News in Education (NIE)
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Gallery Science Programs
Check with Visitor Services upon arrival for a detailed schedule of day’s activities and demonstrations. Below are our Regular Programs that are found each day.
NOTE: All programs are subject to change without notice.
Science is about doing – seeing concepts unveil themselves right in front of you. Every day, throughout the Connecticut Science Center, our Gallery Scientists and floor staff offer activities, demonstrations, and one-on-one investigations to help your students uncover the deeper science behind our exhibits,
3D movies, and the world. There are two options for you and your students to interact with our Gallery Scientists.
Option 1: Gallery Science Demonstrations
Science comes to life with our Gallery Science Demonstrations. Each Tuesday and Thursday we offer unique and engaging science demonstrations. These are free with paid admission. Demonstrations run every half hour between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. in the Invention Dimension’s Imagination Zone.
Programs can accommodate up to 30 students and are first come- first serve so please plan your visit accordingly.
Be sure to check the daily programs schedule on the white boards at each demonstration area.
Note: Demonstrations and schedules subject to change without notice.
What’s the Matter?
States of Matter and Properties of Matter (Grades 2 to 4)
Explore the properties of solids, liquids, and gases as we freeze them, boil them (even without heat!) and
otherwise transform them.
Playing with Polymers
Earth’s Resources (Grades 3 to 6)
Explore the lengthy world of polymers that bounce, stretch, absorb water, grow, flow, and disappear.
Explore how we use these polymers in our lives and how our environment is affected by them.
Hopefully we won’t repeat ourselves too much!
It’s Electric
Electro-Magnetic Energy
(Grades 3 to 5)
A hair-raising show introducing electricity where you get to touch, see, hear and even feel electric fields.
Discuss the nature of sparks, lightning, voltage, and current.
NOTE: The “i4 Initiative” showcases science research and applications underway within the Connecticut State University System that are connected to Science Center exhibit content. They also highlight career paths for young people pursuing scientific fields.
Option 2: Customize your Gallery Experience,/br>
In 2010-2011 the Science Center is pilot-testing a new program that provides an opportunity for educators to customize their gallery experience by making program arrangements directly with our Gallery Scientists.
Our Gallery Scientists are experts in astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry, geology, meteorology, health, genetics, robotics, green energy, and more.
Programs range from science demonstrations to
hands-on activities to guided exhibit explorations or some combination of the above.
These programs complement the Trail Guides, which utilize the exhibits.
There is no additional fee for these programs, however space is limited and offered on a first come – first serve basis.
Programs are offered Tuesday – Friday, generally between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Specific times and details are determined between you and the Gallery Scientist who will facillitate your experience.
To reserve:
- First, you must make arrangements through the Reservation Center. You cannot schedule one of our Gallery Scientists until you have a booking notice
from the Science Center.
- Once your visit is confirmed, contact the particular Gallery Scientist of the program content area in which you
are interested.
- Gallery Scientists must be reserved at least 30 days in advance of your visit. If you must cancel, please call the Gallery Scientist at least ONE WEEK in advance.
(Programs are subject to change without notice.)
Earth Science, Freshwater Ecology, Ornithology, Animal Behavior, Zoology
Location: The following Gallery Experiences are featured in the River of Life (including the WetLab) and Planet Earth Galleries located on Level 6.
Gallery Scientist: T.J. McKenna
The Dirt on DIRT!
The Changing Earth (Grades 2 to 3)
Use screen sieves, core samplers and other assorted scientific tools to sort and classify dirt to determine
how these properties can be useful to a healthy ecosystem.
Water Quality
Water Quality (Grades 3 to 6)
Students are led through a series of interactive tests and techniques to determine the health of a
river using aquatic organisms.
The X-TreamTables
Erosion (Grades 3 to 6)
Experiment using our two stream tables to compare and contrast major agents of erosion and how these could
effect a river.
Weather Now
Meteorology (Grades 5 to 7)
Using weather instruments and the same weather models used by WFSB meteorologists at the Connecticut Science Center, students collect current data such as temperature, pressure, precipitation and humidity and analyze
it to create their own forecast.
Water Quality
Water Quality (Grades 5 to 7)
Students analyze water from the CT River Watershed and explore how human activities can effect its quality.
Animal/Plant Physiology and Ecology, Animal Behavior, Cell Biology, Health Care Science, and Earth Science
Location: The following Gallery Experiences are featured in our Health Lab located on Level 5 in the Picture of Health Biology Lab.
Gallery Scientist: Joanna Correa
Health Care Careers
(Grade Level 5-12)
Employ hands-on nursing and first responder life-saving techniques using medical simulation technology.
Assessment of vital signs in both real humans and a medical human simulator.
Eye Anatomy
(Grades 5-8)
View demonstration of a cow eye dissection. Eye organ structures are compared to a human eye model and a camera.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Exploring Your Senses (Grades 4 to 6)
Hands on ear examination of a life size human ear simulator using authentic medical equipment.
Learn and perform procedures of proper ear care and maintenance.
The Effects of Alcohol on Vision
(Grade Level 7-12)
Experience simulated vision impairment while you are performing a series of physical
activities aimed at demonstrating physical performance of your body under the influence of alcohol.
Working in a DNA Lab!
(Grades 7-12)
The amazing cradle of life: cells, are looked at under microscopes and then, the quest for the DNA molecule begins!
Through simple laboratory steps you will embark on an adventure to isolate one of the most important molecules on
Planet Earth: DNA.
Chemistry, Nanotechnology, Engineering, Physics.
Location: The following Gallery Experiences are featured in the Forces in Motion Gallery located on level 4.
Gallery Scientist: Charliss Fenton
Playing with Light
Light (Grades 4 to 6)
Experiment with light using lasers and different lenses.
Explore refraction! See how it helps photographers and astronomers and see the role it plays in the human eye!
Wind Tunnel Science
Inertia (Grades 7 to 8)
Explore the forces that act on moving objects such as cars, planes, sailboats and trains.
Use our wind tunnel to investigate how planes or cars interact with the air around them and
then explore similar forces in our exhibits.
Magnetic Attraction
Electro-Magnetic (Grades 3 to 5)
How do MagLev trains work? Explore this new transportation technology and learn how electricity creates a magnetic
field through electromagnets.
SEM: Feeling the Invisible
Tools (Grades 4 to 6)
How do we get a picture of things too small to see? Feel invisible patterns using our scanning probe microscope
simulators and then use a real scanning electron microscope to “look” at bugs, rocks, and other samples only a
few hundred nanometers across!