Get your heart pumping and brain ticking with two weeks of sports-inspired STEM activities at the Science Mill this Spring Break, March 7-March 18. Jump, race and problem-solve your way through a circuit of fun challenges. Go for a field goal with our K’nex football launcher, test your coordination in the obstacle course, investigate whether sport drink or water is better for refueling, and much more!
Scan QR codes at different stations to dive into the science behind the sports and try out math tools like a sports analyst, our spotlight STEM career. Enter in your stats, track progress and compare your performance to other visitors, world-record holders, and even wild animals! Activity maps and QR code readers available at the front desk.
Spring Break schedule (Monday, March 7-Friday, March 18): All-ages activities from 10am-2pm Mon-Sat / 1-3pm Sun; museum open from 10am-4pm Mon-Sat / 12-4pm Sun.
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Field Goal Physics
Create a paper football, then shoot for a field goal using our K’Nex launcher. Uncover how projectile motion helps to guide a football through the goal post. But be prepared for other forces, like wind and air resistance, that can knock you off course.
Coordination Obstacle Course
Test your agility and coordination as you maneuver a soccer ball through our challenging course. From eyes to feet, learn how the brain’s neural signals help soccer players change their movements quickly to avoid other players on the field.
Jump to It
Who would take gold in the All-Species Olympics for high jump, long jump or hurdles? Compete with your best jump, then see how you stack up against professional athletes and a variety of animals.
Foam Bowling
We’re rolling out foam balls and blocks of all shapes and sizes to test which work best for knocking down the pins. Aim for a strike as you explore friction, mass and shape. This league is designed for our littlest scientists (toddler to pre-K).
Racing Roaches
Would a cockroach make a good athlete? Come to the Biolab to put these crawly creatures to the test. Observe the “athletes” as they scurry around and guess which one will stay in a racing ring the longest. Compare different animals’ racing prowess and explore adaptations that affect our speed.
Career Spotlight: Sports Statistician
Sports aren’t just about what happens on the field. Sports statisticians and analysts study data from athletes’ and teams’ performances to determine who’s at the top of their game or primed for a win. Learn more about the mathematics of athletics!
Big Air Volleyball
Bump, set, spike…float? In this beach ball version of volleyball, discover how air resistance and weight change up the game.
Sports Drink Showdown
To stay in the game, you’ve got to stay hydrated. Can you spot the best beverages for before, during or after the action? To find the winners—and any to avoid—investigate different sport drink options, the nutrients they contain and how they impact the body.
Catch a Smile
A simple game of catch can be a surprising mood booster! Round up friends for a quick game and learn about the social-emotional impact of connecting as you catch and toss.
Train with Team STEM
Team up with our STEM coaches to work on different sport skills: serve a tennis ball to a specific spot, kick a soccer ball over a goalie’s head, throw a curveball, get the proper spin on a football, or hit a hockey puck to the corner of a goal. Tap into the power of physics to understand ideal body position and other science-backed ways to improve your game.
