At the Sciencenter, we believe that parents and caregivers are a child’s first teachers. That’s why we offer programs, resources, and exhibits designed to make science a natural part of everyday life for young children ages 0-4.
EXPLORE TOGETHER
led learning, tapping into young children’s natural curiosity. Our educators guide families through handson experiments and open-ended exploration, building foundational science and engineering skills in a fun, engaging way.
pollinator-themed mural by local artist Rachel Feirman. The mural brings bees, plants, and flowers to life, and teaches families about the importance of pollination.
Our Science Together program, held Tuesday to Friday at 10:30 am in the Family Learning Area, provides hands-on activities that encourage curiosity and discovery. Caregivers and children explore science concepts together through playful experiences like Using Tools with Ice Melting, and Making Predictions with Sink or Float. We focus on inquiry-based, child-
“Children are already using skills like experimenting and problem solving in their play. Science Together is a space that we use to highlight, explore, and develop these skills with early learners and their caregivers.” - Annie Gordon, Education Program Manager
A SPACE FOR LITTLE SCIENTISTS
The Family Learning Area is an immersive space featuring a
To enhance the playful learning environment, we’ve added interactive elements, including a reading nook, a sensory table, and puppets for imaginative play.
RESOURCES FOR HOME
Families can also bring the Sciencenter experience home! All Science Together activities can be easily recreated with everyday materials.
Explore our at-home activities at sciencenter.org/resources-home to keep the discovery going.
A DECADE OF STRENGTHENING EARLY SCIENCE EDUCATION WITH HEAD START
Over the past decade, we’ve established a rich partnership with Tompkins Community Action (TCAction), the local agency that runs Head Start and Early Head Start programs in Tompkins County.
ENGAGING FAMILIES AND EDUCATORS THROUGH SCIENCE
From monthly family science workshops with Head Start families to professional development opportunities for Head Start and Early Head Start classroom teachers,
these programs welcome more visitors to the Sciencenter and help us broaden our engagement beyond the walls of the museum.
Michelle Kortenaar, Sciencenter’s Executive Director, reflects on the early days of this partnership:
“Our collaboration with Head Start in Tompkins County has gained national recognition, including a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Our model helps to strengthen the connection between science and children’s museums and their local Head Start programs across the country.”
Last year, teachers and educators trained in informal STEM education at Sciencenter workshops on 9 occasions.
Head Start Family Workshop, 2015
Head Start Teacher Training, 2025
EXPLORING CHILD DEVELOPMENT WITH LIVING LAB LILAC HOURS
We caught up with Zoe, Lab Manager in Dr. Auden Dahl’s Developmental Moral Psychology Lab at Cornell, to learn more about Living Lab LiLaC Hours—a Sunday morning series where researchers bring child development science to life at the Sciencenter.
What has your lab enjoyed most about interacting with Sciencenter visitors during the Living Lab LiLaC Hours?
“Our lab loves teaching families about child development research, getting their reflections and suggestions about our research, and telling them about further opportunities to participate in science.”
What do you hope families take away from interacting with your team during their visit to the museum?
“We hope families come away with a better understanding of, and greater enthusiasm for, the science of child development. We also hope that they gain a sense of how families who visit the Sciencenter are crucial contributors to this science: Their insights, ideas, and participation enable us to learn more about how children develop.”
Week of the Young Child
April 5–11
Celebrate the Week of the Young Child with us! Join us for hands-on activities supporting early learners’ science process skills.
New
Spring Exhibit Opens May 9
Discover the AWESOME power of sound!
This multi-sensory exhibition introduces children and adults to the science of sound waves and frequencies. Make noise! Conduct an orchestra with your whole body, scream at the top of your lungs, make a movie soundtrack, and more!
Mini-Golf & Science Park
Open April 1
Play our 18-hole science-themed mini-golf course, or explore our 2000-square-foot multi-story Science Park.
Find up-to-date information about our hours, events, programs, and more on our website: sciencenter.org
Developmental Moral Psychology Lab at Cornell
This presentation of Sonic Sensation is sponsored by Sciarabba Walker & Co., LLP and developed by the Sciencenter.
