Probing the Skies
Grades 4 to 6 • Cycle 2 (primary) to Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Explore the components of our Solar System—touch real meteorites and compare the relative size of planets and asteroids. See the motions of the planets, Sun, Moon, and constellations in the Museum’s inflatable planetarium, and discover their effects on cycles of day, night, seasons and eclipses. See the tools of astronomy exploration in the Helen Sawyer Hogg Observatory. (ST10)
Introduction to Electricity
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 2 (primary) to Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 75 minutes
What are current and static electricity? Discover which materials are good conductors, and which are good insulators. Learn the role of simple circuit components and draw circuit diagrams. Use hands-on circuit boards to see how series and parallel circuits work, and how each is used. Measure the amount of electricity various types of light bulbs consume, and use devices that produce electricity. (ST13)
Looking at Light
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 1 (primary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Discover how light is produced and transmitted as you move through activity stations. Experiment with different materials to study reflection, refraction, and absorption. View the world through instruments such as microscopes, telescopes, periscopes, and kaleidoscopes, and use special filters to explore the world of colour. (ST12)
Properties of and Changes in Matter
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 2 ( primary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Explore the properties of, and explain the changes in, the three basic states of matter through hands-on experimentation. Amusing scientific experiments and demonstrations illustrate the differences between reversible physical changes and non-reversible chemical reactions. (ST15)
Sound Connexions
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 2 (primary)
Duration: 75 Minutes
Through hands-on activity stations, see, hear, and feel how sound is produced, and how it travels through different materials. Use an oscilloscope and musical instruments to explore the relationships between wavelength, frequency, and amplitude. With a sound generator, investigate the range of sounds that humans can hear. (ST16)
Pulleys and Gears: Wonderful Machines
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 2 and 3 (primary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Discover why pulleys, gears, the wheel, and the axle are such clever inventions, and how they reduce the force required to do work. Build gear trains using hands-on activity boards. Using model cranes, create a block and tackle to lift a heavy weight with minimal effort. Examine various applications of these devices as you discover pulleys and gears in everyday objects. (ST17)
The Many Faces of Energy
Grades 4 to 6 / Cycle 2 and Cycle 3 (primary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Discover the principle of energy conservation in this hands-on program. Experiment with devices that produce light, sound, and wind energy to identify energy transformations. Measure electrical energy consumption and discuss ways to consume less. What impact do renewable and non-renewable sources of energy have on our natural resources? What impact have developments in technology had on energy use in the home? (ST19)
Forces Acting on Structures
Grades 5 to 7 / Cycle 3 (primary) to Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Explore the concept of force in this hands-on workshop. Learn the difference between tension and compression, and the ways that simple machines can reduce the force necessary to move an object. Build load-bearing cantilever, suspension, and arch bridges, and test your construction using different loads. See a crushing machine in action as it tests different materials to spectacular failure! (ST38)
Toying with Science and Technology Show
Grades 5 to 8 / Cycle 3(primary) to Cycle 2 (secondary)
Duration: 60 minutes
This exciting show has something for everyone! Explore the properties of polymers, discover why substances and mixtures become pure in Space, and learn about pogo stick science. Discover what snowshoes and our bed of nails have in common, and see how science is used to contain an environmental spill. The show culminates by testing the strength and stability of one of the world’s strongest structures: the egg! For groups of 50 to 250. (ST47)
Canadian Inventions and Innovations to Discover
Grades 5 to 8 / Cycle 3 (primary) to Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 75 minutes
Take pride in your heritage as you learn about Canadian inventions, discoveries, and innovations. Take part in a challenging Museum treasure hunt, in which small groups explore, in depth, one of the many contributions made by Canadians in the field of international science and technology. Follow up by designing a new product or service, and discover the steps involved in becoming an inventor. (ST45)
Substances, Mixtures, and Heat
Grade 7 / Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 90 minutes
Explore concepts relating to substances, mixtures, and heat in the environment. Measure heat transfer through different materials such as plastic and metal. Identify the role of radiation in the heating and cooling of Earth through experiments. Learn how to supersaturate a solution, and use a variety of techniques such as filtration, evaporation, and magnetism to separate materials from one another. (ST52)
Amazing Fluids
Grade 8 / Cycle 1 (secondary)
Duration: 90 minutes
Discover the properties of oil, water, and alcohol, and explore the relationship between mass, volume, and density. What are the industrial applications of fluids? Use water tests to determine the pH, hardness, or dissolved chemicals in a variety of water samples. Test the effect of temperature on viscosity, use a hydraulic arm to move items, and explore the role fluids play in technologies. (ST53)
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