Adler Planetarium (Photo: f11photo/Shutterstock.com)
Kids are born scientists — experimenting and testing hypotheses for just about anything…including the parental boiling point. Foster their curiosity by exposing them to great discoveries made through science, from the solar system to the creation of bath soap. These Chicago spots will educate and entertain even the most novice of scientists.
Museum of Science and Industry
This must-visit museum will be a highlight for the whole family with attractions and exhibits on the science of just about everything. Kids can wander through a mirror maze, play their way through scientific theories in the Idea Factory and be surrounded by a scientific adventure in the Omnimax theater.
This new, aptly named laboratory for kids, was started by a Ph.D. in Neuroscience and his wife, both board-certified teachers, who felt that science had lost its fun factor. They brought it back with hands-on classes like LEGO Robotics, the chemistry of ice cream, and the science of airplanes.
Kids have been listening to “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” before they could even utter words, so it’s no surprise that the topic is one of wonder for even the tiniest toddler. America’s first planetarium covers the night sky from planets to stars, moon exploration to cosmos. Don’t miss the theater shows like “Skywatch Live!” that uses state-of-the-art technology to accurately simulate that evening’s sky.
One of Chicago’s newest attractions is a 2.7-mile, above ground trail and park system — the perfect place to learn science in nature. Observation points provide a chance to learn about sunrise and sunset, and new trees and flowers will help the city track climate. Staff from the various museums will put on activities like educational walks, telescope viewing, and animal exploration to tie it all together.
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