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Performing Artists of Inspiration: Sandeep Das Demonstrates the Tabla
Over the next four weeks, Boston Children's Museum will share a new series called Performing Artists of Inspiration, featuring local performing artists who will teach us how they make art and what they learn by making it. We kick off the series with Grammy-winning composer and musician Sandeep Das. Sandeep shares how we can find joy in music by demonstrating his instrument, the tabla.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Let's Make Snow Dough!
Learn to make snow dough, a simple playdough recipe that brings all the fun of snow indoors without melting. This fun sensory activity only takes two ingredients!
Ages: 5-12Category: Open-Ended Play
87 Indoor Activities for Families this Winter
Being stuck at home this holiday season is a drag, but this list of 87 at-home activities from Today's Parent will make dealing with self-isolation from COVID-19 just a little bit more fun for the whole family.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Make Your Own Spinning Top!
Tops are found in cultures worldwide and have been around for thousands of years, and no wonder-they're fun! Follow along as Alissa shows us how to make two kinds of tops with items found around your home.
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Storytime: "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats
It might not be as stormy out there as we saw in Boston two weeks ago, but we can enjoy a nice snow-themed storytime! Gather 'round for a reading of "The Snowy Day" by Ezra Jack Keats.
Ages: 0-6Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Jack Frost Introduces New Snowed-In Kits for At-Home Fun
Not sure what to do when it's snowing or too cold to venture out? Have some winter fun inside with a Jack Frost-inspired Snowed-In Kit! Snowed-In Kits include the materials to decorate a mug for hot cocoa, design a unique snowflake inspired by Jack Frost, or create your own magical shrinking key chain. Create an unforgettable experience for the family by ordering your Snowed-In Kit.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
The "HERstory" of Boston Children's Museum's Collection
Throughout our history, women have always been the guiding force behind Boston Children's Museum's collection. However, they have oftentimes been overshadowed by the stories of men (AKA "his"story.) In a new blog post, read the tale of a beloved dollhouse and an amazing Massachusetts woman that demonstrates a portion of the rich HERstory our collection holds.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Encourage Kids to Make Music Inspired by Nature - Part 3
Get your kids excited about making music with our friends at Continuo, who are back with a final installment of the "Music in Nature" series! This time, we're putting together all that we've learned about how instruments can mimic the sounds of nature. You'll even get to hear what the flute and oboe sound like when played together. Let's listen!
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Playdough Two Ways
Let's make play dough-two ways! Kids will have a blast doing this messy sensory activity (slight emphasis on "messy") while learning a little bit about kitchen science. Alissa shows us how it's done.
Ages: 3-8Category: Open-Ended Play
The Perfect Paper Chain Experiment
Around this time of year, you might like to make paper chains to decorate for the holidays. Alissa is wondering...which paper works best to make the perfect paper chain? Let's conduct a science experiment to find out!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Build Your Own Museum
What would you put in your children's museum? A piano on the roof? A dinosaur in the lobby? A rocket ship to fly to outer space? A three-floor slide? You can now build your very own museum with our new game! Watch this video to learn how to play, and then build your museum. Use your imagination and share your masterpiece when it's complete!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
This is My Tradition
We're excited to introduce a new series called "This Is My Tradition." Throughout December on Facebook, we'll be sharing the holiday traditions of some of our Boston Children's Museum staff and hope to inspire you to share stories of your own favorite traditions. Our first tradition comes from Science Program Manager Alissa. Find it on our Facebook page, and feel free to share your own traditions in the comment section!
Ages: AllCategory: Cultures
Make Homemade Candles with Crayons!
At this time of year, many different festive holiday traditions involve light. We're joining the celebration of light by making homemade candles using worn down crayons!
Thanks to our STEAM sponsors, National Grid and BNY Mellon!
Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Meet TIME's Kid of the Year
Meet Gitanjali Rao, TIME's first-ever Kid of the Year. Gitanjali is a 15-year-old scientist and inventor. Her mission is to create a global community of young innovators to solve problems the world over. We're so inspired by her amazing work and can't wait to see all that she can accomplish!
Ages: AllCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Learn How to Make a Paper Snowflake
This Snowmazing at Boston Children's Museum, we invite you to get festive! Watch this video to learn how to make your own paper snowflake to decorate your home or send as gifts to loved ones. Share a photo of your snowflake on social media with the tag #BCMGetsFestive, and we'll highlight it on our page!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Build a Small World with Your Little One
Little ones can build a small world, after all! Encourage kids to expand their imagination, practice social skills, and explore new materials and scenarios by building their own tiny world at home!
Ages: 0-6Category: Open-Ended Play
Meet the Woodwind Family with New England Philharmonic
A huge thank you to New England Philharmonic for bringing us an all-virtual Meet the Instruments series this year. In our fourth and final video with NEP, we Meet the Woodwind Family! If you missed out on previous episodes, you can always access them on our YouTube channel in the "Meet the Instruments" playlist.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Storytime: "The Thank You Book" by Mo Willems
There are SO many people deserving of thanks right now in the community and in our families. Join Steve as he reads "The Thank You Book" by Mo Willems. Join Piggie and friends on his quest to thank, well...everyone!
Ages: 0-6Category: Storytimes and Literacy
Meet the Brass Family with New England Philharmonic
New England Philharmonic is back for more Meet the Instruments! Today, we'll Meet the Brass Family! Learn all about these amazing instruments and how they contribute to an orchestra.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Make Music Inspired by Nature - Part 2
Get your kids excited about making music with our friends at Continuo, who are back with Part 2 of the "Music in Nature" series! This time, we're diving into the incredible oboe. What parts of nature can the oboe sound like?
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Make Wearable Art Inspired by London Basquiat
Our newest Artist of Inspiration is local artist London Basquiat, maker of incredible wearable art. Through his work, London hopes to show others that no matter what you go through in life, you can make it somewhere. Learn about his work and create your very own wearable art inspired by London with our new instructable!
Ages: 5-12Category: Art Activities
Let's Make Oobleck!
It's a solid...it's a liquid...it's Oobleck! Check out this video to learn how to make this gooey, play-dough like substance that is SO much fun to play with.
Ages: 5-12Category: Open-Ended Play
Meet the Instruments with New England Philharmonic!
We're thrilled to introduce the all-virtual Meet the Instruments series from New England Philharmonic! In Part 1, learn about the instruments in an orchestra and how they fit together to make music.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Send a Secret Message with Thanksgiving Spy Juice
For all you super spies, we're making a top-secret substance called spy juice...with a Thanksgiving twist! Use kitchen chemistry and a popular Thanksgiving dish to write secret messages. Then, decode messages sent to you!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
Thanksgiving-Themed Activities for Kids
Even though Thanksgiving looks a little different this year, we can still create festivities our kids will remember. Check out this great list of Thanksgiving activities from PBS KIDS you can try with your kids.
Ages: AllCategory: Art Activities
Find Music in Nature
Kids + music = an incredible combination with endless possibilities. To get your child engaged with music making, our friends at arts leadership organization Continuo have shared two videos about how people of all ages can make music inspired by sounds found in nature. Check out part 1.
Ages: 3-8Category: Music and Dance
Sound Hunt Activity for Kids at Home
Let's go on a sound hunt! Can you guess the sounds of different objects around Alissa's home? What kinds of sounds can you find in and around your home? Join the hunt.
Ages: 3-8Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)
How to Help Your Children Cope with COVID This Winter
Winter is just around the corner. Gain some helpful insights on helping kids cope with the effects of the pandemic during the cold months ahead, with school (or homeschool) in full swing.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
You and Your Child Can Help Science From Home!
Our research partner from the Cooperation Lab is now doing studies online about how children think and make decisions. Check out their website to learn more about their research.
Ages: AdultsCategory: Blog posts and Articles
Ocean in a Bottle
Create your own ocean biome sensory bottle made with household objects in this great activity from the Arizona Science Center!
Ages: 5-12Category: STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, art, and math)