Inside Discovery Lab, you might find children building and testing marble tracks, programming robots, or the entire room turned into a canvas for painting. In this space, children aren’t just playing—they’re investigating, experimenting, learning, and discovering.
This hands-on space, made possible with the generous support of 3M, invites children to let
their curiosity guide them through open-ended testing, making, creating, and building.
Open Ended Play
Open-ended play is an amazing way for children to learn. With no set instructions or outcomes, the possibilities are nearly endless. Instead, children use their ideas, creativity, and problem-solving skills to guide what happens next. Whether exploring shapes, experimenting with gravity, or watching how things move, they’re doing what scientists and researchers do every day: asking questions, making predictions, seeing the results, and trying again.
This type of play supports:
- Confidence and Independence
- Creative Thinking
- Early STEAM Learning
- Communication and Language Skills
Best of all? The Discovery Lab gives children space to explore at their own pace, ask their own questions, and feel proud of what they create, discover, and learn.
Discover At Home
Looking for ways to bring the spirit of Discovery Lab home with you?
Here are some ways you can investigate, experiment, and discover at home:
On a Roll:
Use different materials like cardboard, folded paper, or pillows to build a ramp. Test how different objects roll and move down the ramp. Why might different objects move faster orslower?
Float or Sink:
Fill your sink or a bowl with water. Make predictions and test whether different objects will sink or float. Try two objects at the same time: Why might they react the same or differently in the water?
Try to ask your little explorer questions like:
“What do you think will happen?”, “What else could you try?” or “Why do you think that happened?”
Plan Your Next Adventure
With rotating themes, staff-led workshops, and self-guided exploration, Discovery Lab always has something new to explore! Drop in during your visit and see where your curiosity and creativity will take you. Ready to jump into discovery?
Get tickets for your next adventure
Thank you to 3M—presenting sponsor of the Discovery Lab and supporter of everyday science programs—for creating a space that empowers children to think like scientists, inventors, and innovators through the power of play.
