COSI Connects

: On-Demand Workshops
: Pre-Scheduled Connections

Snake Bites - Grades 4-6

Junior Star Safari - Grades PreK - 1

Animal Adventures - Grades 2-4

Dino Tales - Grades PreK - 1

Superhero Science - Grades 5-8

Introduction to Coding - Grades 5-8

Gadget Works - Grades 2-5

Forensic Psychology - Grades 9-12+

Genetic Counseling - Grades 9-12+

In Depth: Autopsy - Grades 10-12+

In Depth: Kidney Transplant - Grades 9-12+

Surgical Suite: Sports Medicine - Grades 6-12+

Surgical Suite: Total Knee Replacement - Grades 6-12+

You Become the Pharmacist - Grades 10-12+

: On-Demand Workshops : Pre-Scheduled Connections	Pre-K	K	Grade 1	Grade 2	Grade 3	Grade 4	Grade 5	Grade 6	Grade 7	Grade 8	Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12+
Junior Star Safari
Snake Bites
Animal Adventures
Dino Tales
Superhero Science
Introduction to Coding
Gadget Works
Forensic Psychology
Genetic Counseling
In Depth: Autopsy
In Depth: Kidney Transplant
Surgical Suite: Sports Medicine
Surgical Suite: Total Knee Replacement
You Become the Pharmacist

Experience COSI Connects on COSI's mobile app

Experience COSI Connects on COSI's mobile app

COSI Connects launches audiences of all ages into a universe of science through online videos, activities, plus a free mobile app that enables science exploration even when offline. COSI Connects is helping to bridge the digital divide, promote digital literacy, and address critical science education needs simultaneously.

View Community Connects

Monday, August 24

American Museum of Natural History co-curator Ana Luz Porzecanski was on-air with La Mega Columbus 103.1 to share more about her work on COSI's ¡Cuba! exhibit.

Monday, August 31
Food: Cuban Sandwich

It's the first day of COSI's Digital Cuba Week! We will be joined by Pablo Taura, owner of Pablo's Havana Café in Powell, as he shows us how he makes a fan-favorite from his menu - the Cuban Sandwich! The Cuban sandwich is a variation on a ham and cheese sandwich, and originated from Cuban immigrant communities in Florida.

Tuesday, September 1
Art: Cuban Art

Michael Reese tells his story in this video. He was first exposed to Cuban art after a visit to the Pizzuti Collection. Since then, he has been regularly traveling to Cuba as a curator and consultant.

Wednesday, September 2
Dancing: La Guantanamera

Dancer and instructor Griset Damas-Roche from Plain City's U Will Dance Studio shares choregoraphy for Celia Cruz's "Guantanamera" for Day 3 of Cuba Week!

Thursday, September 3
Food: Black Beans Recipe

Lourdes Barroso de Padilla, Director of the Latina Mentoring Academy, shares her family's recipe for authentic Cuban black beans for Day 4 of Cuba Week.

Friday, September 4
Music: The Alonso Brothers, Mambo No. 5

For the final day of Cuba Week, watch pianist Orlay Alonso and his brother, Orlando, duet "King of the Mambo" Pérez Prado's Mambo No. 5. Prado was a pianist and composer known for popularizing the mambo in the 1950s - Mambo No. 5 was one of his greatest hits!

Cuba is teeming with amazingly unique wildlife and we are fortunate to be able to display a few live specimens for an up close look.

Cuban Tree Frogs

The Cuban tree frogs were brought in for the Cuba exhibit, but will be absorbed into our permanent collection once Cuba finishes its run. They love soaking in their water dish and are always active during feeding time when crickets are added to their display.

These frogs were collected from a wild invasive population in the southern United States. While they are an important species in their native range, they are much larger than native U.S tree frogs and they not only out compete them for food, but will eat native frogs outright!
Genus/Species: Osteopilus septentrionalis

Bearded Anole

The anoles in the Cuba exhibit are on loan from another institution for the run of the exhibit. The bearded anole loves to be misted and enjoys drinking from his dripping plant, but otherwise prefers for us to leave him alone.

Bearded anoles are also known as false chameleons due to their similar physical appearance. One of the main differences are his toes which are adapted to climbing in the canopy of the forests in Cuba.
Genus/Species: Anolis barbatus

"Montoya" - Boa Constrictor

Montoya is currently on display in our Cuba exhibit and came to us from a reptile rescue where he had been surrendered. While this species is common in the pet industry, most people don’t realize how big they can get with females reaching 10 feet. This can result in them finding their way to a rescue or sometimes even being introduced to the wild where they pose a threat to native wildlife.

While this boa species is found on the mainland from Mexico to Ecuador, his Cuban cousin is found exclusively in Cuba and has been observed hunting fruit bats collectively at the mouths of caves.
Genus/Species: Boa Constrictor

Smallwoods anole

The anoles in the Cuba exhibit are on loan from another institution for the run of the exhibit. The smallwoods anole not only has beautiful colors that help him blend in to his environment, but they will change depending on his mood. He also has a flap of skin on his chin called a dulap which he will flare to make himself appear bigger. It also lets us know that this individual is a male.

This species is a “crown-giant ecomorph”; crown - they are found in the crown of the tree; giant – they are very large for an anole species; ecomorph – a species that occupy the same niche in the same microhabitat.
Genus/Species: Anolis smallwoodi

Did you know that COSI is home to several animals, including snakes, opossums, chickens and turtles? We have around 40 different species in house averaging 60 individuals and 11 separate colonies.
You can meet some of them here through our virtual wild experience.

"Big Sis" and "Little Sis"
Eastern spotted turtle

Big Sis and Lil Sis are in fact both boys. They received their names before being identified as such and the names just never changed. What they lack in size (adult spotted turtles stay under 6”), they make up for in attitude. The “Napoleon complex” would be a fitting term for these feisty little turtles. They can be “spotted” in our Lily Pad exhibit.

Spotted turtles are a federally endangered species. Reasons for their population decline include the loss of wetlands where they live, an increased number of their top predator – the raccoon, as well as the black market pet industry. If you “spot” one of these turtles in the wild, be sure to keep that location to yourself so you don’t accidentally tip off an illegal pet trader.
Genus/Species: Clemmys guttata

Chum" and "Bucket"
Eastern Box Turtle

Bucket has been with us for many years and was donated by a family who had kept her as a pet. In 2016 during a routine vet check, we discovered that she started carrying unfertilized eggs. Given her popularity with our guests, we decided to add another rescued box turtle to our collection to give Bucket some space while she laid her eggs. This is when Chum joined our team. Both turtles live together harmoniously.

Regulations regarding housing of this species have changed over the years as their populations have declined. It is currently illegal to house any native Ohio species without appropriate permits in an effort to protect and restore populations.
Genus/Species: Terrapene carolina carolina

"Arrchimedes"
Eastern Screech Owl

Arrchimedes is an Eastern screech owl that was found injured in the wild and was brought to a wildlife rescue to be rehabilitated. Unfortunately, she is unable to catch live food as a result of her injuries and is therefore unreleaseable. She has adjusted well to living here at COSI and is a solid little program bird that allows for a rare opportunity to see one of these owls up close.

These owls are common here in central Ohio, though they are very difficult to find! Instead of looking up into the trees to try and find them, look around the base of the tree for castings (pellets) and droppings (distinctive white urates). Once you find these identifiers, that’s the tree you will want to keep an eye on.
Genus/Species: Megascops asio

"Patches O'Houlihan"
Virginia opossum

Patches O’Houlihan was rescued from being attacked by a dog but suffered a spinal injury that affects his mobility. His injury resulted in him being non-releasable which is how he found a home here at COSI. He enjoys walks out in Big Science Park and is part of various animal programs we offer. Virginia opossums are fascinating marsupials (!) with terribly short lifespans of only 2 years. This August, Patches will be considered an old man.
Genus/Species: Didelphis virginiana

"Toothless"
Eastern Hellbender

Toothless is a 2018 hatchling on loan from the Ohio Division of Wildlife. He is a part of a conservation effort to help save this endangered species here in Ohio. He is currently on display in our Lily Pad exhibit.

Hellbenders are the largest amphibian in Ohio reaching up to 2’ in length! They also have some of the best nicknames in the animal kingdom: Snot otter, Allegheny alligator, Grampus, and Old lasagna sides, just to name a few.
Genus/Species: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis

Citizen science is a way for anyone, regardless of whether or not you have any scientific training, to participate in real scientific research. You don't need any special equipment, and citizen science can be done in your spare time. It's a way to learn about cutting edge scientific research in fields that are meaningful to you, and to make your own contributions to that research.

SETI@Home

Have you heard of SETI@home? This program uses participants’ computers at home to help with the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. The project is currently in hibernation, but you can learn more about the search and keep posted on current news and updates using the link below!

Wildlife Species Sighting

Calling all citizen scientists: the annual ODNR wild turkey and ruffed grouse brood survey is underway! Sightings during July and August are very important. Please report any sightings of turkeys and or grouse at the Wildlife Species Sighting Webpage.

Smithsonian Digital Transcription Center

Want to help out museums? You could become a Smithsonian Digital Volunteer! Help them by transcribing historical documents to help make these important documents more accessible. Maybe you’ll be transcribing Sally Ride’s training notes, or documents and letters from the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, to help us learn more about formerly enslaved men and women in Mississippi during the Reconstruction Era. New projects are frequently added to the Smithsonian Digital Transcription Center.

Anti-Slavery Manuscripts

The Boston Public Library needs your help to turn their collection of handwritten correspondence between anti-slavery activists in the 19th century into texts that can be more easily read and researched by students, teachers, historians, and big data applications. You can help make history accessible by transcribing these records.

Planet Four

Have you ever wanted to explore another planet? In Planet Four, you can help planetary scientists identify and characterize features on the surface of Mars.

The American Soldier

The American Soldier is a Citizen Science project that aims to transcribe and make public reflections that were written by American soldiers who served during World War II. The goal of the project is to provide the most complete and comprehensive portrait of the largest army in the nation’s history.

Fold It

Are you looking for online games to play? How about an online game that contributes to scientific research? Fold It has you covered! Download this game to solve protein folding puzzles for science.

Stall Catchers

You can contribute to Alzheimer’s research! Scientists at Cornell University are trying to better understand the reduced blood flow in the brain due to Alzheimers. You can help them out by catching stalls (clogged blood vessels) in the brains of mice.

iNaturalist

Have you been outside much this spring? While you’re out there, remember that springtime is a great time to appreciate and enjoy nature. Look around you and see what sorts of plants and animals live in your backyard. Whether you find birds, squirrels, insects, weeds, moss or mushrooms, you can contribute to citizen science by submitting pictures of your observations to iNaturalist.

First Woman - Graphic Novels and Interactive Experiences

First Woman tells the tale of Callie Rodriguez, the first woman to explore the Moon. While Callie is a fictional character, the first female astronaut and person of color will soon set foot on the Moon – a historic milestone and part of upcoming NASA missions. Through a series of graphic novels and digital platforms, First Woman aims to capture our attention and unite the next generation of explorers who will return to the Moon.

Featured Activity: James Webb Space Telescope: Mirror Origami

Fold this origami pattern to make your own artistic version of the James Webb Space Telescope primary mirror!

View full video on YouTube

Did you learn something incredible today? Share it with COSI, your grownups, and friends with a Teachback photo or 2-minute video. It's a fun and easy way to show off your new knowledge!
Submit yours by downloading the COSI App!
View the Teachback Guide

Physics: The Science of Motion!

Solar System

Insects

Enjoy these Spanish language activities from our friends from the Language Sciences Research Lab here at COSI! The lab is dedicated to the study of language and the dissemination of knowledge about language sciences. The COSI research pods - called the Labs in Life - showcase research from The Ohio State University.

These videos were created with funding support from The Ohio State University Global Arts + Humanities Discovery Theme.

Pares mínimos en lengua de señas americanas (ASL)

Este video es sobre los cinco parámetros de ASL, como estos parámetros se ocupan para hacer pares mínimos en ASL, y como estos pares mínimos crean diferentes palabras en ASL.

Etiquetas del Alfabeto Fonético Internacional

Este video es sobre el Alfabeto Fonético Internacional (AFI) y como se utiliza para pronunciar sonidos en diferentes lenguajes.

La historia de voseo

Este video es sobre la historia de voseo, sus conjugaciones, variaciones dialectales entre las conjugaciones de voseo, y como cambian los lenguajes sobre tiempo.

Los Dialectos del Español

Este video es sobrelas diferencias regionales del español y como dependiendo de como las personas dicen algunas palabras podemos saber de donde ellas vinieron.

Palabras Misteriosas

Este video es sobrecomo los niños aprenden los significados de las palabras.

Efecto Stroop

Este video es sobre como leer es algo que normalmente acontece sin ningún pensamiento consciente.

Flex your STEM skills with our Science Challenges! Engineer the perfect paper airplane, make a boat float, or design your very own fidget spinner. After you've completed a challenge, share it with us on social media by using the hashtag #COSIConnects.

Build a Catapult

For this challenge, build your own catapult to launch small objects into the air. Then, see if you can improve the catapult design!

Paper Building Blocks

How strong is paper? In this activity, you will try to build a structure using paper folded into triangular blocks. After a structure has been built, test its strength!

Build a Telephone

Make a telephone with string and cups, and use what you have learned about sound and vibrations to explain how these simple telephones work. Then, take the experiment to the next level with a design challenge! Design and build the best string telephone.

Build a Fidget Spinner

Engineer your own fidget spinner! First, we will provide you with a few different designs. Use one of the designs provided or create your own: build the best fidget spinner!

Build a Parachute

Can you build a parachute? In this Science Challenge, learners will be challenged to design, build, and test a parachute.

Animal Hide and Seek

In this challenge, learn about how animals use camouflage to hide from predators or sneak up on prey - then create your own animal and design the perfect camouflage for it!

Build a Machine

In this fun and, at times, hilarious force and motion activity, learners will use household objects to build a crazy contraption and see how far they can get a tennis ball to move. This is an excellent activity to explore all of the various forces that can act upon an object.

Build a Boat

Work independently or in small groups to build boats that can hold the weight of many pennies. During the process, you may find that you learn a lot when your boat fails. Learning form failure is important in the field of engineering.

*NEW!* Explore WOSU at COSI in 3D

Explore Energy Explorers at COSI in 3D

Explore Gadgets at COSI in 3D

Explore American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery at COSI in 3D

Explore Little Kidspace at COSI

Small World Exhibit at COSI - 2020 Photomicrography Winners

Small World Exhibit at COSI - Small World in Motion (SWIM) Winners

Virtual 360 Tour - The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited

Explore The Jim Henson Exhibition: Imagination Unlimited at COSI in 3D

Explore American Museum of Natural History ¡Cuba! Exhibition Gallery at COSI in 3D

Explore DC SUPER HEROES™ at COSI in 3D

Explore Progress at COSI in 3D

ACTIVITIES

Featured Activity: Origami Basketball Hoop

Construct your own origami basketball hoop using just one piece of paper!

Added On: 05/01/2022 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Art, Zoology, Other Connects ID: 153

Featured Activity: Erosion and Weathering

Participants will learn about the forces that contribute to erosion and weathering, and create a model that shows how erosion and weathering can expose buried fossils to paleontologists.

Added On: 04/30/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Paleontology, Nature, Environment, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 46

Featured Activity: 3D Modeling

Have you heard of or tried 3D printing before? In this activity, you will learn a bit about the first part of 3D printing: using a computer to create your 3D design. This is called 3D modeling, or CAD: Computer-Aided Design.

Added On: 04/29/2022 Age Ranges: High School, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Engineering Connects ID: 38

Featured Activity: Static Spoons

See if you can move electrons around at home with a simple experiment!

Added On: 04/28/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Energy, Physics, Other Connects ID: 155

Featured Activity: Rhinoceros Refuse

In this activity, you will be creating your own rhinoceros territory and middens to learn more about rhinoceros communication.

Added On: 04/27/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology, Zoology Connects ID: 165

Featured Activity: Cookie Excavation: Paleontological Field Techniques

Use some kitchen tools and cookies to practice excavation. See if paleontology or archaeology might just be a good future career path for you!

Added On: 04/26/2022 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Careers, Archaeology, Paleontology Connects ID: 53

Featured Activity: Family Scavenger Hunt

Take a walk with the family and incorporate a scavenger hunt! You can easily adapt this for your child depending on what they are learning right now: ABC%u2019s, numbers, colors, and shapes can be highlighted during the scavenger hunt.

Added On: 04/25/2022 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Educator Workshops Connects ID: 175

Featured Activity: Probability Game

Use dice to play a probability game!

Added On: 04/24/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Mathematics Connects ID: 95

Featured Activity: Upcycle a Cardboard Box

You can help the planet and your own community by being smart about what you put in the trash! There are a lot of materials - such as empty cardboard boxes - that you can REDUCE, REUSE, or RECYCLE rather than sending them to the landfill!

Added On: 04/23/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Other, Sustainability Connects ID: 176

Featured Activity: All About Air

Wind is a noticeable movement of a gas like air. We can perceive it, or feel it, when we walk outside on a rainy day. In this activity, make your own wind cannon and try your hand at "throwing" small puffs of air!

Added On: 04/22/2022 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Environment, Engineering, Physics Connects ID: 48

Featured Activity: Baffling Body

Proprioception is a sense of the body of its place and position in space - sometimes thought of as a "sixth sense." In this activity, try some experiments that explore the unique functions of the body and brain.

Added On: 04/22/2022 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary
Subjects: Educator Workshops, 5 Senses, Neuroscience Connects ID: 177

Featured Activity: Balancing Act

Have you seen the chair challenge? It turns out that this challenge is a fun way to discuss scientific concepts. In this activity, complete a series of challenges and discuss them in terms of gravity and center of gravity.

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: Middle, High School, Family, Adult
Subjects: Physics, Other Connects ID: 40

Featured Activity: Glow in the Dark Gelatin

Use tonic water, which contains the fluorescent substance quinine, to make Jello that glows under a fluorescent blacklight!

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Science Now, Chemistry, Cooking Connects ID: 24

Featured Activity: Citizen Science

Did you know that you do not have to be a trained scientist to participate in cutting-edge scientific research? Learn about citizen scientists who have made valuable contributions to research projects and begin your own citizen science journey!

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Adult, High School
Subjects: Science Now, Research Connects ID: 36

Featured Activity: Art with Science: Marbling

In this activity, use science to create beautiful marbled artwork with just a few household supplies.

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Art, Physics, Other Connects ID: 63

Featured Activity: Build an Electromagnet

An electromagnet may seem like a very complicated contraption, but you can actually build a simple one at home! You just need a few supplies that you can pick up at a hardware store.

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Engineering, Energy, Educator Workshops, Physics Connects ID: 84

Featured Activity: School of Fish

What is the difference between a school of fish and a shoal of fish? Learn about the history of fish schooling, then make your own model shoal of fish that can "swim" by manipulating the surface tension of water!

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology, Nature, Physics Connects ID: 92

Featured Activity: ROV Races

Can you give an ROV a set of instructions to get it through an obstacle course?

Added On: 12/20/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Space, Space Exploration Connects ID: 171

Featured Activity: Maillard Reaction

Enjoy the science of cooking! Make some delicious brown butter using the Maillard Reaction.

Added On: 12/13/2021 Age Ranges: Adult
Subjects: Other, Chemistry, Cooking Connects ID: 68

Featured Activity: Watercolor

Science and art go hand in hand! In this activity, perform some simple chemistry experiments to observe how various chemicals affect watercolor paintings. Then, use some or all of the techniques you learned to create a night sky or galaxy painting.

Added On: 12/07/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Art, Chemistry, Other Connects ID: 83

Featured Activity: Test the Air Quality

Is the air around you clean? See what you can do to find out - create your own air quality tester!

Added On: 08/24/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Environment, Other Connects ID: 151

Featured Activity: Build a Balloon Rocket

Design a balloon rocket! Watch it zoom across the room, then see if you can attach a payload to the rocket!

Added On: 08/23/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Physics, Engineering, Energy, Space Exploration, Other Connects ID: 162

Featured Activity: What do you know about Cyberbullying?

Learn some steps you can take to be a good digital citizen!

Added On: 06/14/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Literacy Connects ID: 174

Featured Activity: Bernoulli's Principle in Action

See Bernoulli's principle in action as you supply some fast-moving air to levitate a ping pong ball.

Added On: 05/25/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Physics Connects ID: 64

Featured Activity: Polymer Snacks

Learn about polymers, then make some tasty polymers in the kitchen!

Added On: 05/24/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Other, Chemistry, Cooking Connects ID: 173

Featured Activity: Mushroom Spore Print

Mushrooms contain spores that help fungi reproduce. In this activity, visualize the mushroom spores by making a print.

Added On: 05/21/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Botany, Mycology Connects ID: 106

Featured Activity: Candy Camouflage

In this activity, participants will learn about camouflage. They will use candy to show how camouflage can be used by prey to avoid being caught by predators.

Added On: 05/20/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Nature, Biology, Zoololgy, Educator Workshops Connects ID: 62

Featured Activity: Ice Balloons

Make your own ice balloons, then design and perform your own experiments using basic household supplies.

Added On: 05/19/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Experimental Design, Physics Connects ID: 60

Featured Activity: Make a Rainbow

White light is made up of all the colors of the rainbow. In this activity, use water, a mirror, a flashlight, and a shallow pan or bowl to make a rainbow!

Added On: 05/18/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Behind the Gadgets Stage, Physics Connects ID: 27

Featured Activity: Strawberry DNA

Extract DNA from Strawberries!

Added On: 05/17/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Science Now Connects ID: 172

Featured Activity: Beak Buffet

Have you ever noticed that different species of birds have very different types of beaks? In this activity, learn about adaptation and how a bird's beak shape helps them to find food and survive in their environment.

Added On: 05/14/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Biology, Paleontology Connects ID: 61

Featured Activity: Birds Eye View

Explore bird vision as you observe and compare the positioning of bird's eyes with a mask.

Added On: 05/13/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Zoology Connects ID: 131

Featured Activity: Glitter in a Bottle

These jars are a fun way for little ones to enjoy bright colors and glitter, and they also work well for calming breaks - shake up a bottle and watch quietly as it settles.

Added On: 05/11/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Behind the Gadgets Stage, Art, Chemistry Connects ID: 87

Featured Activity: Secret Message

Explore acids and bases as you create your own invisible ink!

Added On: 05/10/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Educator Workshops Connects ID: 105

Featured Activity: 3, 2, 1, Pop!

Construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with water.

Added On: 05/04/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Physics, Engineering, Energy, Educator Workshops, Space Connects ID: 71

Featured Activity: Planetary Distances

Have you ever thought about how far the planets are from one another? Create a model of interplanetary distances!

Added On: 05/03/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Space Connects ID: 170

Featured Activity: Make a Glider

Engineer your own hoop glider! See if you can create a simple glider that will fly when you throw it. Learn about the physical forces involved in making your glider fly.

Added On: 04/28/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Behind the Gadgets Stage, Engineering, Physics Connects ID: 25

Featured Activity: Pulse Pick

Have you ever taken your heart rate? In this activity, learn how to measure a pulse and construct a simple tool to help you to take that measurement.

Added On: 04/27/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Biology, Health Connects ID: 49

Featured Activity: Flower Dissection

Perform a plant dissection to gain a better understanding of a plant's structure and function.

Added On: 04/26/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Botany Connects ID: 128

Featured Activity: Make a Cotton Ball Launcher

How can you practice energy transfer at home? Try making your own cotton ball launcher!

Added On: 04/22/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Hockey Science, Engineering, Energy, Physics Connects ID: 50

Featured Activity: Nature's Zoom Lens

In this exploratory activity, see if you can create a water lens. Explore refraction with water in a ziplock bag. Then see if you can make a convex droplet of water that will magnify an image.

Added On: 04/21/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Physics Connects ID: 33

Featured Activity: Stay Active!

Staying active is an important part of your overall health. The key is to find activities that both raise your heart rate and that you enjoy doing.In this activity, you will get active while practicing experimental design and data analysis!

Added On: 04/20/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Hockey Science, Biology, Health Connects ID: 54

Featured Activity: Marker Chromatography Flowers

What colors are hidden in markers? Learners will use chromatography to discover the different pigments hidden in markers. Then, use that chromatography to create beautiful flowers out of coffee filters.

Added On: 04/19/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Art, Chemistry Connects ID: 19

Featured Activity: Spider Science: Welcome to my Web

Learn about the difference between insect and arachnid anatomy. Then, use what you have learned to make your own spider and insect models and spider webs. How many insects can you trap in your web?

Added On: 04/16/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Subjects: Entomology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 147

Featured Activity: How do we Name Things?

Common names of plants have all sorts of origins. Some of them tell you a little about what the plant looks like. In this activity, learners will try to come up with names for plants based on how they look. Then, learners will get to try matching them with some actual common names. See if you can match it to the correct name!

Added On: 04/15/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Gardening, Biology, Behind the Gadgets Stage, History Connects ID: 1

Featured Activity: Food Scientist for a Day

Food scientists apply all different fields of science to the production, processing, packing and distribution of the food you eat. Learn more about food scientists in this activity - and become an ice cream food scientist for a day!

Added On: 04/14/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Careers Connects ID: 98

Featured Activity: Dairy Careers

What sorts of careers do you think are involved in dairy? Dig a little more in-depth into those careers, and then try your hand at making your own butter with ingredients and supplies you may already have at home!

Added On: 04/13/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Careers, Other Connects ID: 97

Featured Activity: Tiny Superheroes of the Sea

Plankton are incredibly numerous and diverse: from tiny, microscopic viruses and bacteria, to the phytoplankton that are responsible for well over 50% of the oxygen we breathe, to the larvae of larger sea creatures, this is a diverse and fascinating group of organisms! In this activity, explore plankton virtually while practicing your online research skills.

Added On: 04/12/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Oceanography, Biology, Research Connects ID: 15

Featured Activity: Animal Guessing Game

Can you guess the animal based on the clue? Try it out!

Added On: 04/07/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Zoology Connects ID: 163

Featured Activity: Drawing Dragons

In this activity, you will start with an image of a fossil skeleton and create a picture of what you think that animal might look like if it were a dragon.

Added On: 04/05/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Art, Paleontology Connects ID: 166

Featured Activity: The "Magic" Wand of Static Electricity

Learn how to do a few "magic" tricks that are really just using the science of static electricity. Then, use what you have learned to put on a "Magic Show" for your household!

Added On: 04/01/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood
Subjects: Theater, Physics, Behind the Gadgets Stage Connects ID: 31

Featured Activity: Maple Seeds

Take to the air with science by experimenting with maple seeds. Then try your hand at designing your own model maple seed.

Added On: 03/31/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Botany Connects ID: 133

Featured Activity: Planning a Mission to Outer Space

An Operations Research Analyst at NASA helps to plan for future missions by estimating the costs of each mission. In this activity, you can be like an Operations Research Analyst by designing your own mission and guessing how much it may cost.

Added On: 03/30/2021 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Other, Space, Careers, Space Exploration Connects ID: 169

Featured Activity: Create a Soil Profile

Discover what soil is made of and how the composition of soil can be very different based on the location where it is formed!

Added On: 03/29/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Geology, Paleontology Connects ID: 168

Featured Activity: Demineralization of a Chicken Bone

The process of demineralization breaks down and removes minerals. In this activity, use the process of demineralization to remove calcium from a chicken bone and observe the effects!

Added On: 03/26/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Chemistry, Paleontology Connects ID: 101

Featured Activity: A Million Steps?

How much is one million? In this activity, learners will estimate the distance they'd need to walk to take one million steps.

Added On: 03/25/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Mathematics, Paleontology Connects ID: 20

Featured Activity: Museum at Home

Do you have any collections at home? Maybe you have a collection of rocks, favorite toys, or artwork. The objects stored by a museum are called collections as well, and it is the responsibility of museum curators to keep track of these collections and display them. In this activity, learners will create their own museum-at-home by curating a collection of objects, creating labels, and displaying them just like a museum would.

Added On: 03/24/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Museum Studies, Literacy, Research, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 80

Featured Activity: Grouping, Sorting and Classifying

Practice and master two essential science process skills: observing and classifying. Then, compare what you learned to taxonomic classifications used by paleontologists, botanists, and zoologists.

Added On: 03/23/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle
Subjects: Paleontology, Botany, Zoology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 154

Featured Activity: Attention Grabbing Animals

Learn about modern animals who, like dinosaurs, use fancy features to grab the attention of possible mates. Then, use what you learned to create the most attention-grabbing dinosaur display since the Mesozoic!

Added On: 03/22/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology, Art, Zoology Connects ID: 164

Featured Activity: Cooling Down Crocs

Create puppets that show some of the differences between an alligator and a crocodile. Then conduct an experiment to see one reason alligators or crocodiles may be laying around with their mouths open.

Added On: 03/18/2021 Age Ranges: Middle, Elementary, Early Childhood
Subjects: Paleontology, Zoology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 167

Featured Activity: Milk Fireworks

Learn about the Festival of Color with the book by Kabit Sehgal and Surishtha Sehgal. Then make your own explosion of colors with some milk, food dye, and dish soap!

Added On: 03/17/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Literacy, Other Connects ID: 140

Featured Activity: Ice Cream Shake

Explore liquids, solids, and physical changes while you make a sweet treat. It just takes a little bit of work and a little bit of science to make homemade ice cream!

Added On: 03/16/2021 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Hockey Science, Energy, Cooking, Physics Connects ID: 26

Featured Activity: Fingerprinting

Forensics is the use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts, especially in criminal and civil courts of law. In this activity, learn how fingerprints are analyzed by forensic scientists. Then use what you learned to analyze your own fingerprints.

Added On: 03/15/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Forensic Science Connects ID: 7

Featured Activity: Did Dinosaurs Live in Ohio?

Learn about fossils! In this activity, you will explore Dimetrodon and learn how we know that it was not a dinosaur!

Added On: 03/11/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology Connects ID: 125

Featured Activity: Migration Magnets

Some modern turtles swim thousands of miles to lay eggs on the same beaches where they were hatched. Scientists believe that they use magnetic fields to navigate the vast oceans and find the those beaches. Use magnets to navigate like a sea turtle.

Added On: 03/10/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Geology, Physics Connects ID: 122

Featured Activity: Fuzzy Friends

Use a family pet or stuffed animal to explore and understand how different animal fur has unique textures, markings, and thickness to adapt to their habitats.

Added On: 03/09/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Zoology Connects ID: 116

Featured Activity: pH Indicator

Create your own pH indicator to determine whether household solutions are acidic, basic, or neutral.

Added On: 03/04/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Educator Workshops Connects ID: 94

Featured Activity: Make Frost!

In this activity, learners explore why frost forms. They will then create their own frost using a solution of ice water and salt in a glass.

Added On: 03/03/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Physics, Environment, Hockey Science Connects ID: 32

Featured Activity: Mini Biome

Build a miniature biome using household items and observe how plants grow in different conditions.

Added On: 02/23/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Family
Subjects: Science Now Connects ID: 123

Featured Activity: Condensation Exploration

In this activity, explore condensation of water at home.

Added On: 02/22/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Experimental Design, Physics Connects ID: 86

Featured Activity: Fizzy Dino Eggs

Determining the identity of an animal from a fossil or bones can be tricky. In this activity, make "Dinosaur Eggs" from materials found around the house that have mystery "Dinos" hidden inside. Can you guess what type of dinosaur it is before it becomes fully revealed?!

Added On: 02/19/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Paleontology, Zoology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 142

Featured Activity: Mars Critters

Use your understanding of Mars or another planet to construct a model of a plant or animal that has the critical features to survive on that planet.

Added On: 02/18/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Family
Subjects: Space, Science Now Connects ID: 126

Featured Activity: COSI Flubber

Can you make your own goo? Find out how with COSI and Columbus Metropolitan Library!

Added On: 02/16/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Literacy, Other Connects ID: 143

Featured Activity: Homemade Astronaut Ice Cream

During long space missions where every ounce of weight aboard a shuttle must be optimized, freeze-dried foods have become a staple. Freeze-drying isn't a simple process, but here is a fun alternative recipe to create Astronaut Ice Cream at home with just a few simple ingredients.

Added On: 02/11/2021 Age Ranges: Family
Subjects: Other, Space Connects ID: 139

Featured Activity: Pretend Play: Be a Veterinarian

A veterinarian, sometimes called a vet, is a doctor for animals. Grab some toys and get ready to pretend that you are a vet!

Added On: 02/10/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Other, Careers, Zoology Connects ID: 136

Featured Activity: Oobleck!

Read along with us as we hear about the story of Bartholomew and the Oobleck, then make some oobleck of your own!

Added On: 02/09/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Other, Literacy Connects ID: 138

Featured Activity: Thumb-less Races

Explore the importance of opposable thumbs and how adaptations provide advantages.

Added On: 02/08/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Zoology, Educator Workshops Connects ID: 120

Featured Activity: Dinosaur Gallery Scavenger Hunt

Did you know that you can explore the American Museum of Natural History Dinosaur Gallery from home on COSI Connects? Use this scavenger hunt as you explore the gallery and learn some fun dinosaur facts!

Added On: 02/05/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology Connects ID: 111

Featured Activity: Build A Well

Once you're done with a roll of toilet paper, there are a lot of creative things you can do with the tube itself - including several science demonstrations! Here's one to try: make your own model well.

Added On: 02/02/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Science Now, Engineering, Sustainability Connects ID: 135

Featured Activity: Reducing Friction - Build a Hovercraft

Virgin Hyperloop is working to overcome friction to create one of the fastest transportation systems the world has ever seen! Try your hand at overcoming friction in this activity by creating your own miniature hovercraft!

Added On: 01/28/2021 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Middle
Subjects: Engineering, Physics, Other Connects ID: 129

Featured Activity: Why Wash Your Hands?

We have all heard that we need to wash our hands regularly. Why is that? In this activity, use the scientific method to run your own experiment showing the difference between washed and unwashed hands.

Added On: 01/27/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Biology, Health Connects ID: 113

Featured Activity: Art and Technology

Use the coloring page created by the Art Director and Designer at Virgin Hyperloop to color the Hyperloop XP-1 vehicle. Then, imagine you are an art director for a transportation technology company and draw a technology of the future!

Added On: 01/26/2021 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle
Subjects: Art, Other Connects ID: 130

Featured Activity: Rat Maze!

Can you make it to the end of the maze? Try it out, then build your own maze!

Added On: 01/25/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Other, Literacy, Zoology Connects ID: 145

Featured Activity: Artificial Nest Box Engineering Challenge

Can you help save vulnerable and endangered penguins? Complete this engineering challenge by building an artificial nest box.

Added On: 01/20/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Engineering, Zoology, Other Connects ID: 161

Featured Activity: What is an Insect?

Are you fascinated by creepy-crawly creatures? Do you know how scientists classify them? Learn more about what exactly an insect is and then try your hand at deciding what is (and is not) an insect!

Added On: 01/19/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Family
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Entomology Connects ID: 146

Featured Activity: Marshmallow Towers

In this activity, you will be an engineer and build your own towering structures using just mini-marshmallows and toothpicks.

Added On: 01/18/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Subjects: Geology, History, Science Now Connects ID: 137

Featured Activity: Evolution of Flight

Learn how flying animals are being studied by engineers so that they can model new aircraft after their adaptations - a technique called biomimicry. Then use biomimicry to build a flying machine of your own.

Added On: 01/15/2021 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Paleontology, Engineering, Biomimicry, Physics, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 144

Featured Activity: Balloon-Powered Pinwheel

Newton's Third Law states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this activity, you will use that principle to make a balloon powered pinwheel!

Added On: 01/14/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Hockey Science, Engineering, Energy, Physics Connects ID: 52

Featured Activity: Owl & Mouse

Learn about the unique adaptations of owls by playing a game that simulates the way that owls chase their prey.

Added On: 01/13/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Science Now, Environment, Zoology Connects ID: 119

Featured Activity: Make a Turtle

Join Columbus Metropolitan Library and COSI to read an excerpt of "The Box Turtle" by Vanessa Roeder, and meet Chum, one of COSI's very own box turtles! Then, make your own colorful turtle at home!

Added On: 01/07/2021 Age Ranges: Early Childhood
Subjects: Other Connects ID: 141

Featured Activity: What Can Teeth Tell Us?

How much can we learn from teeth? In this activity, learn to recognize the form and function of teeth, and see what that tells you about an animal's diet.

Added On: 01/04/2021 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology, Zoology Connects ID: 109

Featured Activity: Impact Craters

Have you ever seen a flash streaking across the sky - what we sometimes call a shooting star? That's actually a meteor - a piece of rock from outer space - zooming through Earth's atmosphere and burning up while it does so. If it makes it to the ground, what do you think will happen? In today's activity, explore impact craters that can form if one of those meteors makes it to the ground.

Added On: 12/29/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Physics, Paleontology, Space, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 75

Featured Activity: Freezing Feathers

Learn how feathers can be used to keep a bird or a dinosaur warm. Then, find out one way in which oil spills can impact modern birds by coating their feathers in oil.

Added On: 12/22/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Paleontology, Environment, Biology, Physics, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 85

Featured Activity: Watersheds

What is a Watershed? Learn more about watersheds with this intuitive activity in which learners will make a watershed model.

Added On: 12/17/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Geography Connects ID: 104

Featured Activity: Trees: A Closer Look

Can you estimate a tree's age just by looking at it? Explore your backyard or a local park's past by taking a closer look at trees.

Added On: 12/15/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Educator Workshops Connects ID: 152

Featured Activity: Sound Levels Around the House

You can be like an industrial hygienist in your home: just test for noise levels and if you find that something is over the recommended noise level, turn it down or have whoever is using it wear ear muffs or ear plugs.

Added On: 12/07/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Other Connects ID: 158

Featured Activity: Build a Motor

Can you make your own electric motor with a few simple supplies? Try it out!

Added On: 12/02/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Energy, Physics, Other Connects ID: 157

Featured Activity: Build a Virtual Circuit

Build a virtual circuit to get a lightbulb to light up!

Added On: 12/01/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Energy, Physics, Other Connects ID: 156

Featured Activity: Exploring Insulation

Explore the insulation capabilities of various materials around your house.

Added On: 11/27/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Physics, Paleontology, Energy, Biology, Zoololgy Connects ID: 65

Featured Activity: Build a Rocket... and a Launch pad!

Construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an effervescing antacid tablet reacting with water. Build a launch pad for your rocket and then watch it blast off!

Added On: 11/05/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Space, Physics, Engineering, Space Exploration, Other Connects ID: 150

Featured Activity: Paper Bag Lungs Model

Our lungs help us every day to breathe in air and get the oxygen we need. Build a model of your lungs as you explore the human respiratory system!

Added On: 11/03/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Other, Anatomy, Health Connects ID: 149

Featured Activity: Beat the Clock

In just one day, the heart pumps approximately 1,900 gallons of blood through the body! Today, see if you can move water as fast as your heart can move blood!

Added On: 11/02/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Other, Anatomy, Health Connects ID: 148

Featured Activity: Shark Science

Participants will learn that sharks have a skeleton made of cartilage and a liver filled with oil, which helps sharks to thrive in their environment. They will build a model to demonstrate the buoyancy of sharks.

Added On: 10/02/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Physics, Paleontology, Biology, Zoololgy Connects ID: 70

Featured Activity: Scioto Sweep 2020

Have you ever participated in a community cleanup? Grab some gear and spend an afternoon with your family picking up litter!

Added On: 09/18/2020 Age Ranges: Adult, Family
Subjects: Other, Environment Connects ID: 134

Featured Activity: Litterati

Learn how to use the free Litterati App and connect virtually to the Scioto Sweep and other community cleanup initiatives!

Added On: 09/14/2020 Age Ranges: Adult, Family
Subjects: Environment, Other Connects ID: 132

Featured Activity: Centripetal Force

When an object is moving in a curved or circular path, centripetal force is what keeps the object on that curved path. In this activity, explore centripetal force at home; see if you can spin a bucket of water in a circle without spilling!

Added On: 08/25/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Middle
Subjects: Other, Physics Connects ID: 127

Featured Activity: Pond Water Up Close

Have you ever looked up close - like really close - at the tiny critters living in pond water? In this activity, you will have the chance to do just that. Whether you have your own microscope or just access to the internet, take a look at some of the microorganisms living in a drop of pond water.

Added On: 08/20/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Environment, Other Connects ID: 124

Featured Activity: Clues about Clouds

Make a cloud in a plastic bottle to learn about condensation, evaporation, and air pressure.

Added On: 08/13/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Environment, Other Connects ID: 121

Featured Activity: Grossology at Home

Observe what happens when water and antacid combine to make carbon dioxide gas.

Added On: 08/10/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Other Connects ID: 118

Featured Activity: Solubility and Density

What do you know about solubility and density? In this activity, use some simple kitchen materials to observe the properties of solubility and density firsthand!

Added On: 08/06/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Chemistry, Physics Connects ID: 115

Featured Activity: Measuring Precipitation

Think about last week: did it rain or snow? Do you know how many inches of precipitation your backyard received? Build your own rain gauge to monitor precipitation.

Added On: 08/05/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Middle
Subjects: Space, Other Connects ID: 114

Featured Activity: Elephant Toothpaste at Home

Did you know that you can do the elephant toothpaste demonstration at home? With the help of an adult, try this fun but messy demonstration with a few supplies you probably already have around the house!

Added On: 08/03/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Chemistry Connects ID: 112

Featured Activity: Newton's First Law Exploration

Newton's First Law of Motion states that an object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Have fun experimenting with Newton's First Law of motion!

Added On: 07/30/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Physics Connects ID: 110

Featured Activity: Homemade Slushie

Use a little bit of science to make a homemade slushie for a cold treat on a hot day!

Added On: 07/28/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Food Science, Energy, Chemistry, Physics Connects ID: 108

Featured Activity: Frozen Volcano

Take your vinegar and baking soda volcano up a notch by turning it into a frozen volcano!

Added On: 07/27/2020 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Other, Chemistry Connects ID: 107

Featured Activity: Endangered Species

Learn about axolotls and why they are endangered. Then, do some research on your own on another endangered species.

Added On: 07/21/2020 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Other, Conservation, Zoololgy Connects ID: 103

Featured Activity: Balloon Powered Cars

Engineer your own balloon-powered car.

Added On: 07/20/2020 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Engineering, Energy, Other, Physics Connects ID: 102

Featured Activity: Can Derby

Have a soup-can derby race at home while experimenting with kinetic and potential energy!

Added On: 07/16/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Energy, Other, Physics Connects ID: 100

Featured Activity: Propagating Plants

Science is everywhere! If you are a gardener, you use science all the time. In today's activity, use science to propagate English Ivy. Try this out with other plants as well - it's a great way to grow new plants from your existing plants.

Added On: 07/15/2020 Age Ranges: Adult, Family
Subjects: Gardening, Other Connects ID: 99

Featured Activity: Growing Crystals

Grow your own crystals at home!

Added On: 07/07/2020 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Other, Geology Connects ID: 93

Featured Activity: Glowing Volcano

Make a vinegar and baking soda volcano - with a twist! This volcano will glow under a blacklight.

Added On: 07/03/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Art, Physics, Other Connects ID: 91

Featured Activity: Fireworks in a Jar

Make fireworks in a jar using simple ingredients and a little bit of science!

Added On: 07/02/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Art, Physics, Other Connects ID: 90

Featured Activity: Milk Fireworks

Make some artwork in motion using a few simple ingredients, and use it to better understand the science of soap!

Added On: 07/01/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Art, Physics, Other Connects ID: 89

Featured Activity: Mint Fireworks

Try making your own "mint fireworks" in a dish with just a few simple supplies!

Added On: 06/30/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Other, Chemistry, Art, Physics Connects ID: 88

Featured Activity: Make Your Own Reusable Bag

Looking for ways to help save the planet? Reusing is one great way to help! For example, you can reuse a cloth bag rather than going through multiple single-use plastic or paper bags. In this activity, grab a pair of scissors and an old t-shirt to make your own reusable bag!

Added On: 06/23/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Art, Environment, Other Connects ID: 82

Featured Activity: Light Damage

Learn about how museum objects are inspected before they are added to a collection. Then, explore how light can cause damage to objects in a museum by performing a hands-on experiment at home.

Added On: 06/18/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Museum Studies, Literacy, Physics, Other Connects ID: 79

Featured Activity: Optical Illusions: Benham Disks

Optical illusions like those found at COSI can be mesmerizing! In this activity, make a simple optical illusion called Benham%u2019s Disk that will be fun to play with long after you first make it.

Added On: 06/17/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other, Toys, Physics, Neuroscience, Art, Anatomy Connects ID: 78

Featured Activity: Mummify a Hot Dog

People from all over the world are fascinated by mummification - a process that preserves a corpse. Some cultures have developed methods of mummifying their dead, perhaps most notably ancient Egyptians. An important part of the process they used was desiccation, or drying out of the body. In this activity, use baking soda to desiccate a hot dog.

Added On: 06/16/2020 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Anthropology, History, Other Connects ID: 77

Featured Activity: DIY Newton's Cradle

Pendulums can teach us a lot about physics. In this activity, learners will build a device that uses pendulums: Newton's Cradle. Learn about momentum by lining up 6 pendulums in a row!

Added On: 06/15/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Other, Physics, Energy, Toys Connects ID: 76

Featured Activity: Make a Book

Have you ever written a book? Have you ever wanted to, but weren't sure how? In today's activity, make a small booklet out of a single sheet of printer paper. Then, fill your book with whatever you want!

Added On: 06/11/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Other Connects ID: 74

Featured Activity: Create your own Insect

Learn about insects and some of their characteristics and adaptations that help them to live in their habitats. Then, create an insect yourself that is adapted to live in a specific environment.

Added On: 06/10/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Other Connects ID: 73

Featured Activity: Make an Instrument

Learn about sound waves as you make a cuica - a musical instrument popular in Brazil - of your own!

Added On: 06/09/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Physics, Other Connects ID: 72

Featured Activity: What Planet Will You Explore?

NASA has their eyes set on Mars for space exploration. Where do you think we will be headed after that? In this activity, imagine you have been hired by NASA to explore future planetary exploration prospects. Where do you think we should go next?

Added On: 06/04/2020 Age Ranges: Middle
Subjects: Other, Research, Space Connects ID: 69

Featured Activity: 3-2-1 Liftoff

Celebrate space travel with a fun demonstration that will cause a tea bag to lift into the air! *With adult supervision.

Added On: 06/02/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Other, Physics, Space Connects ID: 67

Featured Activity: Make a Straw Rocket

Make your own straw rocket with a few simple supplies. Then, try out different fin designs and see how well it flies!

Added On: 06/01/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Physics, Engineering, Energy, Other, Space Connects ID: 66

Featured Activity: Make your own Slime!

Learners will create their own slimy kitchen science substances!

Added On: 05/20/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Chemistry, Physics, Other Connects ID: 59

Featured Activity: Start a Sourdough Culture

The scientific process of fermentation, the breakdown of a substance by microorganisms like bacteria and yeast, is used in both brewing beer and making bread. In today's activity, learn how to use wild yeast and fermentation to create a sourdough starter - the first step towards baking delicious sourdough bread.

Added On: 05/19/2020 Age Ranges: Adult, Family
Subjects: Biology, Hockey Science Connects ID: 58

Featured Activity: Float Your Boat

Learn about the Titanic, then try experimenting with different objects to see which ones are buoyant.

Added On: 05/18/2020 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Subjects: History, Engineering, Physics, Other Connects ID: 55

Featured Activity: BioBlitz Educator Guide

A BioBlitz is a way for our community to work together to find as many species as possible in Ohio during the four days of the Science Festival. You can participate by simply snapping photos of plants and animals in the wild and uploading them to the free app iNaturalist. Observations will be made available to naturalists and researchers. Let's explore Ohio's biodiversity!

Added On: 05/04/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Other, Environment, Conservation, Nature Connects ID: 47

Featured Activity: Birdwatching

Can you identify birds that you see outside? With this activity and our handy list of birds of Ohio, you'll be on your way to identifying birds in your backyard in no time!

Added On: 04/30/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Paleontology, Nature, Environment, Biology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 45

Featured Activity: Seeing Color

Explore how our cones - the photoreceptor cells on our retinas that help us to see color - become fatigued. Use a simple optical illusion to experience the result of that fatigue!

Added On: 04/29/2020 Age Ranges: Middle, Elementary
Subjects: Paleontology, Neuroscience, Biology, 5 Senses, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 44

Featured Activity: Surface Tension Exploration

Explore surface tension in three different ways in this activity. First, see how many drops of water fit on the surface of a penny, then, create your own "water bug" out of a paperclip. Lastly, see if you can power a tiny boat with nothing but soap and water!

Added On: 04/28/2020 Age Ranges: Middle, Family, Elementary
Subjects: Educator Workshops, Physics, Chemistry Connects ID: 43

Featured Activity: Make Oobleck!

In this lesson, we will explore the properties of "Oobleck" - a simple mixture of cornstarch and water. Oobleck is unique because it is a non-Newtonian fluid. At room temperature, it can behave as both a solid and a liquid.

Added On: 04/27/2020 Age Ranges: Middle, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood
Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Other Connects ID: 41

Featured Activity: Designing DNA

Participants will understand what DNA is made of and be able to make a model of the DNA double helix. Then, learners will have the opportunity to use household items to extract DNA from a strawberry.

Added On: 04/24/2020 Age Ranges: Middle, High School, Family
Subjects: Paleontology, Biology, Fossil Friday Connects ID: 9

Featured Activity: Biomimicry

Have you ever wondered, "how does nature do it?" In this activity, learners will investigate examples of biomimicry. Then, they will take a moment to step into nature and observe, looking for and appreciating the incredible structures and processes utilized by organisms every day.

Added On: 04/22/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Adult, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Engineering, Biomimicry, Environment Connects ID: 42

Featured Activity: Sound Waves

Investigate sound waves at home using nothing more than a coat hanger and some string! This activity will help you to explore and understand sound energy and how it moves. Then, use what you learned to make simple string telephones.

Added On: 04/21/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Oceanography, Science Now, Physics Connects ID: 11

Featured Activity: Egg Drop - Be An Engineer!

Become a packaging engineer! You will design a protective package for a raw egg to allow the egg to withstand a fall without cracking. To test your design, the egg will be dropped from a height with the help of an adult.

Added On: 04/20/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Family
Subjects: Other, Biology, Engineering Connects ID: 12

Featured Activity: Germs!

This set of activities provide effective ways to demonstrate and talk about germs and how they spread with young children. In Part 2, learn about the importance of hand washing by monitoring mold growing on potatoes in closed containers over a 3-week period.

Added On: 04/16/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Science Now, Biology, Health Connects ID: 37

Featured Activity: Start a Compost Pile

Start your own compost pile! This activity is aimed at adults and families. Learn how to use decomposition to your advantage, reduce the waste you're sending to a landfill, and create valuable compost that will add nutrients to your garden.

Added On: 04/13/2020 Age Ranges: Adult, Family
Subjects: Other, Environment, Gardening Connects ID: 35

Featured Activity: Habitats

What is a habitat? In this activity designed for early childhood learners, create a habitat for a stuffed animal or toy out of materials around the house! Discuss what sorts of things the animal needs in its habitat to survive.

Added On: 04/09/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Early Childhood
Subjects: Gardening, Environment, Biology, Educator Workshops, Zoololgy Connects ID: 4

Featured Activity: Starting a Garden

Springtime is a great time to plant seeds! In this activity designed for early childhood learners, explore topics related to the garden! Plant seeds, discuss emotions while creating grass heads, and make a rain gauge for your garden.

Added On: 04/08/2020 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Family
Subjects: Biology, Other, Gardening Connects ID: 6

Featured Activity: Technology: Past, Present, and Future

In this activity, you will discuss the meaning of the word, "technology." Then, you will have the opportunity to make a technology that has been around during all of our lifetimes - paper! After making your paper at home, continue to Part 2 to start thinking about future technologies.

Added On: 04/07/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, History, Writing Connects ID: 34

Featured Activity: Dinosaur Footprints and Fossils

This activity is best for young learners. Learn about how scientists study fossil footprints and make your own.

Added On: 04/03/2020 Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Paleontology Connects ID: 30

Featured Activity: Clean up Litter!

Have you seen litter around your community? Plan a trip with members of your household to go out and clean up the community! You can clean up a neighborhood, local park, or hiking trail. Find tips, safety instructions, and best practices in the activity.

Added On: 04/02/2020 Age Ranges: Family
Subjects: Other, Environment Connects ID: 29

Featured Activity: Estimation and Educated Guesses

Estimating is an important skill for all of us to learn and practice. Test your estimating skills in Part 1. Then if you want more of a challenge, move on to Part 2 to try some back-of-the-envelope estimates. Don't be afraid of wrong answers - the idea is to come up with a reasonable educated guess.

Added On: 04/01/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Science Now, Mathematics Connects ID: 28

Featured Activity: Crash Landing!

In October of 2019, NASA unveiled new spacesuits intended for the Artemis program, a mission to land humans on the moon as a stepping stone for future missions to Mars. In this activity, you will be challenged to think about the future of space travel and what it might take to survive for a long period of time on the moon.

Added On: 03/26/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Space, Science Now Connects ID: 22

Featured Activity: Make a Timeline

Scientists use timelines to record important events in the history of Earth, just like we can make a timeline of a day in our life. Explore the history of the earth by making a timeline of events in your own life.

Added On: 03/25/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary, Family
Subjects: Fossil Friday, History, Paleontology Connects ID: 21

Featured Activity: Found Fossils: A Biostratigraphy Challenge

Calling all future micropaleontologists! In this in-depth activity, practice biostratigraphy techniques used to assign an age to deep ocean core samples.

Added On: 03/22/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Oceanography Connects ID: 18

Featured Activity: Continents and Currents

Demonstrate the flowing currents of Earth's oceans with a fun and colorful demonstration.

Added On: 03/21/2020 Age Ranges: Elementary
Subjects: Science Now, Oceanography Connects ID: 17

Featured Activity: Soap: How does It Work?

In this activity, explore the mechanism behind how soap works with three different demonstrations. First, a simple demonstration with pepper, water, and dishwashing soap will demonstrate to young children the concept that soap gets rid of germs. For a more elaborate and artistic demonstration, see what soap does to food dye in whole milk in Part 2. For those wanting to really understand what's happening on a molecular level, model what's going on in Part 3.

Added On: 03/20/2020 Age Ranges: High School, Family, Elementary, Early Childhood, Middle
Subjects: Science Now, Experimental Design, Chemistry, Biology, Health Connects ID: 16

Featured Activity: Food Chains

Learn about producers, consumers, and decomposers as you discuss the flow of energy through a food chain. Then, use some yarn and paper plates to create a food web. This is a great way to discuss impacts that occur when a link in the food web is missing.

Added On: 03/18/2020 Age Ranges: Family, Elementary, Middle
Subjects: Fossil Friday, Biology, Paleontology Connects ID: 14

Featured Activity: Chocolate Crystals

Grab some chocolate and explore the science behind it! First, observe different kinds of chocolate and see what differences you notice. Then, try your hand at tempering chocolate to see if you can achieve the most desirable crystal structure - form V!

Added On: 03/17/2020 Age Ranges: All
Subjects: Science Now, Cooking, Chemistry, Physics Connects ID: 13

Other Activities:

COSI Connects

COSI Connects launches audiences of all ages into a universe of science through online videos and activities.