Programs for Libraries – Sloan Museum Of Discovery & Longway Planetarium

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Programs for Libraries

Search for programs you’d like us to bring to your library!

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Recommended Age: 3-5

Monster Math

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Practice your number and counting skills with these monstrously fun activities! What will your math monster look like?

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Monster Math

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Practice your number and counting skills with these monstrously fun activities! What will your math monster look like?

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Monster Math

Recommended Age: 8-12

Jitter Critters 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

No need to get the jitters as you create your own critter! Use your artistic abilities and engineering skills to design and create your own battery-powered critter equipped with a vibrating motor.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Jitter Critters 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

No need to get the jitters as you create your own critter! Use your artistic abilities and engineering skills to design and create your own battery-powered critter equipped with a vibrating motor.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Jitter Critters 

Recommended Age: 8-12

Flinging Things 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Experience forces and motion while building a variety of devices that will cause ordinary objects to fall, fling, and fly.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Flinging Things 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Experience forces and motion while building a variety of devices that will cause ordinary objects to fall, fling, and fly.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Flinging Things 

Recommended Age: 8-12

Wizards, Wands, and Potions 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Step into another world full of wizards and witches. Cauldrons will bubble and potions will change color. Is it magic or chemistry? Build your own light-up wand and squish your fingers into ghost brains.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Wizards, Wands, and Potions 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Step into another world full of wizards and witches. Cauldrons will bubble and potions will change color. Is it magic or chemistry? Build your own light-up wand and squish your fingers into ghost brains.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Wizards, Wands, and Potions 

Recommended Age: 5-12

Worm Motels

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Who says worms can’t relax in a cozy motel?! Explore a worm’s world by building a temporary worm habitat and learning about all of the needs of living things.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Worm Motels

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Who says worms can’t relax in a cozy motel?! Explore a worm’s world by building a temporary worm habitat and learning about all of the needs of living things.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Worm Motels

Recommended Age: 5-12

Space Exploration 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Ready for an out-of-this world adventure? Explore the Solar System while making a solar energy detector, a beautiful moon phase project, a planet necklace, and other fun hands-on activities.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Space Exploration 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Ready for an out-of-this world adventure? Explore the Solar System while making a solar energy detector, a beautiful moon phase project, a planet necklace, and other fun hands-on activities.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Space Exploration 

Recommended Age: 5-12

How Does Your Garden Grow? 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Plants need water and light in order to live and grow. What happens when you try to grow a plant without these resources? Set up and run your own experiment while growing seeds in terrariums you build.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

How Does Your Garden Grow? 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Plants need water and light in order to live and grow. What happens when you try to grow a plant without these resources? Set up and run your own experiment while growing seeds in terrariums you build.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

How Does Your Garden Grow? 

Recommended Age: 5-12

Build-A-Buggy Challenge 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore forces and motion while designing and building a buggy that moves! We’ll provide the wheels, axles, and materials to build the body, you engineer a way to make the buggy move! Are you up for the challenge?

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Build-A-Buggy Challenge 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore forces and motion while designing and building a buggy that moves! We’ll provide the wheels, axles, and materials to build the body, you engineer a way to make the buggy move! Are you up for the challenge?

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Build-A-Buggy Challenge 

Recommended Age: 5-7

What’s the Weather? 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s learn more about meteorology! Explore the weather and changing seasons as you create a cloud painting, design your own windsock, and much more!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

What’s the Weather? 

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s learn more about meteorology! Explore the weather and changing seasons as you create a cloud painting, design your own windsock, and much more!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

What’s the Weather? 

Recommended Age: 5-7

Pirate Party 

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Arrrr you ready for a Pirate Adventure? Go on a measurement hunt, make a pirate ship that will hold a pile of cannon balls, and create your own treasure map.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Pirate Party 

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Arrrr you ready for a Pirate Adventure? Go on a measurement hunt, make a pirate ship that will hold a pile of cannon balls, and create your own treasure map.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Pirate Party 

Recommended Age: 3-5

Water Explorers

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore water properties as you investigate objects that sink or float, retrieve a special underwater treasure, and build a boat that floats on water.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Water Explorers

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore water properties as you investigate objects that sink or float, retrieve a special underwater treasure, and build a boat that floats on water.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Water Explorers

Recommended Age: 3-5

Tangled

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

What to do with a bunch of shapes that are all trapped inside a jungle gym? Maybe the straight and narrow line can help? Build and take apart shapes while exploring geometry.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Tangled

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

What to do with a bunch of shapes that are all trapped inside a jungle gym? Maybe the straight and narrow line can help? Build and take apart shapes while exploring geometry.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Tangled

Recommended Age: 5-7

Dino Tales

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Dinosaurs lived a long, long time ago. Let’s learn about these fascinating prehistoric creatures as we observe and touch real fossils, build our own fossil model, and make a dinosaur tail to wear. You will even design and build your own dinosaur to take home!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Dino Tales

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Dinosaurs lived a long, long time ago. Let’s learn about these fascinating prehistoric creatures as we observe and touch real fossils, build our own fossil model, and make a dinosaur tail to wear. You will even design and build your own dinosaur to take home!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Dino Tales

Recommended Age: 3-5

Big Friends

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

In the story, Big Friends, two friends go on an adventure with their imagination and some cardboard boxes. What happens when someone new wants to play with them? Find out while going on your own cardboard-creation adventure.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Big Friends

45 - 60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

In the story, Big Friends, two friends go on an adventure with their imagination and some cardboard boxes. What happens when someone new wants to play with them? Find out while going on your own cardboard-creation adventure.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Big Friends

Recommended Age: 0-3

Sensory Exploration 

30 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 10

Our littlest learners will use their senses and tools to explore a seasonal sensory bin with their grown up. Families may also choose to make a sensory bottle or sound shaker to take home.

$75 for first session, $30 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location. 

Sensory Exploration 

30 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 10

Our littlest learners will use their senses and tools to explore a seasonal sensory bin with their grown up. Families may also choose to make a sensory bottle or sound shaker to take home.

$75 for first session, $30 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location. 

Sensory Exploration 

Recommended Age: Adults

An Introduction to Fabric Marbling and Alcohol Ink Art

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Why should the kids have all the fun? Join us for an adult-only program and discover unique forms of creating art. Learn how to capture marbling designs on fabric and explore innovative ways to use alcohol ink.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

An Introduction to Fabric Marbling and Alcohol Ink Art

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Why should the kids have all the fun? Join us for an adult-only program and discover unique forms of creating art. Learn how to capture marbling designs on fabric and explore innovative ways to use alcohol ink.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

An Introduction to Fabric Marbling and Alcohol Ink Art

Recommended Age: Tweens & Teens

Kinetic Sculptures

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Put your artwork in motion while designing and building a kinetic sculpture. Build simple mechanical cranks, cams, and linkages out of cardboard and use them to make your sculpture move.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Kinetic Sculptures

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Put your artwork in motion while designing and building a kinetic sculpture. Build simple mechanical cranks, cams, and linkages out of cardboard and use them to make your sculpture move.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Kinetic Sculptures

Recommended Age: Tweens & Teens

Art with A Twist

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore the Art like never before. Discover the geometric shapes and lines behind the artwork of Mondrian. Twist, blend, and twirl different paint media to create marbling and color-mixing masterpieces.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Art with A Twist

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Explore the Art like never before. Discover the geometric shapes and lines behind the artwork of Mondrian. Twist, blend, and twirl different paint media to create marbling and color-mixing masterpieces.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Art with A Twist

Recommended Age: 5-12

Cellophane Shadows

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Investigate the science behind light, reflection, and shadows with flashlights, mirrors, and shadow puppets. Use cellophane and cardboard to make your own colorful shadow creation to keep!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Cellophane Shadows

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Investigate the science behind light, reflection, and shadows with flashlights, mirrors, and shadow puppets. Use cellophane and cardboard to make your own colorful shadow creation to keep!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Cellophane Shadows

Recommended Age: 3-5

Colorful Chemistry

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Poor Camilla Cream… her skin has turned green. And red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple, too! Our skin cannot change colors like Camilla Cream’s, but we can make color-mixing creations. Let’s read the story, “A Bad Case of Stripes” and engage in chromatography and color-mixing chemistry activities.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Colorful Chemistry

60 minutes | In-person Only | Maximum Participants: 25

Poor Camilla Cream… her skin has turned green. And red, orange, yellow, blue, and purple, too! Our skin cannot change colors like Camilla Cream’s, but we can make color-mixing creations. Let’s read the story, “A Bad Case of Stripes” and engage in chromatography and color-mixing chemistry activities.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Colorful Chemistry

Recommended Age: Adults

Book Binding

2 ½ hours | | Maximum Participants: 10

Everyone has a story to tell. In this workshop, you’ll learn about the tools, terms, and techniques used in bookbinding. Apply your newfound skills to create your own mini storybook. Attendees are given a few tools to continue their project at home.

$200 per session

Book Binding

2 ½ hours | | Maximum Participants: 10

Everyone has a story to tell. In this workshop, you’ll learn about the tools, terms, and techniques used in bookbinding. Apply your newfound skills to create your own mini storybook. Attendees are given a few tools to continue their project at home.

$200 per session

Book Binding

Recommended Age: Tweens & Teens

Stop Animation

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s explore the animated movie-making process from start to finish. After a short instruction, you’ll have plenty of time and materials to produce and edit a film of your very own!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Stop Animation

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s explore the animated movie-making process from start to finish. After a short instruction, you’ll have plenty of time and materials to produce and edit a film of your very own!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Stop Animation

Recommended Age: 8-12

Stop Animation

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s explore the animated movie-making process from start to finish. After a short instruction, you’ll have plenty of time and materials to produce and edit a film of your very own!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Stop Animation

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Let’s explore the animated movie-making process from start to finish. After a short instruction, you’ll have plenty of time and materials to produce and edit a film of your very own!

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Stop Animation

Recommended Age: 5-12

Dino-Rama Design

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Design and create your own dinosaur-themed diorama! You’ll learn about dinosaur habitats, sketch a design plan, then build a dino-rama to keep.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Dino-Rama Design

60 minutes | | Maximum Participants: 25

Design and create your own dinosaur-themed diorama! You’ll learn about dinosaur habitats, sketch a design plan, then build a dino-rama to keep.

$165 for first session, $70 for each additional session on the same day, in the same location.

Dino-Rama Design

Call (810) 237-3409 to book your library programs!

LIBRARY PROGRAM BOOKING INFORMATION

Mileage

In-person programs for libraries outside Genesee County will be charged at the 2026 IRS standard mileage rate.

Space Requirements

The program space should be available for set-up shortly before the beginning of the activity. Tables and chairs are appreciated. Program staff may need access to water and electrical outlets.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be made by 12:00 p.m. on the day before the scheduled activity. The program fee will be charged each time a Sloan Museum or Longway Planetarium Educator reports for a scheduled session. Education staff will not be responsible for students left after the completion of the activity. A responsible adult from the library must be present in the building during each activity.

Please note

All of our library programs in-person. If you need virtual programming, please contact us for options by calling (810) 237-3409.

Make a reservation

To book a library program or for questions, please email Kristina Jimmerson at KJimmerson@SloanLongway.org , or call (810) 237-3409.

Professional Development Opportunities: Sharing STEM with young children

Interested in doing STEM with your little learners in your center, school, or home? We’ll share some of our favorite STEM activities in this fast-paced, hands-on session. We’ll provide all necessary materials for participants to try out the activities and each participant will receive a detailed write-up for each activity. This training is customizable.  Our staff will work with your library to identify themes and activities to best suit your patrons’ needs.

  • Audience: Early Childhood Educators, Teachers, Parents, Librarians
  • Maximum Number of Participants: 75
  • Program Length: 2 hours
  • Fee: $400 (+mileage for libraries outside Genesee County)

Call (810) 237-3409 to book your library programs!