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 

    • Spectrophotometer: A light investigation station using a special light box and slides to explore opaque, translucent, and transparent materials 

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

    • Anaerobic Chamber: A sealed "glove box" that simulates a space-exploration or high-stakes lab environment, challenging dexterity and problem-solving 

    • Daily Science Time: A hands-on discovery session led by an educator daily at 1:00 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.