Our Grades K-5 Workshop Themes

Kids take home a science-themed toy each class!

Seeking Our Senses

Students explore all five senses. They test their vision with optical illusions, experiment with their hearing, and try their hand at reading braille.

Dinosaurs

Students examine fossil casts and explore the differences in the teeth of herbivorous and carnivorous dinosaurs. Students participate in a mini dinosaur excavation and make a cast of a dinosaur tooth to take home.

Where’s the Air?

This dynamic class explores the concepts of air pressure and buoyancy through hands-on experimentation and thought-provoking demonstrations. Bring home your own "Mad Science Skyhawk Foam Plane."

Matter of Fact

Students explore molecules and the forces that hold atoms together. They see the dramatic differences between physical and chemical changes, as they mix up a batch of their very own Mad Science Putty to take home.

Sonic Sounds

Discover sound, sound waves, and use ordinary objects to create a sound symphony! Use our multi-effects processor to alter your voice, resulting in lots of cool special effects. Electronic distortions link shifting frequencies to voice alterations and bring home their very own “Mad Science Tone Tube.”

Magnetic Magic

Investigate the power and daily uses of magnets. Learn about polarity, visualize magnetic fields, and learn how to magnetize ordinary metals. Find out how a compass works and test a powerful electromagnet. Bring home the cool “Mad Science Magnet Lab”.

Kitchen Chemistry

Cook up a chemical reaction! Blow up a balloon with yeast. Go on a nutrient hunt. Act out digestion from start to finish. Finally, get a glimpse of your guts-in-action with the “Mad Science Digestor Inspector” Take Home.

Lab Works

Use your hands as a real Mad Scientist in this whirlwind class to experience how a lab works! Learn to manipulate laboratory equipment at your personal lab bench and take home your very own “Mad Science Graduated Gear” to continue your research.

Planets and Moons

Explore the depth of our solar system and create a lunar eclipse in this “mad” planetary tour! Learn how the planets stack up. Build and take home the “Mad Science Gravity Assisted Launcher”!

Science of Toys

Did you know that some of your favorite toys work using basic science principles? Use yo-yos and other classic toys to discover the science of motion through fun hands-on activities. Find out how various toys and String Things work and bring home a “Mad Science Yo-Yo”.

Lights, Color, Action

See all the colors in white light by using Newton's color theory concepts with a color wheel and spectrum-splitting prisms. Use spectroscopes, ultraviolet light and witness the wonders of chromatography! Students build their own “Mad Science Technicolor Blender” to demonstrate Newton’s color wheel invention.

Walloping Weather

Welcome to the wild world of weather! Investigate why it rains, what causes lightning, and how weather can be predicted. Step into the shoes of a meteorologist and create your own regional weather forecast. Learn about the Sun’s energy and ultraviolet radiation with the “Mad Science Sun Beads” you will take home.

Dry Ice Capades

Manipulate matter in all of its three states! Melt metal in boiling water and freeze water with just a breath of dry ice! Use your “Mad Science Thermocolor Cup” to test the temperature of liquid matter in your home! NOTE: There is an additional $15.00 material fee for this workshop.

Living in Space

Experience the life of an astronaut as you suit up for space flight! Use teamwork to complete an important space mission, build a model space station and bring home a “Mad Science Spacewalk Mission”!

Mission Nutrition

Learn about nutrition and fitness while focusing on a healthy diet and lifestyle. Stimulate enthusiasm for personal health and cultivate a healthy attitude toward nutrition and fitness. Take home a “Mad Science Step-o-Meter”, a real pedometer!

Science of Magic

Is it Magic? No... It’s science! Learn the secrets behind famous magic tricks. Mother Nature has some tricks of her own, and we’d like to show you what’s up her sleeve! Students will bring home a “Mad Science Curious Cube” to continue their magic tricks!

Slime Time

The Mad Science slime recipe is revealed in this ooey gooey chemistry class! Students will learn about slime and its basic ingredients in a series of hands-on activities. We will stir up concoctions of slime in scientific style and test the properties of slime in team-spirited fashion!

Movie Effects

Explore the concept of persistence of vision and how we are able to see movies. Take the continuity challenge and see if you have what it takes to help make a movie. Discover how 3-D images are made. Finally, put your movie making skills to the test to create your very own animation with the “Mad Science Cartoon Creator Flipbook."

Space Travel

Learn what it takes to be a true globetrotter! Race a balloon rocket and design your own car engine as you learn about thrust. See the principles of propulsion at work while watching a real model rocket launch, and build your very own “Mad Science Space Copter” to fly to the skies!

Watts-Up!

Discover the world of static electricity! Learn about the phenomenon of lightning, how it works, and how to avoid meeting with it up close! Experiment with static electric charges, indoor lightning, and observe how the Van de Graff generator allows for a hair-raising experience. Make your own “Mad Science Static Stick”.

Bugs!

Welcome to the realm of insects! Learn about their unique eyesight, and the way that they defend themselves against predators. See how camouflage works and investigate how bugs can be helpful to our environment. Explore what characteristics insects have and bring home your own “Mad Science Insect-A-Vision”.

Fantastic Fliers

The Wright Brothers would be proud as we follow in their footsteps and learn the fundamental principles of flight. There's a mix of conceptual and hands-on learning, which will introduce us to the basics of aerodynamics. Learn about the forces that affect flying machines. Bring home your own “Mad Science Skyhawk Foam Plane”. (We need access to a safe, uncluttered area).

Fun-damental Forces

Gravity... Inertia... Centripetal force... Who could ever imagine that an introduction to physics could be so much fun? Experience these awesome forces and experiment with some cool devices to watch forces at work! Bring home your own force experiments with the “Mad Science Gravity Game”.

Harnessing Heat

Students use thermometers and watch demonstrations with thawing blocks and a heat gun. Interactive heat-induced experiments show the relativity of temperature. Temperature increase is induced by friction, and children explore materials that transfer heat at different rates and take home a “Mad Science Heat Sheet”.

Optical Illusions

Build your own “Mad Science Periscope” while learning about optics, reflection and sight. Trick your brain through your eyes and learn the physics behind optical illusions! Seeing is not always believing...as this fast paced and very entertaining workshop demonstrates.

Atmosphere & Beyond

You’ll be on a mission to explore the atmosphere on Earth, and beyond! Travel to the end of the rainbow and make a sunset! Mix up various planetary atmospheres, one molecule at a time. Discover how stars would look in space and see what makes stars twinkle using your very own “Mad Science Meteorological Station”.

Detective Science

Step into the role of a detective and discover how forensic science works to solve crimes. Create and analyze fingerprints and teeth impressions. Discover how written materials can be analyzed to help solve a crime. Find out if you would make a good witness! Take home a “Mad Science Personal Profiler Kit” where you can test your forensic science skills.

Junior Reactors

Introducing the world atoms. Perform hands-on experiments to learn the difference between physical and chemical changes. Explore how atoms join together and molecules react using your take home "Mad Science Atomic Coins Kit".

Rocket Science

This is your chance to be a rocket scientist! Investigate the four forces of flight with the help of a Unique Flying Object. Explore the science involved in the rocket construction as you build your own “Mad Science Skyblazer II Rocket” that you can take home. NOTE: There is an additional $4.00 material fee per child for this workshop.

Under Pressure

Join Bernoulli and Newton as we take an exciting look at the science behind aerodynamics and the properties of air... under pressure. Levitate ping-pong balls in defiance of gravity. Use a vortex generator to create air pockets with a punch, find the secrets of the Vikings’ ships, and take home the famous “Mad Science Air Blaster”.

Mad Machines

Simple machines make our lives easier. Try out different types of simple machines: levers, wedges, incline planes and pulleys, through various hands-on activities. See a catapult working and discover how a simple wedge can be a powerful tool. You’ll take home the awesome “Mad Science Drag Racer”. NOTE: There is an additional $3.00 material fee per child for this workshop.

Chem in a Flash

Hop on board the chemistry express for a high-speed science experience! Perform instantaneous experiments in this fast-paced class on split-second reactions that go mad! Pick up a “Mad Science Action Flask” and have a blast!

Che-Mystery

Explore chemistry, one of the most exciting and fundamental sciences! Demonstrations of crystals growing in water glass, and acetone reducing foam to slime! Students will get their hands dirty with non-Newtonian liquids and hydrophobic marble masterpieces! Do experiments at home with the “Mad Science Dynamic Dish”.

"Current" Events

Take a tour on the electron freeway! Conductors, insulators, and other elements in the world of circuit electricity introduce themselves to you via the tingle in your fingertips and the twinkle in your eye. You’ll leave the workshop with a “Mad Science Circuit Maze."

Electricity

Excite some electrons as you construct some serious circuits. Test various materials for conductivity with space- age plasma balls. Learn how the build up of electrons can cause static electricity with the “Mad Science Static Stick” take home.

pH Phactor

Use the colorful pH scale and dip into the world of acids and bases! Explore the pH extremes with your Reaction Tube in what is sure-to-be a popping experience! Discover whether liquids found in your home are acids or bases using your personal “Mad Science Reaction Tube”.

Super Structures

Act like junior architects and engineers! Discover the strengths of triangles, cylinders and arches. Learn how combinations of these shapes make for sturdy homes and skyscrapers! Test compression, strength, and tensions with hands-on experiments! Construction continues with the “Mad Science Bridge Basics” take home.

Wacky Water

Students make waves with Wacky Water and immerse themselves in some WET and wonderful science! Hands-on experiments covering density and pollution introduce students to the fascinating fluid – Water. Learn properties of water and apply when you build and take home your very own “Mad Science Rescue Diver”.

Earthworks

Discover what the Earth is composed of and learn all about rocks and minerals. Explore what lies inside an ordinary- looking piece of rock and see minerals fluoresce before your very eyes. Learn about the forces that create earthquakes, the natural faults under the Earth's crust and how mountains are formed. Take home the “Mad Science Sedimentary Stacker”.