Hands-On, Minds-On Learning about
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math!

Group Visits

The Works is Ideal for Groups!

Group Visit Options

Workshop Descriptions

Face Warps

Bring The Works to Your School

What Groups are Saying

The Works is Ideal for Groups!

Find out how things work in this hands-on, minds-on museum as you explore optics and images, simple machines, structures, animation and more. The Works is a non-profit educational organization that makes science, math and engineering interesting, understandable and fun.

The Works' unique exhibits and hands-on workshops fulfill Minnesota state science and mathematics standards and also create successful, memorable, hands-on learning experiences for your students. Look over our group visit options and choose a visit to fit your groups' ages and interests. The Works is ideal for visitors ages 5 to 15 and can accommodate groups up to 70+ students.

Group Visit Options

Explore the museum, do a workshop or choose a combination. Groups can visit The Works year round Monday through Friday. Reservations are required. Reserve your space early to ensure your first choice of dates.

Please call (952) 848-4848 or click here

to complete a reservation request.

Group size:

15 - 80 people for museum only visit
15 - 120 people for museum + workshop visit
15 - 70 people for workshop only visit

Visit the Museum

A friendly Explainer accompanies your group as you explore all the "hands-on, minds-on" exhibits at The Works. There's lots of time for individual discovery. Midway through your visit, the Explainer leads an informal "Tech Talk" to explain how the exhibits work, answer questions and point out real world applications.

Cost: $3.00 per person
1 adult chaperone free for every 8 children
Length: 1 hour

*Subsidies are available for groups demonstrating financial need.*

Enrich Your Visit with Group Workshops

Enrich your visit with a hands-on workshop! Kids get excited about science and technology as they investigate one topic in depth. Each workshop includes hands-on experimentation and discussion of key concepts. Many also include creating a project to take home. Choose a workshop that fits the age and interests of your group. Or select a workshop that complements Minnesota state science standards for your grade level. Standards are listed with each corresponding workshop. Topics include motors, magnets, circuits, chemistry, sounds, and bridges. Please see workshop descriptions below. face warp

Length: 30 minutes, 60 minutes or 2 hours

Cost: ranges from $3.00 to $9.00 per participant

*Price does not include museum admission.*

Subsidies are available for gallery and/or workshop visits for groups demonstrating financial need.

Please contact us if you would like a workshop customized for a different age range or for any group with special needs.

Workshop Descriptions

Many workshops also include building a project to take home; projects are listed in bold type.

The Works’ Workshops are made possible with the generous support of the Medtronic Foundation.

30 Minute Workshops:

Magnets $3.00 G preK - 2 MN Standards 1IIA1, 1IIE1

Explore what magnets really attract (not every metal!) and investigate magnetic poles. Learn where magnets are used and try out some magnetic magic tricks.

Chemistry Challenge $3.00 G1 - 4

Can you inflate a balloon without blowing in it? Learn about solids, liquids, gases and reactions in this fast and fun workshop.

Kaleidoscopes $4.00 G1 - 5 MN Standards IB2, IIC2

Discover reflection and symmetry and distort your own face with bendable mirrors. Each child will build and take home a unique and colorful kaleidoscope.

Circuits $3.00 G1 - 6

Learn about series or parallel circuits (depending on the background of your group) then hook up different circuits using alligator clips, batteries, buzzers, bulbs and motors.

60 minute workshops:

Magnet Mania $5.00 GK - 2 MN Standards 2IIA1

Explore what magnets really attract (not every metal!), investigate magnetic poles, pull “buried treasure” from sand and find out where magnets are used. Each child makes a magnet game to take home.

Mixing Molecules $6.00 GK - 3 MN Standards 2IA4, 2IIA2-4

Experiment with chemical properties, states of matter and color mixing using "kitchen chemicals." Identify a series of “mystery” chemicals by doing three experiments. Each child will make Glow Dough, a slimy polymer that glows in the dark.

Messy Chemistry $5.00 G1-5 MN Standards 2IA4, 2IIA2-3

Experiment with weird glop, inflate a balloon without blowing into it and enjoy more messy chemistry in this interesting and exciting workshop.

Sounds Abound $6.00 G1 - 5 MN Standard IIC1

This workshop begins with vibrations and the science of sound, then explores how different kinds of instruments — wind, string and percussion — change pitch. Each child will create a wooden ear harp to play and take home.

Super Circuits $6.00 G1 - 5 MN Standard 4IIC1

Investigate the components of simple circuits — power, loads and switches — and wire up some circuits of your own. Then roll up your sleeves for an awesome project: each child will build and take home a motor-powered fan.

Skyscrapers $5.00 G3 - 6

Find out what architects and civil engineers do as you explore structure, scale and design through creative hands-on activities. Redesign the Sears Tower and bring home a small scale skyscraper you build yourself.

Pasta Bridges $6.00 G3 - 9

What do you get when you mix together raw pasta, hot glue and lots of imagination? Pasta bridges . . . one of our favorite tech challenges. Build the strongest bridge you can with a specific amount of pasta, then see how much weight it can hold before it breaks.

Acids, Bases & Polymers $6.00 G4 - 9 MN Standards 6IIB2, 6IIA

Explore the chemistry of acids and bases in this squishy, colorful and fun workshop. Make an indicator solution to test the pH of household products, observe the chemical changes and analyze the results. Also, each child will create and take home a slimy cross-linked polymer.

Motor Power $6.00 G4 - 9 MN Standards 4IIC1, 4IIE1

What’s inside a motor and how does it work? See for yourself as your group builds and experiments with “the world’s simplest motor.” Each child will make and take home his or her own motor-powered fan.

Two hour Workshop:

Catapults $9.00 G3 - 9 MN Standard 5IID1-2

Learn about levers, pivots and mechanical advantage in this action packed workshop. Use real tools -- hammers, drills and saws -- to build your own wooden catapult. Optimize it for height and distance, find out how far and how accurately you can fling a marshmallow, then take your catapult home for more experimentation and fun.

Face Warps

Take home a memorable souvenir of your trip to The Works . . . a print of each child's face, digitized, squished, swirled or warped to the child's satisfaction (and delight) by The Works' beloved Face Warp exhibit. Discounted price for groups is $2.00 per print. Prints will be mailed to you after your visit. Please specify that you would like to include face warps when you schedule your group.

Bring The Works to your school!

The Works can bring many of these workshops directly to your school to enrich your curriculum, meet state science standards and delight your students. Select one of the following workshops: Magnet Mania, Mixing Molecules, Super Circuits, Skyscrapers, Motor Power or Catapults. The cost of bringing The Works directly to your school is just the cost of the workshop for each student (minimum 50 students) plus an $80 per day travel and set up fee.

What Groups are Saying . . .

"Super hands on involvement & exploration"

"The students loved it! Hands on! A+!"

"Great environment for girls to explore, experiment and be successful."

". . . they enjoyed playing with electricity (in the circuits workshop) and they learned something."

"Our tour guide was very helpful, knowledgeable, and interesting. transmission

"A wonderful interactive exhibit for all of the kids in our group. Each child was able to get involved in some ways for at least one exhibit. Space was nice for our kids in wheelchairs. This was one activity we did that every single child enjoyed some part of and we got reactions from kids that we usually do not."

"The employee was very knowledgeable and was able to tailor the tech talk to the ages and interests of the boys."

"We appreciate your staff’s enthusiasm - great role models!"

"The teacher was patient and explained things well. The kids loved making glow-in-the-dark goo."

"The tech talk was very helpful & educational - gave the girls some of the practical applications for what they saw."

"I thought all of the exhibits were very age appropriate. They were multi-level so many age groups could enjoy them."

stage lights "The girls had a great time learning and having fun."

"I would definitely recommend The Works to other (girl scout) leaders."

"The laser harp was a highlight."

"The exhibits were very appropriate for our second and third graders. I appreciated the tech talk to pull concepts together."

"The visit we made to The Works was one extended learning opportunity our students will remember."

The Works
5701 Normandale Road
Edina, Minnesota, 55424
(952) 848-4848
info@theworks.org