Minnesota Children's Museum

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Drop-In Activities

Discover a new world with every visit.

Minnesota Children's Museum is buzzing with learning experiences cleverly disguised as play. Our permanent galleries, traveling exhibits, and loads of daily drop-in activities are expertly designed to spark learning and plenty of wide-eyed "wows!"

The Museum offers the latest in Minnesota fun, by changing activities offered daily, to ensure children have new and exciting experiences every time they visit. With so many exciting programs to offer, it's easy to drop in, hang out, and delight in the Museum's daily doses of educational fun.

Imagination Corner *Wonder, wiggle, sing and giggle!* Atrium, 10:30 a.m. Drop-in to Imagination Corner for an irresistible burst of playful learning led by one of the Museum's skilled activity leaders or special guest presenters. Join your Museum neighbors to sing, play, move, hear stories, and imagine as we learn about ourselves and the wonderful world all around.
United in Big Healthy Fun! *Shake out your sillies and join in the fun!* Atrium, daily at 11:30 a.m. and Friday/Saturday evenings at 6 p.m. United Health Group presents United in Big Healthy Fun! This large motor skill building program includes activities for young children such as scarf-and-ribbon dancing and giant parachute ball tosses. And for the older kids, supplies such as hula hoops, carpet skates and balance beams provide plenty of opportunities to try out new skills. Sponsored by
Paint Your Face Spark Cart *Become anything you want to be.* Atrium, times vary At the Spark Cart, you can become anything you want to be. Here, kids paint their own face using washable, water-soluble crayons and lots of encouraged creativity. This popular face-painting drop-in activity is suitable for children of all ages and promotes self-awareness, creative thinking, dramatic play, and tons of laughter and fun.
Curiosity Center Programs Drop-in for hands-on creative fun. Curiosity Center, 2nd floor Daily, 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and Friday/Saturday 5:30-7:30 p.m. The fun, multi-sensory pop-in activities at Exploration Station encourage kids to explore, make, create, and experience nearly everything under the sun. From painting with colored ice cubes or toothbrushes to turning gooey messes into works of art, these cool, creative projects promote self-expression and imagination. Best of all, the station overflows with a mess of fun kids love. Download a calendar with all our latest drop-in activities. Sponsored by Click to learn more!
Animal Programs *Come meet and investigate the Museum's live animals.* Earth World Lodge, 5th floor Daily, 2 p.m. Animal programs provide children with hands-on opportunities to interact with the Museum's turtles, snakes, and rats while learning about their natural habitat. Through programs like Turtle Time, Snake Sense, Chow Time, Rat Rendezvous and Turtle Sunbathing, kids can learn about the environment and how it works, gain a new respect for nature, and understand how to express empathy for living creatures.
Story Time Let your imagination run wild in story land. Atrium Times vary Visitors can ignite their imaginations during Story Time. Here, interactive, engaging stories offer children an opportunity to be carried away by fascination and fun. Early-reading and listening skills are reinforced as stories spark curiosity and a passion for learning.
Studio Arts *Explore nature and the arts at the Rooftop ArtPark.* Rooftop ArtPark Glass Studio Daily, June - August 10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. (weather permitting) The daily drop-in programs at the Rooftop ArtPark are designed to bring together nature and creative expression. These hands-on arts programs offer kids an opportunity to explore a wide range of media and use the natural world around them to create works of art. Here, raindrops can become paint and sidewalks can become a canvas. Kids are encouraged to explore their environment to express themselves in new and imaginative ways.