Home » Children's Activity » Learning Laboratory: The Discovery Museums

Learning Laboratory: The Discovery Museums

playing with sand on the light table at the Children's Discovery Museums in Acton MA

My kids have loved the Science and Children’s Discovery Museums in Acton ever since we discovered them when Emma was a toddler. We even invested in a membership for a while, which we let lapse to pay for other experiences, but if the kids have their way we’ll rejoin again. This sand and light table has been a huge hit with each of my kids, especially when they were around Lily’s age (two years old).

Drawing on the glow-in-the-dark wall at the Discovery Museums in Acton MA

Emma and Johnny have become increasingly fond of this glow-in-the-dark wall. You can learn how to make one of these for your own home at Fangletronics!

playing with water vapor in the science discovery museum in Acton, MA

Water vapor is always interesting – actually, water in any form is always fascinating for my kids!

heat sensory image at the science Discovery museum in Acton, MA

This heat sensor display is one of the newer exhibits – very cool! That’s Mike (wearing glasses) with all three kids :)

Last but certainly not least, here’s a video of a few other favorites!

Do you have a favorite children’s or science discovery museum near your home?

MaryAnne is a craft loving educator, musician, photographer, and writer who lives in Silicon Valley with her husband Mike and their four children.

25 thoughts on “Learning Laboratory: The Discovery Museums”

  1. This looks like a great museum. We love Children Discovery Museum in San Jose – it’s about 15 min drive (vs an hour to Exploratorium), and they usually have two visiting exhibits every year in addition to a very interesting permanent section. I see us going there every so often for several more years before Anna grows out of it.

    1. 15 minutes is great! This one is 20-30 minutes, depending on traffic – still not too bad.

  2. Our local children’s museum is always a huge hit. We’ve tried going to the science museum in our area, but it’s not very interactive.

  3. Elisa | blissfulE

    That looks stellar! And I love that you got a heat sensor group photo of your husband and kids. :) :) This reminds me that we have a current membership to our local kid-friendly science museum. Better get back over there!!

    1. Too bad the one closest to you isn’t great! I know I’ve read about some neat ones on your blog!

  4. Your trip looks like so much fun. I wish we had a museum like that. My kids would love it. Actually I think I want to go for me. That looks like fun.

    1. Did you see the video? I think Mike and I were more interested in the electromagnet than our kids!

      1. I know. When we went to a childrens museum in Las Vegas I had to tell my kids to slow down. I’m playing with the tornado maker.

        1. Was that the Lied children’s museum in Vegas? I had so much fun there when we visited!

        2. Yes it was. I was really cool when we went. We made the mistake though of taking our 3 year old in the hurricane machine. Actually it was my husband who took her in with him. I thought the idea was questionable, but he thought she’d like it. Um no!

          1. Wow, I don’t know any 3yo who would like that! At least he was in there with her! It is a very cool exhibit!!!

  5. We are huge fans of the science centers as well…I have not renewed mine yet either…and I think I will wait until fall, keep the entertaining changing for my kids…who seem to always be on the road!
    This looks like a super fun one…I better renew it, before we make our way…your directions!!!

Comments are closed.

Scroll to Top