While Sloan Museum and Longway Planetarium are closed to fight the spread of Coronavirus, you can still have fun experiences with science at home! Our educators and planetarium presenters are developing short, educational videos to inspire at-home learning while schools are closed. We’ll show you fun science activities you can do with common household items, and stargazing tips using the night sky renderings you’d normally see in the planetarium.
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Backyard Astronomy: Bootes and Corona Borealis
Posted March 26, 2020
Our Spring sky has brought us the constellations Bootes the Herdsman (shaped like an ice cream cone) and Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. Go outside and see if you can spot them tonight!
Things That Roll Experiment
Posted March 25, 2020
Practice making predictions and recording data with today's #SL_DailyDose of Science! Kids can help set up a ramp and gather household items that might—or might not—roll.
Backyard Astronomy: Leo and Arcturus
Posted March 24, 2020
See if you can find Leo the Lion and the bright star Arcturus in the night sky. You don't need binoculars or a telescope to spot them; just your eyes!
CO2-Powered Bottle Boat Experiment
Posted March 23, 2020
Turn your home into a learning laboratory! You can do this fun CO2-powered boat experiment with common household items.
Backyard Astronomy: Polaris
Posted March 22, 2020
Find out how Polaris, the North Star, can you help you navigate the night sky. Share this video with a friend who could use a breath of fresh air and some stargazing! If you’re feeling a little stir crazy, stargazing is an activity you can enjoy while practicing safe social distancing.
Water Cycle Experiment
Posted March 21, 2020
We had some rainy spring weather yesterday! You can make your own cloudburst at home with this activity demonstrating condensation and precipitation.
Backyard Astronomy: Winter Circle
Posted March 20, 2020
On a clear night, see if you can spot the stars in the Winter Circle.
Density Experiments
Posted March 19, 2020
Explore density with two at-home experiments! For the first experiment, you will need 4 glass jars or cups, warm and cold water, towels for clean up, blue and yellow food coloring, a plastic-coated piece of paper (junk mail works well) and a large tub or sink. For the second experiment, you will need vegetable oil, rubbing alcohol, red food coloring, and a glass container with a lid.
Backyard Astronomy: Venus and Pleiades
Posted March 18, 2020
Find out how to spot Venus and the Pleiades star cluster in the Western sky. You don't need binoculars or telescopes to see them; just your eyes! They will be visible for the next three weeks.
Walking Rainbow Experiment
Posted March 17, 2020
We had fun with rainbows and chemistry for St. Patrick’s Day! This activity is all about osmosis. For this experiment, you’ll need 7 cups, water, food coloring, and paper towels.
Pepper Experiment
Posted March 16, 2020
For our first quick experiment about preventing the spread of germs, you'll need a bowl of water, pepper, and soap.
The new Sloan Museum of Discovery will open in late 2021. Until then, you can take a virtual tour of the old Sloan Museum history exhibits from the comfort of your home! Take a walk back through time, from the Durant-Dort Carriage Company to Flint's fight for fair housing.
