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Families can learn about dinosaurs, the human body, space and more at the Science Museum of Minnesota (“SMM”). Located in St. Paul between the Mississippi River and Kellogg Boulevard, the museum welcomes all visitors to explore and interact with the world of science–all different kinds of science: Biology, Chemistry, Archaeology, Sociology, Paleontology, Environmentology, all -Ology you can think of.  It’s all there for you to discover in this BIG museum. And it is big! According to the Science Museum’s website they encompass 8.5 acres of exhibits!

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Anytime Free Online Resources from the Science Museum

Although SMM is a really cool museum, you don’t have to wait to start learning. SMM provides a lot of free, fun extras that families can grab online anytime. These freebies include:

The Science is Learning – Virtual Tookit

Find hands-on activities to encourage science at home, like printable puzzles and coloring sheets, experiments and DIY activities.

Omnitheater Extras

Families can dig a little deeper into the topics of the current movies before or after a screening. Find interviews, videos, extra facts and more.

Science for All

Dig deeper into SMM’s permanent exhibit, RACE: Are We So Different? with videos that explore the topic and conversation starters for around the dinner table, including the 10-minute drama, The Idea.

Education Resources

Aimed at educators, families can also view use materials created to provide resources for learning, such as online lessons and learn from home ideas.

Preschool Fun at the Science Museum of Minnesota

If all your kids ages 3-6 and younger, you may have a better time at the Minnesota Children’s Museum, as the entire museum is geared toward them. However, if you have kids of mixed ages or you just want to go to the Science Museum, there is plenty to entertain and education  3-6 year old kids. Most exhibits and experiences have some sort of hands-on element that little kids can enjoy even if they aren’t ready for the deeper science, and you’ll find age-appropriate picture books and short videos throughout the museum. Because it is such a hands-on museum, you can feel confidant letting smaller kids take the lead, deciding what and how long to visit. These tend to be some of the favorite exhibits of our preschool kids:

1. Sportsology. This permanent exhibit allows kids of any age to engage  with science actively. Visitors can run and play, kick and throw, and jump and move at the various labs.
2. Dinosaur Exhibit & Fossils Gallery. Besides the shear joy of seeing a full-scale dinosaur skeleton’s, little kids can play with dinosaurs dioramas. Parents can relax in the comfy leather chairs for as long as kids want to play or snuggle up and read a dinosaur picture book or put together a dinosaur puzzle.
3. Giant Astronaut. Take a walk past the giant astronaut.
4. Musical Stairs. Spend some time making music on the musical stairs that run from the lobby to the six floor.

If you have a membership, you can consider shorter and more frequent visits with smaller kids. You wouldn’t even have to leave the first floor for most of these visits.

Gianna’s Review of the Science Museum of Minnesota

When Family Fun Twin Cities was offered the opportunity to enjoy the museum, its featured exhibits, and Omnitheatre presentation, the Kordatzky family made a day of it.  We spent the entire day at the museum and still missed an entire floor. My husband stated, “Well, then, you’ve got something to come back and see.”

The day we visited, the Science Museum wasn’t crammed full of patrons; it was bustling but very manageable. We arrived when the museum opened (9:30 am) and stayed until 3:30. In those six hours, we got a little taste of everything. And we dragged ourselves out exhausted and happy because we all had fun. Every single one of us!

Science Museum Of Minnesota Omnitheatre

Our Family Vacation Day started in the Omnitheatre. During Museum hours, the film is shown every hour on the hour.  We decided on the 10:00 am show.  As they lowered the screen, the kids were in awe. When the movie started, Chris and I were suddenly reminded that it’s helpful to sit farther in the back. It makes it easier to see the whole screen, but this had no effect on the kids.  They were entranced. Honestly, I cannot really tell you much about the movie itself.  It was narrated and followed a story line, but I was too involved with the whole experience (ie trying to keep myself from feeling nauseated). Our kids were encompassed by the film.  It was the boys’ favorite part of the whole day. When I picked up the tickets, I asked them if we could leave the theatre if the kids were not doing well. I was assured that I could.  But it turned out to be unnecessary. Which completely shocked me.  I thought two active boys, 3 and 5, would not make it through, but I guess they showed me.

“I’m flying!” came a little 3-year-old voice as the movie panned over the trees to the Mayan ruins.\

Bonus Fun: Science Museum of Minnesota Omnifest

This is one of our favorite our favorite Science Museum of Minnesota events. During the cold dark days of winter (some time in January – March), the science museum usually offers its magnificent Omnifest.  If there is ever a great time to have a Science Museum membership its during Omnifest because they bring out a host of omnitheater films and members can watch for FREE. Watch for it again in the first quarter of 2022!

Science Museum Of Minnesota Hands-On Exhibits

Following the Film, we explored the exhibit that went with the film. The first part of the exhibit is another short film.  No more than 5 minutes, but after seeing the movie, I did not need another educational movie. However, it was really interesting to explore hands on what we had just seen.

Then, we wandered into the Collectors’ Corner (where kids can trade their artifacts and knowledge for points to earn other natural items) and ultimately to the mummy. We learned all about mummification. I think this was the first time I have ever been able to take a good long look at this guy.  In the past, I have always been a little disgusted. A staff member was placed next to the mummy to explain mummification and answer any questions.

We decided to have lunch in the museum’s cafeteria (great mac and cheese, not so great pizza). Be sure to check out the Seismofon above your heads when eating in the cafeteria. It chimes whenever there is seismic activity! Cool and a little scary.

After lunch we explored the numerous hands-on exhibits.

• Dinosaur and Fossils Gallery: actual dinosaur skeletons–triceratops, allosaurus, camptosaurus, diplodocus, as well as many other fossils.
• Experiment Gallery: play with light, wind, water pressure, waves, and watch how a tornado forms. Endless possibilities for hands-on fun here!
• Math Moves:  play with weights and graphs and ratios and proportion
• Big Back Yard:  Since Gianna originally published this article, the Big Back Yard has permanently closed, but see our Birthday Party section below. SMM now offers outside birthday parties in the summer.
• Minnesota River Gallery: take in the pride of Minnesota–the Mississippi River with an actual tugboat mounted on the top of the museum, interactive displays, and a live news show put on by you!
• Science Live Theatre: watch short presentations combining “theater” with science.  We watched a “funny” lady demonstrate the triangle of fire: heat, oxygen, and fuel.

We completely missed the Human Body Gallery (where you can find Egyptian mummies) and the Cell Lab. They looked fascinating with blood pumping above our heads and a large-sized display of the chambers of the heart.  But alas, it will have to wait for next time.

Gianna’s Top 3 SMM Favorites

1. The Omnitheatre Experience

I thought everyone would be a bit nervous by this gigantic and odd theatre, but I was clearly wrong. If a 3-year-old will quietly sit through a 45 minute documentary about Maya, you know they’re doing something right.

2. The Musical Stairs

The kids were halfway done the stairs before I realized what I was hearing.  So back up the stairs we ran.  Then, down.  Then, up. Down and up and down. Chris stood on the steps and swung his foot back and forth without touching the stairs to make the music. Everyone loves when Daddy is being funny.

3. The Sound Lights

When we ran under these lights, we heard piano notes and sounds of nature. Maybe there were more sounds, but we didn’t encounter them. Go enjoy some time with your family!  It’s a great way to beat the heat and spend some great time together as a family!  It worked well for us!