Learning Labs
Learning Labs are facilitated, focused, hands-on learning experiences for school groups. They are multi-disciplinary and aligned with state and national science learning standards.
Students in the Testing the Waters lab complete an activity. Learning Lab Guides provide vocabulary, pre- and post-visit activities and additional resources to enhance each lab.
Learning Labs are offered from September 11, 2012 through June 7, 2013. Please contact us if you need to accommodate students with special needs such as learning ability, language or physical ability.
Learning Lab Schedule
Learning Labs are offered on Tuesday through Friday at 10:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. except:
Heart Surgery 101: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Life Begins: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Submarine: 10 a.m. only Tuesday through Friday
More Information
Home School Learning Labs
Learn about MSI's Learning Labs for home school students in families and groups.
Learning Lab Scholarships
MSI now offers Learning Lab scholarships for economically disadvantaged schools. Learn more.
Learning Labs
Learning Lab
- Charge! Electromagnetism at Work
- Explore the connection between electric and magnetic fields by experimenting with magnets, circuits and more.
- 4th - 6th grade
Learning Lab
- City Science: Building Bridges
- Learn about the basics of structural design as you design, build, and test bridges and explore potential careers.
- 4th - 8th grade
Learning Lab
- Colorful Chemistry
- See what happens when you mix chemicals and add some heat.
- 4th - 8th grade
Learning Lab
- Crime Lab
- Solve a crime at the Museum using fingerprint analysis, chromatography, white powder analysis and microscopy techniques.
- 4th - 8th grade
Learning Lab
- ER/OR
- Explore medical careers and cutting-edge medical technologies by "training" as a resident.
- 7th - 12th grade
Learning Lab
- Evidence Lab
- Use hands-on forensic science techniques to analyze DNA, bullets, blood spatter and trace evidence to solve a crime.
- 9th - 12th grade
Learning Lab
- Heart Surgery 101
- Learn about careers in the OR and handle real surgical tools in a facilitated discussion featuring a pre-recorded session of open heart surgery.
- 7th - 12th grade
Learning Lab
- Life Begins: Puberty, Reproduction & Prenatal Development
- Get an overview of reproduction, fetal development and the birth process from a trained health educator. Tuesdays only.
- 4th - 8th grade
Learning Lab
- Live ... from the Heart
- Go live into the operating room via interactive videoconference to talk with a surgical team as they perform a bypass procedure.
- 9th - 12th grade
Learning Lab
- Moving With Newton
- Experience Newton's three laws of motion through hands-on activities.
- 4th - 8th grade
Learning Lab
- Simple Machines
- Push and pull larger-than-life simple machines to learn how distance affects force.
- 3rd - 5th grade
Learning Lab
- Submarine Lab
- Tour the historic submarine, participate in hands-on activities and explore the science and history behind the U-505.
- 3rd - 7th grade
Learning Lab
- Testing the Waters
- Explore the watershed and use environmental science methods to determine the quality of Chicago-area water samples.
- 4th - 8th grade
CASE
The Center aims to inspire the next generation of inventors and innovators with programs that empower teachers, engage the community and excite students.
- Happening Now
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Animal Inside Out
A stunning look inside the animal kingdom from the creators of BODY WORLDS.
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Space Junk
A visually stunning exploration of our planet's perilous ring of orbiting debris.
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Air Racers
Ride along as elite pilots fight for position, wingtip-to-wingtip, in the fastest motor sport.
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- Coming Soon
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Inventive Genius Lecture: Empires of Light
Jill Jonnes discusses the electric clashes between Edison, Tesla and Westinghouse.
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The Wooded Isle and Gardens of the World's Fair
Cathy Maloney discusses the gardens of the World's Fairs and tours the Wooded Isle.
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The Wooded Isle and Gardens of the World's Fair
Cathy Maloney returns to discuss World's Fair gardens and tour the Wooded Isle.
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New Online Activities
- Online Activity
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Habitat Overcrowding
See what happens when plants compete for survival in an area with limited resources.
- Online Activity
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Straw Bridges
Tap into your inner engineer as you design, build and test model bridges.
- Online Activity
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What Goes Around
Create a traveling circulatory system to learn how blood flow and nutrient exchange happens.