Discovery Labs

Want a more in-depth exploration of our current exhibitions and films? Designed to complement select exhibits and films, these new 45-minute labs further investigate subjects such as earth science, habitats, and life cycles. Visit our website for additional themes relating to upcoming exhibits.

Schedule

Monday — Friday

Times

9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.

Price

Additional $2.00 per student with gallery or film purchase. Prices subject to change without notice. Maximum of 34 students and eight adults. Advance registration is required; dates and times subject to availability.

Discovery Labs

Explor-O-Rama Discovery Labs

• Spinning Tops
  (45 min.) Grades 2-5
• Optical Illusions
  (45 min.) Grades 4–6

Grossology Discovery Labs

*Available now through December 31, 2012

• That's Gross–No, it's SNOT!
  (45 min.) Grades 3–6
• Disgusting Digestion
  (45 min.) Grades 4–6

Patterns, Puzzles, Perspectives: Math in the Museum Discovery Labs

• The Art of Geometry
  (45 min.) Grades K–3
• A Fresh Perspective
  (45 min.) Grades 3–6
• Puzzling Polygons
  (45 min.) Grades 3–6

IMAX Film Discovery Labs

• Adventures in Wild California
  (45 min.) Grades 4–6
• Amazing Journeys
  (45 min.) Grades K–4
• Under the Sea
  (45 min.) Grades K–6

Digital Film Discovery Labs

Black Holes

• Stars in the Sky
  (45 min.) Grades 1–3
• Voyage to a Black Hole
  (45 min.) Grades 4–6

Spinning Tops

(45 min.) Grades 2–5

Discover how the law of inertia affects a spinning top’s momentum. Investigate the properties of torque, spindle length, weight, and the diameter of your top. Students work in teams of “engineers” to design and build tops using everyday items. Don’t get dizzy over this exciting, hands-on Discovery Lab!

Optical Illusions

(45 min.) Grades 4–6

Seeing is not believing! Investigate how your eyes interpret the world around us and discover some amazing optical illusions. Test your knowledge of depth perception, compare geometric sizes, and experience afterimages. Don’t miss the visual phenomenon of optical illusions.

That's Gross–No, it's SNOT!

(45 min) Grades 3–6

Ever wonder why it is impossible to keep your eyes open when you sneeze? Or why your nose produces so much snot? This Gross Discovery Lab is for you! Participate in some gross research about your nose, test tissue absorbency and strength, make slimy mucus, and much more!

Disgusting Digestion

(45 min) Grades 4-6

Discover the ins and outs to your digestive system. Learn which foods create the biggest belch. Explore how food travels from your mouth down to your intestines, and compete in a muscle-squeezing peristalsis relay for a truly gross experience.

The Art of Geometry

(45 min.) Grades K–3

What do honeycombs, tile floors, and stained glass windows have to do with geometry? Plenty! In this interdisciplinary lab, students will uncover the hidden shapes and patterns in nature and architecture. They’ll also learn about the properties of geometric shapes by creating their own tessellations and circular designs.

A Fresh Perspective

(45 min.) Grades 3–6

How can a gigantic elephant look tiny and a tiny ant look gigantic? It all has to do with perspective. Students will exercise their spatial intuition throughout this eye-opening class. They’ll discover how to represent three-dimensional objects on a two-dimensional surface, explore how shapes seem to rotate based on the point of view, and explore polyhedra from the inside out.

Puzzling Polygons

(45 min.) Grades 3–6

Geometry doesn’t need to be perplexing! Students will use their brains and bodies to explore the properties of polygons and polyhedra in this innovative lab. They’ll get up and moving to explore angles and then dim the lights to examine geometric shadows and Schlegel diagrams. They’ll wrap up their investigations by making geometric bubbles.

Adventures in Wild California

(45 min) Grades 4-12

Get a closer look at California’s wildest places while exploring the waves, forces, and currents that shape these unique landscapes.

Amazing Journeys

(45 min) Grades 4-6

Take a voyage around the planet while exploring life cycles, migration, and seasons.

Under the Sea

(45 min) Grades 4-6

Dive into an exploration of the undersea world. Learn about food webs, ocean chemistry, and habitats.

Stars in the Sky

(45 min.) Grades 1–3

The sky is the limit in this stellar workshop. Students will explore our own Milky Way galaxy and take a closer look at the stars that make up our night sky. They will discover why some stars appear brighter than others and learn how astronomers use telescopes to identify different stars.

Voyage to a Black Hole

(45 min.) Grades 4–6

Journey into deep space to learn about the most mysterious objects in the universe. Students will explore the chemistry and life cycle of stars while discovering how black holes form. They will also investigate the size, scale, and location of black holes in the Milky Way galaxy.