If you live in the Boston area and are looking for a good science event for your kids, then check out Science on Saturday presented by MIT at the Kresge Auditorium in Cambridge, MA and at Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA. Science on Saturday events are presented by volunteer scientists and engineers, and showcase science demonstrations in fields such as cryogenics, chemistry, and hands-on engineering. The free events run several times a year and are open to K-12 students, parents, and teachers.
My daughters and I attended a physics show presented by MIT’s Women of Physics, and the auditorium was packed with parents and young kids. We got to see demonstrations of Newton’s laws, electricity, magnetism, and other principles. The presenters kept the information moving along and the demonstrations were engaging and required student participation– a bonus for kids. The entire presentation took about an hour and then there were hands-on activity booths afterwards– with free giveaways. My kids loved that!
Interested in attending an event? Click on the following links to get specific information for upcoming events at both locations.
MIT Museum & the Akamai Foundation (Kresge Auditorium, Cambridge): No pre-registration is required but seating is limited- first come, first-seated.
- October 17, 2015: Planets- Pluto and Beyond
- December 5, 2015: Nuclear Science and Engineering
- February 6, 2016: Rockets and Flight
- March 5, 2016: Materials with Magical Properties
- April 2, 2016: Circuits and Computers
MIT Lincoln Laboratory (Lexington): Pre-registration is required.
- October 31, 2015: Cyber Tricks and Cyber Treats
- December 12, 2015: Robotics
- February 6, 2016: Cryogenics and Liquid Nitrogen
- April 23, 2016: MIT Open House Demos and Activities at MIT Campus
- June 2016: Engineering Workshops
Mark your calendars for upcoming Science on Saturday events. They are a great family activity for a Saturday morning, and they’re especially well-suited for the elementary school-aged crowd. The science-focused presentations are done in a way that get kids excited and interested in science, due in large part to the enthusiasm displayed by the presenters.
Image Source: Science- Symbol by AllyUnion
