SCIENCE ON THE GO! PROGRAMS
(PROGRAMS AT YOUR SCHOOL OR VENUE)
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.
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.
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) Archimedes | Science and Engineering Practices | Grades 3-8
Utilize the claim, evidence, and reasoning method to investigate an inquiry about matter. Students work in groups to collect and analyze authentic data: measure & graph quantities, apply critical thinking, and connect evidence with scientific principles that support a claim.
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.
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.
ACHESON MOBILE PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS
:(PROGRAMS AT YOUR SCHOOL OR VENUE)
We can bring the planetarium to you! Take an unforgettable journey in our portable digital planetarium and discover the night sky, distant stars, planets, constellations, and more.
EDUCATIONAL SHOWS
One World, One Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure | Earth and Space Science | Grades Pre-K-2
Join Big Bird, Elmo, and Hu Hu Zhu on an exciting discovery of the Sun, Moon, and stars. Find the Big Dipper and the North Star and take an imaginary trip that explores the differences between the Moon and Earth. Then join them back on Earth to celebrate the idea that even though they live in different countries, they still share the same sky.
Young Stargazers Sky Journey | Earth and Space Science | Grades Pre-K-2
We’ll make the sky turn dark and sprinkle it with stars in this interactive show. During the program, your students will embark on a mesmerizing and educational journey through space watching the Moon change phases, tell stories by playing with connect-the-dot stars, and travel to the eight planets in our solar system – and even Pluto! This is a live-narrated program.
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket | Earth and Space Science | Grades K-4
Join two young adventurers as they turn an old cardboard box into a rocket and blast off on an out-of-this-world experience to the most amazing places in the solar system! On the journey, they’ll visit the planets in our solar system and learn what makes each one unique. This program is available in either a 30- or 40–minute format.
Dinosaurs at Dusk | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-9+
Take to the skies and discover the origins of flight with a father and his teenage daughter who share a fascination for all things that fly. Navigate with them across continents, meet the ancestors of modern-day birds (the feathered dinosaurs), and experience the cataclysmic “last day” of the dinosaurs.
Earth’s Changing Climate | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-9+
Students will examine how clouds and gasses in our atmosphere affect climate, and how wind and ocean currents modify climate on a global scale. We’ll discover how ice cores tell us what the climate was like hundreds of thousands of years ago, see how global temperatures have changed in the last 125 years, and what the future may hold if current trends continue. Together, we’ll explore what may be causing climate change and how it could affect the future of our planet. Could Earth end up like Venus or Mars? This is a live-narrated program.
Michigan Sky Tonight | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-9+
What will we see when I go outside tonight? What’s happening on Saturn? What are the latest hot topics in astronomy? Michigan Sky Tonight is a live-narrated program about what’s happening in the current night sky and in the universe of astronomy, from constellations to comets, planets to nebulae. This program is updated weekly to reflect the latest astronomical discoveries or topics of interest.
Night Sky Objects and Beyond | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-9+
Find the Big Dipper, North Star, planets, constellations, and more in the current sky. Observe the apparent motion of the sky and venture into interstellar space to explore our starry home—the Milky Way Galaxy—in stunning three dimensions! This partially live-narrated program is updated weekly to reflect the latest astronomical discoveries or topics of interest.
The Great Lakes and Beyond | Earth and Space Science | Grades 3-9+
Water is plentiful here in Michigan, including the beauty and majesty of the Great Lakes as well as countless other smaller bodies of water. Our water resources are not infinite, and they must be wisely cared for, thoughtfully preserved, and meticulously improved to ensure they can sustain use and enjoyment for current and future generations. We’ll answer the questions, “Does water exist elsewhere? If not now, did it in the past? Will it in the future? What do the other planets in our solar system tell us about water here on Earth?”
Reason for the Seasons | Earth and Space Science | Grades 4-9+
Could the seasons and the ever-changing night sky be linked? Find out in this dynamic, live presentation demonstrating why the start of the seasons depends on your location on Earth, as well as Earth’s position around the Sun. Observe the Sun’s altitude and daily motion from various latitudes and discover why your favorite constellations aren’t visible every night. This is a live-narrated presentation.
Season Changes & Moon Phases | Earth and Space Science | Grades 4-9+
Discover the reason for the seasons and learn why the start of the seasons depends on your location on Earth, as well as Earth’s position around the Sun. Observe the sun’s altitude, daily motion from various latitudes, visit Mars, discover the phases of the moon, and uncover the mysteries of both solar and lunar eclipses. This is a live-narrated presentation.
Solar System Exploration | Earth and Space Science | Grades 4-9+
Through this in-depth experience, explore the planets in our solar system, from their formation billions of years ago, to the current robotic missions sent to unlock their secrets. Learn about the latest discoveries of comets, moons, and icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt and beyond. See what the planets look like in the night sky and how they move along their orbits over time. This is a live-narrated presentation.
Stories in the Stars | Earth and Space Science | Grades 5-9+
Travel to the Isle of Crete where the legends of Zeus, Hercules, Orion, Perseus, Medusa, and many others come to life. The Ancient Greeks and Romans may not have understood the nature of the stars, but they certainly had vivid imaginations as they created their mythological legends and stories while looking at them. This is a live-narrated presentation.
Cosmic Colors: An Adventure Along the Spectrum | Earth and Space Science | Grades 6-9+
Journey with us across the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Discover the many reasons for color – why is the sky blue, or why is Mars red? Take a tour within a plant leaf and journey inside the human eye. Investigate x-rays by voyaging to a monstrous black hole and then back to your doctor’s office. You will even see the actual color of a dinosaur based on recent evidence.
Evolution of the Stars | Earth and Space Science | Grades 6-9+
Learn about the evolution of the stars, the Sun in particular, in this energetic, informative program. From the turbulent cauldron of their birth, through the multitude of cataclysmic ways they can meet their end, discover the many untold secrets of the stars. This is a partially live-narrated program.
From Dream to Discovery: Inside NASA Engineering | Engineering | Grades 6-9+
Experience the challenges of the next generation of space exploration in this immersive program. By using exciting, real-life projects like NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and the New Horizons mission to Pluto, the show highlights the extreme nature of spacecraft engineering and the life cycle of a space mission—from design and construction to the rigors of testing, launch, and operations. Blast off and take the voyage with us! This program also contains an interactive segment that allows participants to assist in the design of a virtual space mission. From Dream to Discovery is made possible by the generous support of the Baiardi Family Foundation.
Natural Selection | Life Science | Grades 6-9+
Join young Charles Darwin on his adventurous voyage of exploration. Witness the thrill of scientific discovery by seeing the world through Darwin's eyes, make observations of the most beautiful natural scenery, and let the pieces of the scientific puzzle fall into place. Darwin himself reveals the simple and most beautiful mechanism that explains the evolution of all life on Earth: natural selection.
ENTERTAINMENT SHOWS
Let It Snow | Grades Pre-K-9+
An energetic, fun, and entertaining adventure for all ages, Let It Snow features festive classics from Frank Sinatra, Chuck Berry, Burl Ives, and Brenda Lee. Students will be mesmerized by a stunning, multimedia finale by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Mystery of the Christmas Star | Grades 3-9+
Journey to Bethlehem as we examine the possible scientific explanation for the Star the Magi followed to find baby Jesus. Using recorded sightings of significant astronomical occurrences during related historical events, we’ll investigate possible dates for the birth of Jesus, which have been investigated by historians for centuries.
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 GO!, 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 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.
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.