose two activities from our selection to explore as a class. Register today!
WORKSHOP Egg Drop Soup
The classic egg drop experiment! Students are given credits to purchase materials to protect their egg from damage in freefall. Concepts in this workshop range from gravity to economics. Register today!
WORKSHOP Lifecycles
Study the lives of seeds, frogs and insects in this dynamic workshop. We’ll identify the stages of the life cycle using live beetles, start seeds and discover the order of different kinds of life cycles. Register today!
WORKSHOP The Fossil Record
We’ll take a look at actual fossils and find clues hidden within that will help us learn something about life millions of years ago. Students will get to invent their own prehistoric animals, follow along in the story of fossilization, and learn about our planet’s various biologic and geologic processes. Register today!
WORKSHOP Human Body
Not a single machine ever designed can hold a candle up to the complexity and elegance of the human body. In this workshop, students will learn all about how this complex machine actually works. Register today!
WORKSHOP Wind Energy
Discover how wind can be harnessed to make electricity and build a working wind turbine! Experiment with blade design and other variables to find the most efficient design for a wind power generator. Register today!
WORKSHOP Light and Optics
Shed a new light on science in this interactive workshop. Learn how to use the scientific method to explore what we know about the nature of light. Register today!
WORKSHOP Force and Motion
Push and pull your way through this interactive workshop about Force and Motion. We'll talk about a force's strength, direction, and how things act when they collide. Your students can also discover how a simple machine makes work easier by experimenting with our giant fulcrum. Register today!
WORKSHOP Magnetism
Use magnets to perform tasks and learn basic magnet vocabulary. Explore how magnets work and how we use them in our daily lives. Register today!
WORKSHOP Slime and the States of Matter
Is it a solid? A liquid? A gas? Your students will discover the properties of each state of matter by making our ooey, gooey slime. We’ll also discuss how molecules look and act when changing between states of matter. Students will get to take home their slime as well as a recipe to make it again at home. Register today!
WORKSHOP Physics of Light and Sound
All we see and hear come together as one in this workshop. Discover the similarities between sound and light. Register today!
WORKSHOP Preschool Science + Literacy: Balancing Act
This new workshop is designed just for your youngest learners. Using the story Balancing Act by Ellen Stoll Walsh, students will discover the joys of balance. We’ll use levers and fulcrums to see if we can find the perfect balance. Each 30-minute workshop will include an interactive story-time, an explorative hands-on activity, and group reflection time. Register today!
WORKSHOP Roller Coasters in your Classroom (50 mins)
You provide the floor space and we’ll provide the excitement and learning. What better way to learn about the physics of energy, force and motion than through hands-on science? Register today!
WORKSHOP Preschool Science + Literacy: Inch by Inch
Have you ever wondered how many footsteps tall you are? Using the story Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni, your preschoolers will explore measurement using silly objects. We’ll discover how big, long, short, and small objects in the world around us are. Each 30-minute workshop will include an interactive story-time, an explorative hands-on activity, and group reflection time. Register today!
WORKSHOP A Bug's Eye View
Experience the alien world of arthropods through this special, interactive workshop. Fun activities and lively demonstrations give students a first-hand look at insects, arachnids and more with plenty to touch! Register today!
WORKSHOP Sound Science
Explore the different properties of sound. Experiment with waves and vibration. How does sound travel through different substances? Test out your hypotheses! Register today!
WORKSHOP The Universe
The program begins with an astronomy "orientation" that features lively demonstrations to illustrate the concepts that are important to understanding the study of the stars and ends inside our portable, inflatable planetarium known as StarLab. Register today!
WORKSHOP The Water Cycle
Look beyond the four stages of the water cycle and get a first-hand look at the many paths of a water molecule. Where does the rain come from and where does it go after it hits the ground? With activities and movement, students begin to answer many questions about water. Register today!
WORKSHOP Boomerangs: Flying with Style
Learn all about flying in this aerodynamic workshop! Participants will make a variety of airborne toys and explore the physics of flight. Register today!
SUPER SCIENCE DAY Super Math Day
Math activities for elementary or middle school students. Register today!
SUPER SCIENCE DAY Young Scientist Club
Activities include measurement, magnets, animal adaptations, mixing colors and more. Register today!
SUPER SCIENCE DAY Science Variety Day
Includes activities from biology, ecology, physics, chemistry, math. We can customize this to fit your needs. Register today!
AUDITORIUM Try-This-At-Home and Other Demos
We’ll showcase interactive, try-this-at-home activities in an auditorium setting. We’ll also bring along a few demonstrations involving dry ice and liquid nitrogen! Register today!
SUMMER SCIENCE FESTIVAL
The Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum’s Summer Science Festival can bring a unique, interactive component to your festival, summer camp, or special event for kids of all ages! Register today!
Still not sure we have the experience you want?
Visit unityinlearning.org to open a gateway to hands-on discovery, exploration of the natural world, and experiences that take flight.
Through the Unity in Learning partnership with the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Leslie Science and Nature Center, and Yankee Air Museum we provide over 100 different programs at our facilities, on site at your location, or through interactive video conferencing.
Visit Us
734.995.5439
220 E. Ann St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Museum Hours:
Monday: 10 - 5
Tuesday: 9 - 5
Wednesday: 10 - 5
Thursday: 10 - 8
Friday: 10 - 5
Saturday: 10 - 5
Sunday: Noon - 5
Click here for Holiday hours
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hours, and more!
Admission:
$12.50 for Adults and Children
$5 after 5pm on Thurs only
Free for Babies 0-23 months