Do your kids ever wonder how something is built? Why it rains? What their skin is made of?
These are only a few questions I’ve been asked about this week.
I’m encourage my kids to be curious and ask questions (even if it drives me crazy) about the world around them. This is a fantastic way to spark their curiosity and help them become life long learners.
Experts in the science industry agree that hands-on laboratory experiences help students develop an interest in science, which primes them for an interest in STEM careers. Considering women make up about half of the work force but only 29% of the science and engineering workforce, I find it even more important to engage my daughter in STEM activities.
We were invited to tour the Curiosity Cube™ while it was at Discovery World in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Engaging Kids in STEM: MilliporeSigma’s Curiosity Cube™
MilliporeSigma is a global life science company with several facilities located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They understand the importance of hands-on lab experiences for kids, which drives a large aspect of MilliporeSigma’s corporate responsibility strategy and its investment in Curiosity Labs™ and
related efforts. Their goal is to spark scientific curiosity and passion early in order to encourage more students to pursue STEM careers.
They created the Curiosity Cube™, which is a 22×10-foot, retrofitted shipping container that has been transformed into a mobile science lab. Cool, right? This portable lab brings aspects of the company’s Curiosity Labs™ program to life – on the road! They’ve been on a year-long tour to bring their mobile science lab to approximately 350,000 students across the U.S. in 2017.
The Curiosity Cube™ is staffed by MilliporeSigma employees, who conduct demonstrations and experiments with visitors and answer questions about working in STEM. Our tour was led by Kaely Zeiser. Her passion showed and I thought it was fantastic for my kids to see a woman who works in the field of science.
During our tour, the kids extracted their own DNA from saliva, learned about the cerebellum, tried their hand at some interactive technology, looked in microscopes, and watched a 3D printer in action.
At the end, they received protective eye wear perfect for conducting experiments at home and my daughter added a question to the wall of “Curious Questions.”
How can teachers and schools get involved?
MilliporeSigma also works with schools near their locations. The offer lessons from Curiosity Labs™ which are designed to supplement existing
classroom curriculum. Teachers and principals can apply to become a “Partner School.” Teachers are able to access a variety of lessons to choose the best fit for their students. They’ve worked with several schools throughout the Metro Milwaukee area.
Find out where MilliporeSigma’s Curiosity Cube™ will be next! If they come to a city near you, I recommend visiting it with the kids.
More educational kids activities:
- 10 Museums to See in Wisconsin This Summer
- Family Day in Chicago: Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum
- Reasons to Visit LEGOLAND® Discovery Center in Chicago
