Science Lab

Step into the role of a real researcher! Our Science Lab features five interactive stations with professional laboratory equipment - from high-powered microscopes examining preserved insects to a sealed anaerobic glove box that simulates space-exploration environments. Children become budding scientists as they wonder, question, and discover through inquiry-based experiments using real scientific vocabulary and tools. 

Build molecular structures with magnetic Snatoms to explore chemistry and atomic bonding. Investigate how light interacts with materials using a spectrophotometer that reveals opaque, translucent, and transparent properties. Test structural resilience in our Impact Testing Lab where foam and wooden creations face off against a wrecking ball. Daily Science Time at 1:00 PM provides educator-led discovery sessions at our rotating weekly feature station, ensuring there's always something new. 

This exhibit proves that hands-on STEM learning can be as rigorous as professional labs - making complex scientific concepts accessible, engaging, and unforgettable for young minds. 

    • Microscope Station: High-powered magnifiers used to examine real bug and plant samples preserved in resin to study intricate anatomy 

    • Snatoms: A hands-on chemistry station where magnetic, snap-together models allow visitors to build molecules and explore atomic bonding 

    • Magnet Table: A hands-on station where visitors build sculptures using ferrous metal objects held together by magnetic forces. Feel invisible attract and repel forces with North (red) and South (blue) pole magnetic pads embedded under clear polycarbonate across six distinct table layouts.

    • Impact Testing Lab: An engineering zone where visitors build structures with foam and wooden blocks to test them against a wrecking ball 

    • Daily Science Time: A hands-on discovery session led by an educator daily at 3:00 PM at our weekly rotating feature station 

    • Science: Observation and discovery of light absorption, biology, and chemistry 

    • Technology: The use of specialized laboratory tools like glove boxes and spectrophotometers 

    • Engineering: Designing, building, and testing structures for force and resilience 

    • Math: Measurement, spatial reasoning, and counting element bonds 

    • STEAM Skills: Focuses on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math 

    • Tangible World: Direct manipulation of magnetic atoms, blocks, and lab tools 

    • Observation: Developing a keen eye for detail through magnification and light tests 

    • Society: Investigating the career paths of biologists, chemists, and engineers 

Explore More 

This exhibit is located in Gilbert House. Also explore: Farm to Table | Pixel Peg | USS Gilbert 

  • Four young boys with light skin, two with blond hair and two with brown hair, are engaged in an activity with stacking white and light pink blocks at a table near a window in a classroom or playroom.
  • A young girl wearing safety goggles and a white lab coat is inspecting a small object in her hands at a science activity table. The table has a wooden organizer with compartments, two black ring lights with adjustable stands, and educational papers.
  • A man and a boy standing at a small table, looking at colored dots on paper and a digital device. The man is pointing at the device, and the boy is observing.
  • A young girl with long, light brown hair tied with a purple scrunchie is pointing at a rainbow-colored, transparent, tiered display or container.
  • A young boy with red hair and a navy fleece jacket with orange accents examines insects through a magnifying glass at a table with insect specimens.
  • A young girl with long hair scooping a small animal, possibly a guinea pig, into a white enclosure.