Boston Area STEM Activities for Kids- July 2019 Roundup

Are you looking for STEM activities this summer? This July, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission that landed the first two people on the Moon. There will be events held around the country celebrating this historic milestone. Visit NASA’s website to find exhibits and events throughout the US. 

Massachusetts is also celebrating the Moon landing in a big way! Here is a peek at a few activities being held around the state.

Worcester on the Moon & Beyond!– Saturday, July 20

Worcester played an important role in the Apollo 11 moon mission. On Saturday, July 20th,  Worcester will showcase its historic and existing innovation with a series of events and exhibits. Visit the website to get a full list of all activities.

JFK Space Fest 2019– Saturday, July 20 

Join for a special commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission and Moon landing at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston. The day will include special activities and guest speaker presentations for visitors of all ages. All guest speaker presentations in Smith Hall will be free and open to the public. Visitors ages 17 and under will be admitted to the Museum and all special space activities free of charge on this day.

Moon Landing 50th: One Giant Anniversary– July 19-20 at the Museum of Science

The Museum of Science is celebrating the Apollo moon landing with special hands-on activities, thought-provoking live presentations, and much more! Visit the website for a list of events.

The Sky Tonight: Lunar Landings– Opens July 14 at the Museum of Science

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, the Museum of Science is presenting a special twist on their popular planetarium star show. It will include a special focus on our Moon and humanity’s history of lunar exploration.

Lunar Day– July 20 at the MIT Museum

Come celebrate the 50th anniversary at the MIT Museum in Cambridge. Everyone is invited for a jam-packed day of programming taking place throughout the Museum. Participate in hands-on activities, enjoy demos and lightning talks, and have the rare chance to see a moon rock on loan from NASA.

JFK Moonshot App

If you want to experience the mission at home, The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library just launched a new app, JFK Moonshot, a first-of-its-kind augmented reality documentary app experience. Using the latest in augmented reality technology, users are immersed into 1969 with a full-scale recreation of the Saturn V rocket and a 5-day real-time tracking simulation of the mission and the moon landing. Users can take a deeper dive into President Kennedy’s vision with interactive AR games, archival NASA footage, and educational multimedia experiences. The free JFK Moonshot app is available for both Apple and Android devices on iTunes and Google Play. 

Here is a list of free and affordable STEM activities to consider this month. Enjoy!

July (various dates): Hands-on engineering and design programs are offered by the MIT Museum in Cambridge. Free with Museum admission. (Ages 12+)

July (various dates): Microsoft Stores in Boston, Burlington, and Natick are holding free STEM programs for kids ages 6+.

July 5: Free Friday night admission to the Discovery Museum in Acton.

July 13: Join the Newton Library STEAM Expo for an interactive afternoon of activities at the library. The STEAM Expo is a gathering of tech enthusiasts, traditional crafters, artists, musicians, educators, tinkerers, hobbyists, engineers, and students. It is a place for creators to show their work and interact with members of the community. 

July 31: Mad Science, in collaboration with NASA, is offering a free space-themed workshop at Gerard Bergin Park in Cambridge from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 Mission. During the space-themed workshop, kids will have the chance to explore, investigate and take part in extraordinary activities. Some of the workshops that will be taking place include: putting together a rocket, learning about the different stages of rocket flight, discussing topics of space travel and more! For more information, visit: https://northboston.madscience.org/

Upcoming: Sign up now for Science & Us’ 3rd Makeathon at MIT on Saturday, August 17. This student-led organization aims to promote science communication among youth. Attend the Makeathon to learn and connect with professional science communicators from across the field. This is a free event for middle and high school students.