COSI is a nationally esteemed science center that has delighted Central Ohio with all things science for 55 years, inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics and delivering our experiential, "hands-on fun" brand of learning. As a trusted educational resource for families, schools, and community partners, COSI is an essential element of our community, engaging more than one million people annually through onsite, offsite, and online experiences.
To plan a visit and learn more about the adventures you can find at COSI, check out cosi.org.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
See if you can move electrons around at home with a simple experiment!
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!
Extract DNA from Strawberries!
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!
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.
Is the air around you clean? See what you can do to find out - create your own air quality tester!
Explore the importance of opposable thumbs and how adaptations provide advantages.
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.
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.
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.
What is a Watershed? Learn more about watersheds with this intuitive activity in which learners will make a watershed model.
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.
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?
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!
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!