Workshop Topics

All Aboard!

Learn how trains transport people and goods, and the key factors of railway safety.

• Identify the different types of trains and their uses.
• Plan and construct a train car out of recycled materials.
• Learn the basic rules of railway safety.
• Identify the different types of signs at railroad crossings.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 1.A, 1.B, 1.C, 4.A, 4.B, 9.A, 9.B, 22.A, 24.A, 24.C, 26.A, 26.B, 31.A

Animal Adaptations

Discover how animals adapt to their environment through exploring birds, insects, invertebrates and amphibians.

• Investigate and identify physical features that help animals survive.
• Observe and explore the survival behaviors of worms and amphibians.
• Compare and contrast how humans and animals use tools to obtain food.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 4.B, 11.A, 12.A, 12.B, 31.A

Animal Habitats

Explore, compare, contrast and construct animal homes and shelters.

• Compare animal shelters with human shelters.
• Explore bird’s nests through observational drawings and discussion.
• Create a bird’s nest using a variety of natural materials.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 1.B, 4.A, 11.A, 12.A, 12.B, 31.A

Blow the House Down

Experiment and test the wind-resistance of building materials.

• Relate lessons learned from a story to real life.
• Compare and contrast a variety of building materials.
• Plan, build and test structures to withstand a strong gust of air.
• Record and discuss the test results.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1
Meets Illinois State Goals: 1.A, 4.A, 5.B, 10.A, 11.A, 11.B, 31.A

Creative Sounds

Explore, design, build and test musical instruments to discover how sound is created through vibration.

• Experience vibration by observing, touching and listening to a variety of instruments.
• Plan, construct and test a vibrating instrument with recycled materials.
• Describe how an instrument produces sound through vibration.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 3.C, 4.A, 4.B, 11.A, 11.B, 12.D, 25.A, 26.A, 31.A

Dimensions in Art

Investigate and learn about various media by creating three-dimensional works of art inspired by artists Augusta Savage and Alexander Calder.

• Understand the difference between two- and three- dimensional art.
• Investigate and identify objects by their shape, size, color texture and pattern.
• Explore and utilize clay techniques.
• Plan, create and build three-dimensional sculptures.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 9.A, 25.A, 25.B, 26.A, 26.B, 31.A

Energy Around Us

Discover how wind, sun and water can be used as sources of energy through experimentation.

• Measure the effects of different energy sources.
• Explore how water moves objects.
• Compare and contrast the impact of wind on various objects.
• Through discussion learn how solar energy can benefit our daily lives.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 4.B, 7.A, 11.A, 11.B, 12.C, 12.D, 31.A

H₂0 Art

Explore the properties of water, color, shape and texture through the creation of “water art.”

• Explore color mixing by creating a collaborative art mural using colored ice.
• Learn about absorption and color value through experimenting with coffee filter staining.
• Discover how water and dirt mix through creating a textured mud painting.
• Experiment with buoyancy, shape and texture by building and testing floating sculptures.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 11.A, 11.B, 12.C, 25.A, 25.B, 31.A

Health and Nutrition

Understand how a balance of good nutrition and physical activity are important for living a healthy lifestyle.

• Experience how energy is used during physical activity.
• Learn the importance of eating foods from each of the five food groups every day.
• Create a balanced meal.
• Understand the CLOCC 5-4-3-2-1 Go!™ message to promote a healthy lifestyle.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 20.A, 21.A, 22.A, 23.B, 24.B, 31.A

>> Learn more about Kohl Children's Museum's commitment to teaching the importance of healthy eating habits, nutrition and physical fitness

Moving Water

Investigate various tools and methods to move water.

• Test materials and methods to move water by comparing and contrasting various tools including pipettes, basters and sponges.
• Graph and chart results.
• Plan, construct and test a pipeline to move water from one location to another.
• Learn about the flow of water by molding sand to create streams, rivers and dams.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 8.B, 10.A, 10.B, 11.A, 11.B, 12.C, 31.A

Re-Use It

Explore methods to reduce and reuse garbage.

• Discover how children can help reduce garbage.
• Sort and chart objects that can be reused.
• Analyze methods of how to reuse garbage.
• Creatively reuse garbage to make practical and functional products.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 4.B, 5.B, 6.A, 11.A, 11.B, 31.A

Sensational Senses

Discover how the five senses help people learn about their world.

• Identify objects using tactile discrimination.
• Explore sweet and sour tastes.
• Utilize visual discrimination to explore color change and mixing.
• Compare and match the sound of different objects.
• Distinguish and identify various scents.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1
Meets Illinois State Goals:  1.B, 1.C, 2.B, 4.A, 4.B, 11.A 31.A

Simple Machines

Discover how simple machines work to make our everyday lives easier.

• Compare, contrast and test the effectiveness of simple machines.
• Graph and chart the results of experiments.
• Explore force and motion through manipulating wheels, levers and other simple machines.
• Understand and explain how the mechanics of simple machines work.

Appropriate for Grades: PK, K, 1, 2, 3
Meets Illinois State Goals: 4.A, 8.B, 11.A, 11.B, 12.D, 31.A