SparkLab is a STEM enrichment initiative based in the dedicated learning lab at Children’s Museum of Franklin. This collection of continuously evolving programs serves elementary and middle school students with engaging, hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Developed in direct response to educational gaps, SparkLab provides equitable access to high-quality STEM learning opportunities. Through real-world problem-solving and collaborative experimentation, students build critical thinking skills, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning.
Friday, June 26 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Come explore the fascinating world of plants! Discover the function, or job, of plant and flower parts. Activities will include dissecting flowers, planting seeds, and discovering the importance of pollination.
This is a drop-off program for children ages 5–8
Friday, July 10 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Get ready to stomp, roar, and explore in Dino Dash at Children’s Museum of Franklin! Young paleontologists ages 5–8 will discover different dinosaurs, learn when they lived, and uncover what they ate as they journey back to the prehistoric world. Kids will bring the fun to life by creating their own dino walker and designing a dinosaur-themed board game to take home!
This is a drop-off program for children ages 5–8
Wednesday, July 15 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Which items are attracted to magnets? Are some magnets stronger than others? Will magnets work through other objects? Find the answers to these questions through fun, teamwork based investigations.
This is a drop-off program for children ages 5-8
Thursday, July 23 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
What makes you unique? Your individual traits are carried on genes that are made out of a molecule called DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid. Investigate how plants and animals inherit traits from parents and how traits can be influenced by the environment. This workshop includes opportunities to create a DNA model, remove DNA from plant material, and create your own artistic alien using a unique genetic code.
This is a drop-off program for children ages 8-10
Monday, July 27 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Strengthening spatial reasoning skills and problem solving is most effective when children can move, build, rotate, compare, and visualize shapes. Explore geometric concepts of 2 and 3-dimensional shapes, angles, and symmetry with some of our favorite math manipulatives: tangrams, attribute blocks, pentominoes, 3-D shapes, and geoboards.
*Sign up for one or both days (July 27 & Aug 21)
This is a drop-off program for children ages 7–10
Friday, July 31 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
It's Harry Potter's birthday! Join us at Hogwarts (aka the Museum) as we make wands, brew potions, mold magical creatures, and more.
This is a drop-off program for children ages 7–10
Wednesday, August 5 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Water is the most important substance on earth! Explore the unique properties of water including surface tension, states of matter, and how temperature affects water molecules. Children will use science tools and the scientific method to investigate, observe, and record their findings in a fun, interactive environment.
This is a drop-off program for children ages 7–10
Monday, August 10 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Get ready to pop into the exciting world of engineering at Children’s Museum of Franklin! Kids ages 5–8 will discover how engineers solve problems and think creatively as they become engineers themselves through hands-on bubble experiments and challenges. Kids will test, create, and explore the science and engineering behind every pop!
This is a drop-off program for children ages 5-8
Friday, August 21 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Strengthening spatial reasoning skills and problem solving is most effective when children can move, build, rotate, compare, and visualize shapes. Explore geometric concepts of 2 and 3-dimensional shapes, angles, and symmetry with some of our favorite math manipulatives: tangrams, attribute blocks, pentominoes, 3-D shapes, and geoboards.
*Sign up for one or both days (July 27 & Aug 21)
This is a drop-off program for children ages 7–10
Wednesday, August 26 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Get ready to mix, swirl, and splash into a world of color in Rainbow Remix at Children’s Museum of Franklin! Kids ages 5–8 will explore the science of colors through hands-on experiments and creative activities as they discover how colors blend, change, and surprise us. Young scientists will experiment, create, and uncover the colorful magic all around them!
This is a drop-off program for children ages 5-8
Thursday, August 27 | 9:00 am–12:00 pm
Get ready for fizzing, bubbling, and popping fun in Radical Reactions at Children’s Museum of Franklin! Kids ages 8-10 will become hands-on scientists as they explore exciting scientific reactions and discover what happens when different materials mix and interact. Through playful experiments and surprising discoveries, kids will see science come to life right before their eyes!
This is a drop-off program for children ages 8-10