Nature’s Engineers
BCM’s New STEM Makerspace
BCM has a new natural science-inspired makerspace: Nature’s Engineers! This innovative space is designed for children to learn from nature and engage in hands-on STEM activities, fostering creativity and critical thinking.
Nature’s Engineers is a unique space where the marvels of natural science and the excitement of STEM education converge. It’s a world where children become makers, inspired by the intricacies of nature and the principles of scientific inquiry. The space encompasses a diverse range of interactive and educational experiences, from exploring live animal habitats to displaying a selection of the Museum’s vast collection of over 30,000 objects, providing children with a diverse and rich educational experience.
The space features a rich array of specimens from the Museum’s natural science collection, including fossils, bird’s nests, and live animals such as tarantulas, colorful isopods, and native garter snakes. These exhibits provide a unique, up-close learning environment that blend the wonders of the natural world with scientific investigation.
In addition to self-guided exploration, Nature’s Engineers offers a variety of rotating programs specifically designed for families and school groups. These programs, led by BCM’s STEM educators, focus on developing skills in close observation, inquiry, and scientific processes. Activities include sorting, grouping, categorizing, matching, and counting, enabling children to dive deeper into natural science concepts. Each month features new programs, adaptable to suit a range of ages from 4-8, ensuring engaging and age-appropriate experiences for young learners.
Nature’s Engineers aims to inspire a new generation of problem solvers and innovators by connecting them with nature’s intricate systems and cycles. With its mission rooted in guided inquiry and creativity, the space promises a unique, hands-on learning experience that blends the exploration of the natural world with STEM principles.
Nature’s Engineers is open Thursdays from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm during the Museum’s Amazon Free Hours, and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Entry to Nature’s Engineers is included with general admission.
Projects
This Month
November: Glow with the Flow
How do fireflies and jellyfish glow in the dark? This month in Nature’s Engineers we’re learning how living things can produce light. Scientists use this natural glow to track ocean animals and even detect diseases!
Build a simple circuit using LED lights and glow-in-the-dark materials at BCM’s STEM makerspace and explore the amazing power of bioluminescence. Can you make a circuit that glows brighter than a flashlight?
Up Next
December: Sink or Swim
Why do some things float but other things sink? This month in Nature’s Engineers we’re learning how to make things float – even really heavy things! Engineers use these ideas to design ships that carry thousands of tons across oceans, including the cruise ships, ferries, and boats you see in the Hudson and East River.
Build your own floating structures, and test their buoyancy and stability at BCM’s new STEM makerspace. Can you create a boat that holds more marbles than your friend’s?