Onsite Programs at Science North

BOOKINGS TO SCIENCE NORTH

2024–2025 AVAILABLE PROGRAMS

Each class visit to Science North includes up to two (2) hands-on, engaging school programs. All programs are linked to the Ontario Science and Technology Curriculum and / or the Ontario Mathematics Curriculum. Programs are generally 50-minutes in length, with some exceptions, and can be booked on the hour, between 10am and 1pm. These programs are not offered on weekends, holidays, nor throughout the summer.

BOOK YOUR VISIT   BOOKING GUIDE

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS

KINDERGARTEN

WE ARE ANIMALS

• In this interactive program, students will learn about different groups of animals. They will meet an animal ambassador and participate in interesting experiments to discover what kind of animals humans are. Can your students solve the mystery?

NATURE'S FAMILY

• Students will meet live animals, move their bodies and learn about Mother Earth, Grandmother Moon and other members of our natural family. This program includes an interpretive reading of poems from Meet Your Family: Gikenim Giniigi'igoog, written by David Bouchard, and illustrated by Kristy Cameron.

SOUNDS OF THE HUMAN BODY

• Hiccups, burbs and farts…oh my! Students will discover the reasons why the human body make certain sounds by exploring the organs that make these sounds. They will make observations by listening using a specialized medical instrument, by manipulating preserved organs and by measuring features of organs (i.e. length, width, number of heart beats).

SHAPE UP!

• Shapes are the building blocks of the world around us. This program offers students the chance to investigate and compare two-dimensional shapes using hands-on tools and technology. They will experiment with these shapes, while identifying and creating colourful patterns.

DANCE THROUGH THE SEASONS

• Students explore the seasons and the months through dance and a traditional Anishinabek lens. Seasonal Anishinabek experiences are shared, and students are invited to share their seasonal activities. Students contribute and learn dances to help them remember the order of the seasons and months. They will use models of the Earth and Sun to learn where our light and warmth come from.

EXPLORING EARTH'S TREASURES

• Introduce your class to our amazing Earth and its treasures! Learn about our Nature Exchange program, how to collect sustainably, what items can be easily collected in Northern Ontario, and how to trade those items here at Science North!

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Grades 1 to 3

BEEBOTS

• Students will learn how honey bees communicate with the waggle dance while programming a robotic honey bee. Students will also learn about the honey bee life cycle and how they change over their life span.

IT'S A BUG'S WORLD

• What are bugs? What roles do bugs play in our lives? How can we learn more about bugs in our own backyards? This workshop will include live-insect demonstrations and a bug scavenger hunt on the 2^nd floor.

FOOD SCIENTISTS

• Students will use refractometers to analyze the sugar content of different beverages. Additionally, using scales, students will compare the nutritional profiles of various foods, gaining deeper insights into the science behind making healthy food choices.

MIX IT UP!

• In a series of hands-on activities, students will use scientific tools and methods to investigate the properties and interactions of various solids and liquids.

SEASONS: WILL IT RAIN or WILL IT SNOW?

• Energy and the properties of liquids and solids are explored through the changing seasons. Students will learn how the Earth’s tilt creates different seasons and explore the seasons through repeating patterns and numbers.

EXTREME ANIMALS

• Ever wonder how living things can survive in extreme environments? Shrink into the microscopic world of tardigrades, survive harsh deserts, and dive to the depths of the ocean to find life in complete darkness.  Students will meet some living creatures and even compete to build the tallest tubeworm in this brand new program.

TOYING WITH SCIENCE

• Your students will discover the terms 'work' and 'load' as they look at the basic principles of simple machines. They will experience a multitude of mechanical devices that have changed the way we play.

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Grades 4 to 6

BALANCE and MOTION

• Using the key concepts of force, balance, symmetry and motion, students will build a frame structure that includes a pulley in order to complete a challenge.

RAINBOWS and LASER BEAMS

• Through a series of experiments that incorporate the properties of light, students will discover which wavelengths of light are the most energetic, learn about different light sources, and examine how light can cause physical changes in relation to sun safety.   

CREATURES CLASSIFIED

• Students will discover the importance of classification systems using real-world examples. While working with a dichotomous key, students will identify different animal specimens. During the program, students will meet an animal ambassador and have the opportunity to discuss how invasive species impact habitats and communities.

HUMAN ORGAN SYSTEMS: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

• The immune system is a complex and fascinating system that defends our bodies against pathogens. Students will learn and examine some of the organs of the immune system and discover how it works together with vaccines to protect us against germs.

INCREDIBLE INSECTS

• Are you looking to explore biodiversity? Look no further than the incredible insects! About 75% of all the known animal species in the world are insects! From so-camouflaged, they are almost invisible praying-mantises, to kaleidoscopic butterflies, from almost-microscopic wasps to huge Hercules beetles, from predator to prey! They may be cold-blooded, but they are sure a hot topic! Let’s explore several key ecosystems around the world together to learn how insects adapt to their environments. This workshop will include live-insect demonstrations and a “build-a-bug" activity.

MICRO:BIT MAKERS

• Tinker with code and find out how electronic gadgets work! Students will learn the basics of block-based programming with Micro:bit, including the use of variables, conditions, randomization and loops.

CODING PATTERNS

• Using a PyBadge and block-based coding, students will have the opportunity to build a curious and complicated system with parts that create patterns, move, and replicate. Students will be able to explore and interact with the code they’ve edited to create unexpected new patterns and compare them with what we see in nature.

PREDATOR or PREY?

• Can you tell the difference between a predator or prey by looking at a skull? In this hands-on program students will learn about the adaptations that predators and prey have, and how they are interconnected.

LET'S GET ELECTRIC!

• In order to explore concepts of electrical energy and energy conservation, students will construct circuits using a variety of tools.

OUR PLACE IN SPACE

• From the Sun to Neptune, immersive activities will let your students discover how Earth fits into the solar system and cosmos. They will experiment with tools and techniques scientists use to learn about all the planets (and dwarf planets) in our solar system.

PUSHING AND PULLING

• Find out how pulleys can give you superhuman strength. Using tools and technology, students will build and investigate different types of pulley systems and evaluate how pulleys affect the amount of force required to lift a load.

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Grades 7 to 8

A.I. IN SPACE

• Prepare your students for a future driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning. Through learning about Canada's role as a leader in autonomous space robotics, students will be introduced to real-world applications of AI. They will use AI to complete challenges, learn its capabilities and limitations and discuss the ethical implications of AI in space and on Earth.

MICROSCOPE MYSTERIES

• This program will allow students to explore interesting phenomena on a microscopic scale. Using a variety of tools, they will have the opportunity to magnify and observe many every day items. Students will learn about different forms of microscopy and get to create their own micro-drawings.

WATER IN THE ENVIRONMENT

• In this program, students will use scientific tools (chlorine meter, pH strips and titrets) and their own curiosity to solve the question of "which water is which?, all while learning about the unique properties of water and why it's important to living things.

WEATHER and CLIMATE

• What makes the weather? How is our climate changing? What can we do about it? In this program, students will conduct experiments to understand the effects of heat and water sytems on Earth's climate and weather patterns while exploring some BIG questions!

WHAT IS A CONCUSSION?

• What happens to a human brain when it is concussed? Students will manipulate a preserved brain to learn the effects of concussions. They will also try out concussion-simulation goggles and test helmet materials using an egg drop experiment.

SCIENCE FAIR DAY (Full Day Program)

Available October 8 to December 20, 2024

• Science Fair Day is a full-day program designed to get your students thinking about what they need to do to create a successful science fair project. Students will participate in a 90-minute school program that includes hands-on activities and they will learn about the main steps of performing a scientific experiment. They will also have a 50-minute live science show in the Discovery Theatre and a short Q&A session to answer their most pressing questions about Science Fair.

Space is limited and will be booked on a first come, first served basis.

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SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Grades 9 to 12

NORTHERN ECOSYSTEMS

SNC1W — Grade 9 Biology
90 minutes

• Play the role of a conservation scientist and evaluate the health of a Northern Canadian ecosystem. In a hands on activity, students will explore how climate change impacts the dynamic equilibrium of an ecosystem, and explore different sustainable methods of maintaining ecosystem health, including Indigenous Ways of Knowing.

REPTILES AT RISK

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SBI3U / SBI3C — Grade 11 Biology
50 minutes

• Meet a live turtle and learn how to help them cross a road. Meet a venomous rattlesnake and find out why they are important to the ecosystem. Ontario is home to many reptiles at risk, and  this is your chance to find out how you can help endangered species in your own backyard.

SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SES4U — Grade 12 Earth and Space Science
90 minutes — Delivered in the Planetarium

• What lies in outer space beyond our own backyard? Explore space as we travel through our solar system and beyond! We will view our place in space, and discover the history of the universe from the Big Bang to the present day.

SPACED OUT

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SES4U — Grade 12 Earth and Space Science
50 minutes

• Through engaging hands-on activities, students will explore the Big Bang theory and its implications on the structure and evolution of the universe, along with the characteristics and properties of the celestial objects visible in the night sky. 

CHEMICAL REACTIONS

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SNC2D / SNC2P — Grade 10 Science
SCH3U — Grade 11 Chemistry
90 minutes

• If your students love chemistry, this is the program for them! Students will have a hands-on opportunity to follow lab procedures while refining their skills. They will be able to take measurements while exploring exothermic, endothermic reactions, acids, bases and more!

CODE SWAP

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SNC2D / SNC2P — Grade 10 Science
90 minutes

• Give your students the chance to experience video games like never before! Students will take a functional video game and break it down to its components and examine variables and parameters. They will use this exploration to modify and iterate upon the game’s source code and create a new project. Students will work with Arduino and sensors to build a controller and playtest their creations.

IT'S ELECTRIFYING!

SNC1W — Grade 9 Science
SPH3U — Grade 11 Physics
SPH4U / SPH4C — Grade 12 Physics
90 minutes

• Let’s get electric as your students explore the different aspects of electricity: properties of static and current electricity, sources of electricity, and the practical use of electricity in our daily lives. Hands-on activities will give your students a better understanding of static electricity and electrical circuits.

MIRROR, MIRROR...

SNC2D / SNC2P — Grade 10 Science
50 minutes

• Time to reflect on mirrors and how they work. Students have the opportunity to investigate properties of light and geometric optics. In this program, students explore their powers of critical thinking through a series of inquiry-based challenges.

NEUROSCIENCE

SNC2D / SNC2P — Grade 10 Science
50 minutes

• Are we getting on your nerves? Students will explore the nervous system by examining a preserved brain and evaluating their own nervous systems through a series of tests, including two-point discrimination, reaction time and reflexes. Students will also be able to see an experiment where the action potential of one individual will be used to control another person’s arm!

CLIMATE EXPERIMENTS

SNC2D / SNC2P — Grade 10 Science
SVN3M — Grade 11 Environmental Science
50 minutes

• What determines our climate and how it changes? Students investigate natural and human factors that influence our climate and climate change, including the greenhouse effect and heat transfer through air and water. 

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DISCOVERY THEATRE SHOWS

30–40 minutes

GRADES 1 to 2 – SCIENCE WONDERS

30 minutes

• Through exciting and surprising demonstrations, this show will capture your young students interest and have them wonder what in the world isn’t science!

GRADES 1 to 6 – SCIENCE EVERYWHERE

30 minutes

• Exciting demonstrations will have your students amazed by the world around them. This program allows students to keep an eye out and be inspired by science in unexpected places.

GRADES 2 to 5 – MACHINES and MOVEMENT

50 minutes

• Explore! Investigate! Move! Your students will gain a better understanding of forces and movement through a series of dynamic demonstrations.

GRADES 5 to 6 – FLIGHT

50 minutes

• How does that 400,000 kg aircraft fly in the air!? Through awe-inspiring demonstrations, your students will learn all about the physics of air and flight.

GRADES 7 to 8 – FLOW OF SCIENCE

50 minutes

• What is a fluid? What are fluids made of? With the help our scientists' explosive demonstrations, students investigate the different properties of fluids.

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OBJECT THEATRES

15–30 minutes

• CLIMATE ACTION SHOW — Join Sheepy and his niece, Felicity, in the Climate Barn, where you’ll enjoy an interactive, fast-paced science journey that prepares you with the knowledge and inspiration to join an active network of change agents. Along with Sheepy and Felicity, artificial intelligence agent Bo, and a cast of global and local agents, you will discover the science of climate change, hear from change agents, and prepare yourself to champion climate change action in your life and community.
• READY, SET, MOVE! — Help Anna get her family out of a fog.  Children will be part of an adventure by interacting with displays that appear on the floor and at the same time discover how moving together can keep us healthy and get us out of a "fog".
• BETWEEN THE STARS — This multimedia experiential theater makes the exciting but complex subject of dark matter comprehensible and entertaining to students of all ages. Through special effects, the otherworldly, animated narrator Stringman leads the class on a wild ride through space where we learn why we know dark matter exists, then deep underground into Sudbury's SNOlab, where we hear from real scientists who are searching for dark matter.

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IMAX^®

50 minutes

ANIMAL KINGDOM

• Animal Kingdom is a stunning exploration into what makes our natural world so spectacular.

THE ARCTIC

• Imagine a place that is vast, wild and untouched, where some of the world's greatest wildlife spectacles unfold. The Arctic National Wildlife refuge, situated in the northeastern corner of Alaska, is the wildest place left in North America.

BACK FROM THE BRINK

• Experience on the giant screen the remarkable true story of three animal species rescued from the brink of extinction. Narrated by Claire Danes.
• Valid until June 30/25

BLUE WHALES: RETURN OF THE GIANTS (also available in French)

• Blue Whales: Return of the Giants 3D takes viewers on a journey of a lifetime to explore the world of the magnificent blue whale, a species rebounding from the brink of extinction.

FLYING MONSTERS (also available in French)

• For thousands of years, humans have believed that there were once flying monsters. Such creatures became mythologized, with stories about them shared around the world. But could they have really existed?
• Valid until June 30/25

FUNGI: WEB OF LIFE

• Much of life on Earth is connected by a vast, hidden network that we are only just beginning to understand. Out of sight, between the world of plants and animals, another world exists — the kingdom of fungi. Narrated by Björk.
• Valid until June 30/25

JANE GOODALL – REASONS FOR HOPE (also available in French)

• Drawing on decades of work by the world’s most famous living ethologist and environmentalist, Jane Goodall – Reasons for Hope, is an uplifting journey around the globe to highlight good news stories that will inspire people to make a difference in the world around them.

EDUCATION GUIDE

T. REX

• For over a hundred years, dinosaurs have inspired and thrilled audiences, commanding blockbuster status in museums and at the box office. But among them towers a king—a tyrant lizard king. With leaps in CGI wizardry and revolutions in tyrannosaur paleontology over the past twenty-five years, the time has come to revisit Rex. Narrated by Sir Sam Neill.

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PLANETARIUM

50 minutes

SEASONS

• Travel to space to observe how the movement the Earth around the Sun creates daily and seasonal changes. Includes the film Earth, Moon & Sun, which explores the relationships between our planet and our most familiar celestial neighbours with the help of Coyote, an amusing character who has a few misconceptions!

UNDER THE SAME STARS: MINWAADIZIWIN

• The First People were scientists and innovators, carefully tracking and moving with the seasons and creating inventions that allowed them to survive in the northern forests of our country. With this close connection to the natural world, the Indigenous People of Canada developed a strong culture, rooted in respect for the environment. This special presentation helps students learn about the Indigenous worldview and sit at the fire with two people who are connected to the traditional ways.

EXPLORE SPACE

• Students will explore the solar system in this fully immersive experience, followed by the film, Explore. They will learn about the history and future of space exploration, along with the mathematics and technology that make it all possible.