Earlier this year, 10Best, which is part of the USA TODAY Network, asked readers to vote for their favorite children's museums as part of its ongoing Readers' Choice contests.
Shortly after announcing the winners, these museums had to close their doors to help protect their communities from the spread of COVID-19. But they also pivoted, bringing some of their programming online, so families across the country (and the world) can experience a bit of what makes them winners.
Note: If you'd like to support these museums while they're closed, consider making a donation or signing up for an annual membership.
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The Children's Museum of Indianapolis | Indiana
Rex BalancingRex is trying to balance his busy schedule of naps and fun activities. Here’s his line-up: 10 a.m.—Facebook LIVE: Learn about Geologic Time12 p.m.—DIY Science: Make a roller coaster for marbles
Posted by The Children's Museum of Indianapolis on Thursday, April 9, 2020
Rex, the dinosaur mascot of this museum (voted best in the U.S. in 2020) is lending a hand with a wide variety of digital programming that includes multiple events each day on Facebook Live. Get exercising with a morning warmup, join science discussions, learn about experiments you can do at home or attend a live story time.
City Museum | St. Louis, Missouri
Art City LIVE with Angela! Printmaking done easy Items neededStyrofoam plates or takeout containersDull pencil or ball point penPaper (several sheets)Markers ( not sharpie)Wet paper towel & a dry paper towelScissors See the full City Museum On Air schedule here: www.CityMuseum.org/City-Museum-LiveShow your support by becoming a member here: www.CityMuseum.org/Membership
Posted by City Museum, St Louis, MO on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
While the City Museum is closed to visitors, the museum staff, crew, artists and historians have launched City Museum on Air. This series takes place each weekday with an eclectic lineup of programming – everything from free art classes, storytelling sessions, museum tours and sneak peaks at upcoming exhibits.
The Magic House | St. Louis, Missouri
Post by TheMagicHouse.
The folks at The Magic House in St. Louis are sharing their expertise through their Magic at Home! series. Each edition features a project that kids and their parents can do with household materials, like making a banjo or animal figures from toilet paper rolls, Oobleck (a favorite ooey gooey substance from the museum’s science lab) from cornstarch and water, or paper sculptures.
Kohl Children's Museum | Glenview, Illinois
Post by kohlchildrensmuseum.
This winning children’s museum calls itself "The place where awesome lives," and would-be visitors can bring that awesome into the home through its library of online teaching resources, story time sessions (in Spanish and English) and "Home Zone" projects.
Kids can learn how to fold paper airplanes, learn about the physics of wheels or make their own recycled paper.
Children's Museum of Houston | Texas
Flight Control - O Wow MomentHow do you turn a basic paper airplane into a stunt plane? By changing the shape of the wing! Go flying with Mr. O as we explore ailerons as part of our Daily Virtual Learning Broadcast Schedule to bring Children's Museum Houston to you and extend learning at home.Sign up to our newsletter to receive activities like this one: https://bit.ly/2IWMqdMSponsored by David and Jean Wiley Foundation
Posted by Children's Museum of Houston on Wednesday, April 1, 2020
The Children’s Museum of Houston is bringing a full daily lineup of virtual learning options to both Facebook and Instagram. Regular events include English and bilingual story time, Educator Moments learning videos, virtual workshops, toddler sing-alongs and" O Wow Moments" demos and experiments with Mr. O.
Museum of Discovery | Little Rock, Arkansas
The Museum of Discovery is bringing At Home Discoveries to computer screens across the country. Virtual visitors can learn what happens when you microwave a Peep (and why), how to make geodes out of eggs and the best techniques for building a cardboard castle.
Visitors can also follow along as some of the museum’s animals take tours of the closed campus.
Children's Museum of Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania
Show the World How You Say “hi”!For more than 25 years, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh has accentuated the “hi” in its name to welcome children and families. Now we want to see the fun, creative (and safe) ways that you and your family are saying “hi”, both in person and via technology, in these days of social distancing. Take a photo or short video (10-15 seconds long) showing one or more creative ways you say “hi”. Share your photos or videos here in the comments, via Facebook message, tag @pghkids on Instagram or Twitter, or email hi@pittsburghkids.org by April 15.Submissions will be posted on Children’s Museum’s website and social media channels. And when we reopen, we’ll invite you to see the compilation video displayed in the Museum!We hope you stay healthy, safe and creative until the time we can say “hi” at the Museum again.
Posted by Children's Museum of Pittsburgh on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Among the many Museum At Home projects from the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is the New Ways to Say "Hi" Challenge, which tasks kids with coming up with new and creative ways to greet each other during times of social distancing. Other lessons include how to make yarn from an old T-shirt, net making and folding origami hearts.
Children's Museum of Denver | Colorado
Post by childrensmuseumdenver.
The Children’s Museum of Denver is offering Museum Fun 101 programming which includes a host of screen-free activities to do at home. Options range from crafts (animal masks, printmaking) to recipes (cucumber lemonade, homemade peanut butter) to movement activities to photo quests and scavenger hunts.
The Strong Museum | Rochester, New York
The Strong Museum in Rochester knows a thing or two about play, and how to make it educational. This museum’s online programming comes at it from a unique angle, highlighting #ThrowbackToys from generations past; kids can make their own paper dolls, learn about why some toys weren’t such a hit (e.g. the Daddy Saddle) or vote in an old school toys tournament bracket (Easy Bake Oven for the win).
The museum is also offering Animal Encounters through Facebook Live.
Madison Children's Museum | Madison, Wisconsin
Brain Builders: Marvelous Marble MazesHeather (and her assistant, Claire) bring us another edition of Brain Builders, and this time we're building mazes out of marbles! All you need is a paper plate, strips of paper, glue, and a marble and your kids can create engaging toys to play with or share. Read the blog post: https://wp.me/p225qc-FkThis video is part of our MCM at Home series.
Posted by Madison Children's Museum on Tuesday, April 7, 2020
MCM at Home brings all the wonder of the Madison Children’s Museum into the living room, with a special focus on learning tools for older babies through preschool-aged children. There’s something scheduled almost every day on Facebook Live, including sensory art projects, Exploration Stations, Brain Builders, music and movement activities.
10Best is a part of the USA TODAY Network — providing an authentically local point of view on destinations around the world — in addition to travel and lifestyle advice.
This article originally appeared on 10Best.com: These 10 award-winning children's museums offer online programs