Grades 2-8 | 50 minutes

Slime is serious science—and serious fun! Students explore molecules, self-assembly, and polymers while discovering the amazing properties and uses of slime in nature. Learn how scientists practice biomimicry by extracting edible slime from Maine sea organisms for applications in food and medicine. The workshop culminates with students creating their own batch of stringy, stretchy sea slime to take home.

Note: This is a wet activity and requires sink access

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Key Concepts: Polymers, molecular structure, biomimicry, material properties

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NGSS Connections:

• Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS1.A (Structure and Properties of Matter), PS1.B Chemical Reactions), LS1.C (Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms), ETS1.B (Developing Possible Solutions)

• Science & Engineering Practices: Asking Questions, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Obtaining and Communicating Information

• Crosscutting Concepts: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect, Patterns, Systems and System Models

Grades 2-8 | 50 minutes

Students experience the excitement of rocket science! Explore Newton's three laws of motion through hands-on investigation of propulsion, acceleration, and friction. Learn about sounding rockets and the innovative work of BluShift Aerospace with biofuels. Through trial and error and the creative design process, each student experiments to find the perfect "rocket fuel" mixture to blast off their own tiny sounding rocket.
 

Note: This activity requires a high ceiling clearance 

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Key Concepts: Newton's laws of motion, propulsion, acceleration, engineering design process

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NGSS Connections:

• Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS2.A (Forces and Motion), PS2.B (Types of Interactions), PS3.A (Definitions of Energy), PS3.C (Relationship Between Energy and Forces), ETS1.A (Defining and Delimiting Engineering Problems), ETS1.B (Developing Possible Solutions), ETS1.C (Optimizing the Design Solution)

• Science & Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions

• Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect, Systems and System Models, Energy and Matter, Stability and Change

(Field Trip Only; 30 minutes; $50; presented by MDM’s
animal caretaker, not an educator)

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Grades K-8 | 30 minutes

Meet one of MDM's resident rescue animals in this engaging live animal presentation! Students observe often misunderstood but ecologically important creatures up close, with opportunities to handle some species. Learn why our rescue animals cannot survive in the wild and discover their important roles in Maine ecosystems. Perfect for younger learners.

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Note: This program involves live animals

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Key Concepts: Animal adaptations, ecological roles, wildlife conservation

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Grades 1-6 | 50 minutes

Students become chemists as they mix and create their own perfumes and potions using
Maine wildflowers, non-native plants, and household chemicals. This fragrant exploration
covers olfactory perception, the fascinating (and sometimes hilarious) history of human
hygiene, and the principles of molecules and diffusion.​

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Key Concepts: Molecules, diffusion, chemical properties, sensory science

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NGSS Connections:

• Disciplinary Core Ideas: PS1.A (Structure and Properties of Matter), PS1.B (Chemical Reactions), PS3.B (Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer), LS1.A (Structure and Function)

• Science & Engineering Practices: Asking Questions, Planning and Carrying Out Investigations, Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions, Obtaining and Communicating Information

• Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect, Scale, Proportion, and Quantity, Patterns, Structure and Function

Grades 1-6 | 50 minutes

How do paleontologists solve the puzzle of fossil finds? Students use the same tools and clues that scientists employ to understand Earth's prehistoric past. Examine real Maine marine fossils—including a "living fossil" specimen—and top-grade replicas. Compare them to living organisms and discover what Maine was like 20,000 or 200 million years ago. Explore the concepts of extinction and fossilization, then become field paleontologists in mini fossil dig to excavate fossilized shark teeth and other treasures.

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Key Concepts: Fossils, paleontology, extinction, geological time, scientific investigation

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NGSS Connections:

• Disciplinary Core Ideas: LS4.A (Evidence of Common Ancestry and Diversity), LS4.C (Adaptation), LS4.D (Biodiversity and Humans), ESS1.C (The History of Planet Earth), ESS2.E (Biogeology)

• Science & Engineering Practices: Asking Questions, Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations, Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Obtaining and Communicating Information

• Crosscutting Concepts: Patterns, Scale, Proportion, and Quantity, Stability and Change, Cause and Effect