Grade K. What is the perfect playground? How do we use forces like pushes and pulls when we play? DuPage Children’s Museum wants to build a playground for a new outdoor exhibit space – we need your help! Analyze different playground equipment models to figure out how we can use pushes and pulls to create the best playground ever!

Grades K – 3. Why does an elephant have a trunk? Why does a scorpion have a stinger? Explore some of Earth’s most curious creatures and discover what features help them live and grow in their unique environment. Use observations of animals to create a creature that is able to live in a specific and perhaps unusual habitat like a deep ice cave, outer space, or even the classroom!

Grades 1 – 3. Who builds bridges? How can bridges hold so much weight? Can we build our own bridge? Learn about Iggy Peck, the architect, one of the beloved characters from Andrea Beaty’s Questioneers book series. Help Iggy’s class solve a problem by planning, building, and testing your own bridge design.

Grades 1 – 4. How does art tell a story? Who are the characters in famous pieces of artwork? What is the dramatic plot of your favorite painting? Examine different pieces of art and determine the visual story that is being told through the characters, setting, and plot. Use various art materials to create a mixed medium piece of art that tells your story.

Grades 1 – 4. Where does sound come from? What does sound feel like? Can we see sound? Conduct observations and hands-on experiments, including making a musical instrument, to explore the properties of sound.

Grades 2 – 4. What is the difference between a magnet and a substance with magnetic properties? What does it mean for a magnet to have a force? What is that stuff on DCM’s building?! Plan and carry out an investigation using magnets to determine a solution to clean up a suspicious substance from DCM’s building.

Grades 3 – 5. How have birds inspired human flight? How do airplanes overcome gravity? Can we design our own plane model based on a flying bird? Explore the forces of flight by engaging in the Engineering Design Process to test paper airplane designs.

Grades 3 – 5. How does an animal’s traits help it survive? How does an environment impact the traits of the animals who live there? Engage in an animal role-playing game to become a unique creature who lives in a specific environment and has different traits like mimicry or a narwhal horn. Using those traits as evidence, students will make a claim for how well their creature is adapted for survival.