Spark curiosity and wonder through play!
Pint-Size Science (PSS) provides stepping stones for early learners to explore science through play while helping parents and caregivers feel confident supporting STEM learning at home.
Designed specifically for children ages 3–5, each five-week series encourages young learners to ask questions, investigate the world around them, and discover science through stories, movement, hands-on experiments, engineering challenges, and creative play.
Programs are held on Thursdays from 9:15–10:15 AM in the Innovation Lab. Registration includes one child and one accompanying adult and includes admission to the Science Center of Iowa for the remainder of the day.
Register for Pint-Size Science
October 2026 Workshops | My Amazing Brain!
Your brain is incredible! In this playful, hands-on series, young learners explore how their brains help them think, move, feel, and learn. Through games, movement, and simple experiments, children discover how they use their senses, make decisions, and grow their ideas. Each session invites curiosity and wonder as we celebrate all the amazing things our brains can do!
Weekly Topics
- October 1 – Hello, Brain!
- October 8 – Fast Messages!
- October 15 – What Do You See?
- October 22 – Remember This!
- October 29 – Big Feelings, Growing Brains
Thursday, October 1, 2026 | Hello, Brain!
Meet the brain—your body’s boss! Learners will discover how their brain helps them move, talk, and play through simple games, songs, and stories.
Thursday, October 8, 2026 | Fast Messages!
How does your brain tell your body what to do? We’ll test our reaction times and see how our brain sends signals as we play and learn!
Thursday, October 15, 2026 | What Do You See?
Can you trust your eyes? Learners will explore colors, patterns, and silly illusions to discover how their brain helps them see and understand the world—sometimes in surprising ways!
Thursday, October 22, 2026 | Remember This!
How does your brain remember your favorite song or story? Through matching games, repetition, and storytelling, learners will explore how we remember and have fun testing their memory skills!
Thursday, October 29, 2026 | Big Feelings, Growing Brains
Our brains help us feel happy, sad, excited, and calm. Learners will explore emotions through movement, faces, and simple calming strategies while discovering that their brains grow stronger every time they try something new.
Register for Pint-Size Science
February 2027 Workshops | Little Innovators
Join us as we imagine, build, and explore in Pint-Size Science. Through hands-on activities and creative challenges, young learners will turn their ideas into real creations while discovering how tools, materials, and a little curiosity can help solve everyday problems.
Weekly Topics
- January 28, 2027 – What Is an Idea?
- February 4, 2027 – Tools Help Us
- February 11, 2027 – Build It Big!
- February 18, 2027 – Fix It & Improve It
- February 25, 2027 – Inventive Helpers
Thursday, January 28, 2027 | What Is an Idea?
Have you ever wondered where ideas come from? Young learners explore how curiosity sparks imagination as they turn their ideas into drawings and builds.
Thursday, February 4, 2027 | Tools Help Us
Learners experiment with simple tools to roll, stamp, and create while discovering how tools help us do even more.
Thursday, February 11, 2027 | Build It Big!
Join us as we use oversized materials to design and construct giant creations while discovering what makes structures strong.
Thursday, February 18, 2027 | Fix It & Improve It
Put on your engineer's hat as we take things apart, test new ideas, and discover how small changes can make something work better.
Thursday, February 25, 2027 | Inventive Helpers
Become a problem-solver as we invent and create tools that help others in fun and meaningful ways.
Register for Pint-Size Science
Cost per student:
- Members = $16 or $75/package
- Non-Members = $26 or $125/package
Cost for parents/caring adult: No additional cost for parents that register for the workshop*
* Only those that are registered, both students and parents/caring adult, can attend the workshop. Children younger than 3 attending the workshop do not need to be registered. Registered participants receive admission to the Science Center of Iowa for the remainder of the day.
Why Pint-Size Science?
Young children are naturally curious. Pint-Size Science nurtures that curiosity through playful, inquiry-based experiences that encourage children and caregivers to explore together.
Each session is designed to help children:
- Ask questions and investigate the world around them.
- Develop early science and engineering skills.
- Build confidence through exploration and creative play.
- Create meaningful memories with a parent or caregiver.
We can't wait to learn, play, and discover with your family!
Questions?
Contact the Innovation Team at innovationlab@sciowa.org.