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Natural Habitats
Learn about the different natural environments of plants and animals, like grasslands, deserts, and rainforests, with this amazing resource from National Geographic Kids.
Ages: 5-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
How to Start Composting at Home
Composting is the process of decomposing organic matter like food leftovers into compost that makes for nutrient-rich soil. This soil can be used to grow healthy plants that don't need chemical fertilizers to grow, which is a big win for the environment. More good news: it's actually pretty simple to start composting at your own home without too many materials or headaches. Alissa will show you how.
Ages: 8-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Make a Nature Rubbing
We're celebrating the Earth all month long with special at-home activities all to do with our extraordinary natural world! One way we can celebrate the Earth is through art! Learn how to make a rubbing on paper using natural materials like leaves and bark. Share your creation on social media with #BCMEarthMonth to be featured on our pages!
Ages: 5-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
Earth Month
We're celebrating the Earth all month long with nature-themed at-home activities and kid-friendly video lessons on the planet's natural wonders. Visit our Earth Month webpage to view it all in one convenient place. Share your creations and experiences on social media with #BCMEarthMonth to be featured on our pages!
Ages: 3-12Category: Nature and Outdoor Activities
World Autism Awareness Day
Last Friday was World Autism Awareness Day. 1 in 54 children in the US is living with autism. Today and every day, we see the amazing in EVERY child and celebrate and encourage inclusivity for all. Check out these helpful resources for kids both living with autism or who have friends with autism to promote understanding and inclusivity.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Health and Wellness
The Matilda Effect on Women in STEM
Throughout history, women have made game-changing accomplishments in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Sadly, due to something called the Matilda Effect, the credit for many groundbreaking discoveries made by women was instead given to a man. In honor of Women's History Month, we're highlighting three incredible scientists who deserve some major recognition for their revolutionary work. Hopefully, their stories might inspire young girls today to pursue their interests in STEM.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Learning at Home Together and Keeping the Peace
One year later, and many of us are still balancing working from home with kids, whether they're fully remote, hybrid, or homeschooled. We thought we'd revisit a blog post from March 2020 (*queue involuntary shiver*) featuring helpful tips for parents and caregivers on learning at home together while keeping the peace.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
The Story of Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges is a civil rights pioneer. In 1960 at 6 years old, she battled racism & discrimination to become the first African-American student to integrate into an entirely white school system. This is "The Story of Ruby Bridges" read by Jeri Robinson.
Ages: 5-12Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Who is Pooja Chandrashekar? | Women's History Month Spotlight
Meet Pooja Chandrashekar, a Harvard medical student doing big things to encourage young girls to pursue their interests in STEAM all around the world.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Build a Sugar Kingdom Inspired by Pip & Pop!
The amazing Tanya Schultz, AKA Pip & Pop, creates other-worldly installation art from objects like sugar, glitter, candy, plastic flowers, and everyday craft materials. Learn about installation art and create your very own fantasy sugar kingdom inspired by Pip & Pop!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Oliver the Ball Python Looks Back on One Wild Year
It's been a chaotic year for us all, including Oliver the Ball Python. When our doors closed last March, Ollie shacked up with Science Program Manager Alissa. There have been so many changes for the Museum (and the world) since then-listen as Alissa & Ollie take a look back.
Ages: 3-12Category: All
Myth Busters: Balancing an Egg on the Spring Equinox
True or false: The only day of the year you can balance an egg on its end is the vernal equinox (AKA the first day of spring). Alissa experiments to see if she can bust this scientific myth since the equinox passed on March 20th. Make your predictions!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Celebrate Pi Day
We hope you had a happy Pi Day! Pi is the circumference of a circle (the distance around the circle) divided by its diameter (the distance across). Learn all about the amazing Pi and get a walk-through on making one of our very favorite circular objects...pie, of course!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
How to Feed Picky Toddlers
Picky eating is very common amongst toddlers and young children. It can be challenging for parents to find healthy meals that their young ones will eat! In a new blog post, Health and Wellness Educator Saki provides some helpful tips for feeding the picky little ones in your life.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Amanda Gorman | Women's History Month Spotlight
Meet the amazing Amanda Gorman, a poet, author, and activist who shared her poem "The Hill We Climb" at January's presidential inauguration. Learn all about Amanda and a few other inspiring young poets.
Ages: 5-12Category: Cultures
Create Sound Art, Art You Can Hear!
Sound art is art you can hear. Derek Hoffend, a local Boston artist, creates sound art installations that combine sculptures with sound, interactivity, and sometimes light. Learn about Derek's amazing work and create your own sound art with our instructable. We hope you'll share what you create with us!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Build a Bridge to Help Animals Travel Safely
Recently, a human road was built through an animal habitat, making it dangerous for the animals to cross to the other side. As an engineer-in-training, your challenge today is to build a crossing that allows animals to across safely.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Storytime: "Boxitects" by Kim Smith
Meg is a super-smart, imaginative boxitect who creates amazing things out of ordinary cardboard boxes. New student Simone is, too. Follow along as Meg and Simone join creative forces for the school's Maker Match and see what they create together. Afterward, put your boxitect had on and see what YOU create with a cardboard box.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Make Musical Instruments with Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes offer a world of opportunities for making! Watch and learn as Alissa and Steve build two different musical instruments out of old boxes. We challenge you to make your very own instrument after watching!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
DIY Popsicle Stick Catapult
Follow along with Neil's step-by-step guide to build a catapult that can launch projectiles! This at-home engineering challenge requires super-simple materials you probably already have around the house.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Create Buildings Out of Marshmallows and Toothpicks
Beyond being a blast to create, building marshmallow structures has educational benefits for kids of all ages. Embrace your inner architect and see what you can create-learn how!
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
How to Make Rainbow Paper
Learn how to make rainbow paper that changes color with the light! Create intricate rainbow patterns and designs, combining science with art in an incredible way. All you need is black paper, water, and clear nail polish.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Cup Stacking for Kids
Stack, build, create, and knock down! Cup stacking is fun for all ages. Take on this engineering challenge as you work on your hand-eye coordination, balance, speed, and more.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
How to Build a Simple Electrical Circuit
An electrical circuit is a pathway where electricity can flow. In this science activity, Alissa teaches kids how to make a super simple circuit using a battery that will light up a bulb!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
What's It Like to Be a Human Factors Engineer?
Meet Kate McNamee, a human factors engineer. This lesser-known field of engineering uses psychology to understand why people do what they do. This information is then used to create products, from everyday items to surgical robots! Hear Kate share her journey to human factor engineering.
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
What's It Like to Be a Civil Engineer?
An interest in engineering at a young age propelled Roz Imbaro to pursue civil engineering-one of the oldest kinds of engineering in the world! Learn about Roz's experiences strategizing with a team to build and demolish big structures like bridges and tunnels.
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
What's It Like to be a Software Engineer?
Not all engineers build things that you can touch. Meet Maddie Schwartz, a software engineer. Maddie She explains what it's like to write computer coding for satellites, and the collaborative effort it takes to help the internet reach people around the world.
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
What's It Like to be an Aerospace Engineer?
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work at NASA? Aerospace engineer Janelle Wellons can tell you! Alissa interviewed Janelle about her path to NASA, her experiences working on both earth and space projects, and the importance of teamwork and dreaming big.
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
What's It Like to be an Environmental Engineer?
There is not just one kind of engineer! Engineers work in a wide variety of fields and there are many paths to choose from for aspiring engineers. As part of our National Engineers Week celebration, we interviewed six real-life, working engineers about their different specialties. Here's Maeve Carlson, an environmental engineer from Portland, Maine.
Ages: 8-12
What's It Like to Be a Mechanical Engineer?
Meet Maija Benitz, a mechanical engineer and professor specializing in wind energy. Learn her story and what makes mechanical engineering unique, the role of coding and computer programs in daily tasks, and how math can help solve real-world problems.
Ages: 8-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)