Impression 5 Science Center is a dynamic, interactive space for families to play, create, and challenge their understanding of science. Our mission is to facilitate learners in scientific exploration through hands-on exhibits and participatory educational programming.
Explore Our Exhibits
Think Tank
Think Tank
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Think Tank
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Think Tank
Turn your ideas into reality inside this teen maker space with real tools, real challenges, and real outcomes! Think Tank is open from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
Youth Action Council
The Youth Action Council is an active community of teen influencers who help shape the Think Tank--its activities and its future! Students meet regularly throughout the year and work on making projects and contribute to ongoing research following “making spaces” for youth. Interested in joining the Youth Action Council? If your teen is between 9 and 14, please contact Micaela Balzer at balzer@impression5.org.
Embrace the universal urge to play and explore in a space created for young scientists ages birth to four years old. Here, you’re safe to roam, touch, crawl, climb, splash, read, create, and get to know science in a whole new way in a comfortable and supportive environment. Park your stroller, hang up your diaper bag, kick off those shoes, and enjoy a thoughtful environment for you and your little ones . . . complete with a family restroom, private nursing room, and snack area.
Amenities:
Family restroomNursing roomSnack areaStroller parking & diaper bag storage
Activities:
Water table (crocs and smocks available)Climbing structureSpace stationSmart boardSensory tablePuzzles, books, thoughtful toys, and more
Safety Procedures (Not our first rodeo, friends!):
Shoe-free zone (crocs of all sizes are available for water table area!)Safe “smart” electrical outletsRigorous cleaning schedule with non-toxic cleanersDesignated snack tables/areas outside the room (to help with children with allergies)An adjoining nursing room and family restroom to change all diapers in a sanitary spaceDiaper changing in either the nursery room, or family restroom
Discover a world you can't see! In this exhibit, immerse yourself in nanoscale science by playing with magnetic materials, building a giant model of a carbon nanotube, comparing levels of static electricity, and more!
Explore the electromagnetic spectrum and compare different light sources, lenses, prisms and mirrors, and more! Step up to a life-size Light Mosaic to create your own colorful masterpiece then strike a pose with a Shadow Wall. See how plasma reacts to a conductor, experiment with primary colors, paint with light, and more!
Experience a day in the life of a naturalist! Explore natural environments found here in Michigan with a variety of tools and challenges to keep your problem-solving and inquiry skills sharp. Get a closer look at birds using our webcam or scoop up some pond water and magnify the amazing world within it!
Take engineering and building challenges to the next level with materials from blocks to magnetic tiles, panels to bridges, and more! What types of structures can you build? How will gravity, tension, and compression affect a structure?
Take a deeper look at the inner workings of the human mouth! Explore oral health with giant dental tools, get up close to real teeth under microscope, see MRI images to watch the mechanics of your mouth, visit the Smart Mart to discover how the food you eat affects your teeth in an interactive grocery checkout activity, and more!
Explore the wonder of kinetic and potential energy in this hands-on exhibit that allows you to perfect your pitching form and blast targets with an air cannon! Toss things around in the Play Space, then create the most aerodynamic airplane to launch before you hurl a tennis ball forty feet with a trebuchet!
Our newest exhibit FLOW explores fluid dynamics with two stories of interactive components and activities! Build and test your own sailboat, explore the science of a vortex, power a giant flywheel that shoots a two-story geyser, play with water jets, and much more!
Experience something new each visit! Each year you can expect either a new permanent exhibit or a unique traveling exhibit to explore with your family.
Experience something new each visit! Anticipate new permanent exhibits or a unique traveling exhibit to explore with your family.
HANDS-ON EXHIBITS
Explore a self-choice, learner-directed exhibit environment that's designed for your entire family.
FIRST IMPRESSION ROOM
Embrace the universal urge to play and explore in a space created for young scientists ages birth to four years old.
THINK TANK
Turn your ideas into reality inside this teen maker space with real tools, real challenges, and real outcomes!
FUTURE & TRAVELING
HANDS-ON EXHIBITS
FIRST IMPRESSION ROOM
THINK TANK
UPCOMING EVENTS
Swing Into Science!
April 28, 2018
Experience the science of golf through hands-on activities that explore friction, volume, force in motion, and more! Enjoy a full day of exciting hands-on activities, presented in partnership with The First Tee of Mid-Michigan!
Friday, May 11 @ Suburban Ice (2810 Hannah Blvd. in East Lansing)
6:30-9:00 p.m.
With the snowstorms behind us, we're excited to glide our way into summer with you at Suburban Ice! Please join us for this exclusive night of open skating and a variety of science activities exploring topics ranging from angular momentum to friction--culminating in an explosive surprise on center ice! Oh, and the pizza is on us!
Please note: If you had your child(ren) registered for Learn to Skate at February's member night, please understand that same reservation stands for May 11, unless you tell us you are unable to attend. Currently, all three Learn to Skate sessions are full.
Join the Board of Water and Light and Impression 5 Science Center for the 25th annual Adopt A River! Help us keep our local rivers and adjacent spaces beautiful!
As a participant, please: - Bring your own gloves and a water bottle (gloves are not provided) - Join fellow participants for a free lunch following the clean up - Explore the onsite environmental fair and enjoy free admission to your Science Center!
Adopt-A-River Event Schedule 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Registration (at Impression 5 Science Center) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Clean-up begins at your assigned locations 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Enjoy a free lunch back at Impression 5 Science Center 10 a.m - 2 p.m. Environmental Fair at Impression 5 Science Center
As part of this year's Adopt-a-River's festivities, we're calling for community youth to artistically answer the question "what clean water means to me?" All artwork will be displayed at the event's Environmental Fair Saturday, May 12. Winners will be announced during the fair and will receive gift baskets from Impression 5 TO GO and 4 passes to the East Lansing Aquatic Center!
Artwork submissions should:
-be 8.5" x 11" in size
-include child's name, age, school, and contact phone and email on back of artwork
-showcase what clean water means to you
All artwork must be submitted via email to larson@impression5.org OR be dropped off at Impression 5 Science Center by Wednesday, April 25.
