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Virtual Science Fair

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Find Why…Digitally

While the Buffalo Museum of Science and Darling Environmental Education Center at Tifft Nature Preserve were temporarily closed, our team  created new ways for your family to connect and engage with the Museum and Tifft.

Introducing our Virtual Science Fair! We’ve posted fun, engaging, STEAM-based activities and experiments for your aspiring #sciencebuff to complete. We’ve approached each activity in a way that most of our followers will be able to safely investigate a variety of topics at home using common household items. We hope these activities allow for  quality time with your loved ones – time that can be used to explore, inquire and question together.

Virtual Science Fair Activities

  • Underwater Fireworks

    We're celebrating the summer solstice in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Elephant Toothpaste

    This activity is a classic. It looks like toothpaste, but it is not - it's a chemical reaction!Open Activity

  • Heat Up, Cool Down

    Grab a thermometer for this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • DIY Mini Golf

    Believe it or not, mini golf is all about math and physics. Shoot for a hole in one in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Breathing Leaves

    We're saying "Thank You" to a plant in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • All About Oobleck

    Play with a non-Newtonian fluid that got it's funny name from a Dr Seuss book!Open Activity

  • Leaf Symmetry

    Many patterns can be observed in nature. Symmetry is one of the easiest to find. Check it out in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Sound Map

    By using only our sense of hearing, we may notice things in a new way. Keep your ears open in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Resonant Rings

    Learn about resonant frequency in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Tree Math

    Try out some real forestry skills in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Shadow Tracing

    We're playing shadow games in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Hole In Your Hand

    Seeing is believing in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Super Bubble Maker

    Have some bubble fun in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Mobius Strip

    The Moebius Strip is a mathematical phenomenon described by German mathematician August Ferdinand Möbius in 1858. It is a two-dimensional surface with only one side! Check it out in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Go With The Flow

    Go with the flow in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Decoder Wheel

    Secret codes have been used for thousands of years to send messages that you didn’t want just anyone reading. Try your hand at cryptography, the study of secret codes, in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Bird Beaks

    Explore how different bird beak adaptations can help birds eat and survive in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Saltwater, Freshwater

    How do you make drinkable water out of saltwater? Try making a solar sill in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Earthquake Epicenter

    Western New York had its very own earthquake yesterday afternoon! Scientists determined that the epicenter of this 2.3 magnitude earthquake was in Wanakah, NY - but what IS an epicenter? Check out this Virtual Science Fair activity to find out!Open Activity

  • Penny Chemistry

    Find out why the Statue of Liberty is that light green color in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Magnus Effect Glider

    Tired of the same old paper airplane? Give this spiffy flyer a try in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Lava Lamp (Sort Of)

    This super satisfying experiment is simple, but chock full of science! Make your own lava lamp in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Water Music

    Make some music in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Mancala

    There is evidence that mancala was played in Egypt before 1000 B.C. Learn to play in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Terrific Teleidoscope

    Reflection is when light bounces off a shiny surface. Make your own teleidoscope in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • The Power of Air

    Can you keep a piece of paper dry if it’s underwater? Try this mind-blowing experiment in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Paper Making Science

    Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Learn to make mom an eco-friendly and handmade gift in today’s Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Build A Thermometer

    Build your own thermometer in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Fossil Finds

    Fossils give us a snapshot of what the world looked like thousands, millions or even billions of years ago! Flex your paleontologist skills in today’s Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • #GivingTuesdayNow

    Today, May 5, 2020, the world is celebrating #GivingTuesdayNow - a global generosity movement in response to the unprecedented need caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how you can support the Buffalo Society of Naturals Sciences by participating in and sharing our Virtual Science Fair activities, and how donations help us fulfill our mission!Donate Now

  • Forces of Flight

    Overcome different forces to make a rocket fly in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Solar System Science

    How big is our solar system and how close are our planetary neighbors? Find out in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Cloud Painting

    Learn about the three main shapes of clouds: cirrus, cumulus and stratus in this Virtual Science Fair activityOpen Activity

  • Illusion of Color

    Illusions help scientists to explore the powers of our human senses. Learn more in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • DIY Barometer

    Build your very own Barometer in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Way To Grow!

    Seeds contain baby plants, but these plants won’t grow unless its environment tells it to! Learn more in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Beading In Binary

    Binary code is a way to represent words and letters in a way computers can understand—just like a language! Design your own coded bracelet in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Wings & Tails

    Different birds have differently shaped wings. Discover the differences by creating your own glider in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Solar Oven

    Harness the power of the sun by creating your own solar oven in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • For A Loop

    Discover centripetal force in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Echolocation

    Animals like bats, whales and dolphins use echolocation in order to “see” in the dark or underwater. Explore sonar technology in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Plant Pigments

    This experiment uses chromatography—a process scientists use to separate components from a mixture. Today we are separating the different pigments in plants in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Light Tag—You’re It!

    Light waves are all around us and when light hits one surface and bounces off it’s called reflection. Explore the law of reflection in this Virtual Science Fair activity! Open Activity

  • Soil Science

    Grab your shovel for this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • DIY Wind Vane

    Build your very own Wind Vane in this Virtual Science Fair activity!Open Activity

  • Viscosity Races

    Ready, Set, Go! Explore the concept of viscosity (a liquid’s resistance to flow), in this Virtual Science Fair activity.Open Activity

  • Best Buds

    How do you know spring is here? For some, it is the flowers and leaves that appear on trees and plants! But where do the leaves and flowers come from? Let’s take a closer look in this Virtual Science Fair activity.Open Activity

  • Chromatography Art

    You don’t need expensive equipment to simulate some really cool experiments that are typically performed in a lab! Explore the process of chromatography and the separation of molecules in this Virtual Science Fair activity.Open Activity

  • Cabbage Chemistry

    Learn about where acids and bases rank on the pH scale in this Virtual Science Fair activity! Open Activity

  • You’d Butter Believe It

    Get ready to shake, rattle and roll in this Virtual Science Fair activity! Open Activity

  • Float Your Boat

    Engineers apply science and math to solve problems and change our world. But how do engineers solve problems? It all starts with a question. Open Activity

  • Natural Dyes

    We are as sad about canceling Tifft's Spring Egg-stravaganza as you are, so we decided to share some of our natural dye secrets with you to do at home!Open Activity

  • Rain Gauge

    As the saying goes, “April showers bring May flowers”. So how much rain exactly does the 3rd cloudiest city in the United States get? Find out by building your very own rain gauge in our next Virtual Science Fair activity.Open Activity

  • Balancing Forces

    Everything has a center of gravity—a point where the weight is evenly distributed. Find a good balance in this Virtual Science Fair activity. Open Activity

  • Cartesian Divers

    This experiment is all about two science concepts- buoyancy and density. Open Activity

  • All Ears!

    Animal ears have an inner part and an outer (pinna) part. The pinnae act as a funnel to collect and amplify sound and increase hearing abilities. Animals move their pinnae to help them locate sounds around them, especially to warn them of danger. Open Activity

  • Colorful Magical Milk

    What is soap made of and why does it work so well to keep our hands clean? Open Activity

  • A Penny Saved

    A penny saved is a penny earned, even a tarnished penny! So how do we put a little shine back into coins that have lost their luster?Open Activity

  • Constellation Viewer

    Discover the shapes that make up our favorite constellations in our next Virtual Science Fair activity! Bring the cosmos to the comfort of your living room with this DIY project.Open Activity

  • DIY Robot Hand

    We use our hands to grasp things, give fist bumps and communicate, but why are we able to use our hands in so many ways? See how our hands work on the inside with this easy prototype you can make at home.Open Activity

  • Density Rainbows

    Illustrate density by making a Density Rainbow. Density is a comparison between an object’s mass and its volume. Open Activity

Resources

Did you know your field trip may cost less than you think?

Prices start as low as $10 per student for self-guided visits to the Buffalo Museum of Science and include access to our permanent interactive exhibits.

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Choose from a variety of outreach programs for your classroom, auditorium or gymnasium and save on transportation costs.

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