Outreach Programs

SCIENCE ON THE GO! PROGRAMS

Dino Tale | Earth and Space Science | Grades Pre-K-2
Work like a paleontologist and travel back in time to visit the land of the dinosaurs and uncover the fossilization process. Using real specimens and model casts, piece together the story of those that ruled the land millions of years ago. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

What Makes Objects Move? | Physical Science | Grades Pre-K-2
Utilize this inquiry-based experience to explore the concept of motion and study cause and effect relationships. Practice scientific processes by asking questions, observing, designing solutions, exploring materials, and communicating your ideas, all while discovering what causes objects to move. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Light & Sound | Physical Science | Grades Pre-K-5
Focus on the physics of waves to explore and describe the properties of light and sound, and discover how these forms of energy are generated, measured, and controlled. This auditorium presentation utilizes volunteer participants. For Science on the GO!, this program can accommodate multiple classrooms at one time.

Webs, Wings, and Crawling Things! | Life Science | Grades Pre-K-5
Explore the fascinating adaptations of insects, arachnids, and more! This hands-on program investigates anatomy, adaptations, and behavior using models, mounted specimens, and assorted live insects from the Institute's collection. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

NEW! Digital Literacy: What is AI? | Computer Science| Grades K-2
Engage in digital literacy through AI simulations that help your students to uncover what artificial intelligence really is and how it works. The building blocks of AI offered in this program engage young learners in becoming more informed on their pathway to becoming digitally literate. Students participate in hands-on activities including the science of categorizing, creating a generative art model to predict outcomes, and utilizing children’s literature with probability to design small language models. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Science Sampler | Grades K-6
Let Cranbrook Institute of Science bring science to your school for a Science Sampler! During this 2-hour event, your school community will engage with 14 different hands-on science activities that your school selects from a list of options. You provide the volunteers, and we provide the fun!

Matter & Energy | Physical Science | Grades K-8
Investigate matter and the qualities scientists use to classify it as a solid, liquid, gas, or plasma. Explore mechanical energy, sound energy, light energy, heat energy, electrical energy, and chemical energy, and the effect each has on matter. Observe how energy is neither created nor destroyed but can change from one form to another. This auditorium presentation utilizes volunteer audience participants. For Science on the GO!, this program can accommodate multiple classrooms at one time.

Approaches to Problem Solving | Engineering | Grades 3-5
Experience the engineering skill of empathizing with others, the power of brainstorming ideas, and the necessity of creating a design prototype to meet the needs of a predetermined user. Participating in this Design Thinking process includes sharing and receiving group feedback to enhance prototypes. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

NEW! Digital Literacy: How Do We Train AI? | Computer Science | Grades 3-5
Engage in digital literacy through AI simulations that help your students uncover what artificial intelligence really is and how it works. The building blocks in this program invite learners to participate in making informed decisions on their pathway to becoming digitally literate. Utilizing the science of perception, students immerse themselves in hands-on activities to discover if machines can learn. Students will build decision trees to ID content and better understand how machines make meaning from an input. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Money! | Social Studies | Grades 3-5
Explore the compelling question of how we meet our wants and needs in a world of limited resources. Trace the development of human economies across the centuries with close-up views of ancient and modern currencies from around the world. Interactive activities bring to life marketplaces past and present and the choices consumers make each day. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Our Dynamic Earth | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-5
Investigate actual fossils, rocks, and minerals from the Institute’s collection! Consider what clues the samples of glacial till, limestone, halite, copper, and marine fossils provide about Michigan’s geologic history. Gather evidence to support explanations about changes in Michigan’s landscape over time. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

NEW! Claim, Evidence, and Reasoning (CER) Permian Monsters | Science & Engineering Practices | Grades 3-8
In tandem with our traveling exhibit about life before dinosaurs, we utilize the claim, evidence, and reasoning method to support what we know about life on Earth before dinosaurs. Students investigate fossil specimens and manipulate models of both Earth’s rock patterns and food webs to understand the fauna and flora of ancient time. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

How Did T. rex Become the Ruler of the Dinosaurs? | Life Science | Grades 3-8
Examine fossil casts of T. rex from different stages of development and draw conclusions on how this massive dinosaur’s structures supported its growth, behavior, and overall survival as the apex predator of its time. Recent studies focusing on the T. rex brain, including how it likely processed information and its perceived level of intelligence, will be analyzed. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Physics of Fling | Physical Science | Grades 3-9+
Explore Newton’s three laws and how forces cause motion. Learn the history of the trebuchet and observe the power of physics using the Institute’s three-ton trebuchet, capable of launching a watermelon-sized object the length of a football field or more! This program takes place outside, and is offered, weather permitting, Sept 12 – November 8, 2024, AND April 16 – June 13, 2025. This program can also take place at your location; however, a large outdoor space (size of football field) is required for the trebuchet launch.

Archimedes’ Principle | Physical Science | Grades 6-8
Students investigate the phenomenon of why objects are lighter in water. Utilizing the claim, evidence, and reasoning method (CER), they will evaluate a hypothesis. Students work in groups to collect and analyze authentic measurements and data, creating a model of their investigation and applying critical thinking to scientifically connect their evidence to their claim. For field trips and Science on the GO!, this is a single class program.

NEW! Digital Literacy: How Does AI Work? | Computer Science | Grades 6-8
Engage in digital literacy through AI simulations that help your students more accurately understand what artificial intelligence really is and how it works. The foundational concepts offered in this program invite learners to participate in making informed decisions on their pathway to becoming digitally literate. Utilizing the science of perception, students participate in hands-on activities to uncover how machines learn. Students will design and apply unbiased decision trees to classify information, discover how machines are able to beat you in a game, and better understand how machines make meaning from an input. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

Every Rock Has a Story | Earth and Space Science | Grades 6-8
Explore and evaluate geologist Alfred Wegener’s evidence for continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea with numerous rocks, fossils, and casts from Antarctica, Africa, and Australia. See how new technology and exploration of the deep oceans provided further evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, including how this explains the present-day distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, rift valleys, rocks, and minerals. Also included are plate tectonic events that occurred in Michigan over 1 billion years ago! For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

More Money! | Social Studies | Grades 6-8
Go global in this exploration of Macroeconomics! How do world-shaking events, natural and man-made, affect the World’s economic system? How does that impact our daily lives? Students explore the roots of modern free-market and command economies and play a fast-paced, interactive card game, taking the role of world traders in commodities such as oil and electronics. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

NEW! Digital Literacy: Critical Thinking | Science & Engineering Practices | Grades 9+
Students become more skilled consumers and producers of information as they uncover the importance of determining the purpose and source of the information with which they engage. Students analyze examples of various digital content to become familiar with identifying the content’s purpose, credibility, and how to consider if it is AI generated. Ultimately, conducting a practice to determine the validity of claims made related to globally shared digital content. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

My Money! | Social Studies | Grades 9+
Help students prepare to enter the working world in this activity-based program that starts with a whirlwind tour of the history of money with artifacts from the Institute’s collections. Then it poses the question, “How can I retire as a millionaire?” Using the Financial Literacy & Education Commission’s My Money Five principles approach, participants engage in activities to understand the importance of creating a household budget and building a retirement plan. For Science on the GO!, this is a single-class program.

• Register for Science on the Go! Program

SCIENCE ON THE SCREEN! PROGRAMS

(PROGRAMS VIRTUALLY)

Webs, Wings, and Crawling Things! | Life Science | Grades Pre-K-5
Explore the fascinating adaptations of insects, arachnids, and more! This hands-on program investigates anatomy, adaptations, and behavior using models, mounted specimens, and assorted live insects from the Institute's collection. For Science on the Screen!, this is a single-class program.

Approaches to Problem Solving | Engineering | Grades 3-5
Experience the engineering skill of empathizing with others, the power of brainstorming ideas, and the necessity of creating a design prototype to meet the needs of a predetermined user. Participating in this Design Thinking process includes sharing and receiving group feedback to enhance prototypes. For Science on the Screen!, this is a single-class program.

Money! | Social Studies | Grades 3-5
Explore the compelling question of how we meet our wants and needs in a world of limited resources. Trace the development of human economies across the centuries with close-up views of ancient and modern currencies from around the world. Interactive activities bring to life marketplaces past and present and the choices consumers make each day. For Science on the Screen!, this is a single-class program.

Every Rock Has a Story | Earth and Space Science | Grades 6-8
Explore and evaluate geologist Alfred Wegener’s evidence for continental drift and the existence of the supercontinent Pangaea with numerous rocks, fossils, and casts from Antarctica, Africa, and Australia. See how new technology and exploration of the deep oceans provided further evidence for the theory of plate tectonics, including how this explains the present-day distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, rift valleys, rocks, and minerals. Also included are plate tectonic events that occurred in Michigan over 1 billion years ago! For Science on the Screen!, this is a single-class program.

• Register for Science on the Screen! Programs