Madison Children's Museum

STEAM Time: Chlorophyll Power Hour
2024-05-10 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
What’s that green stuff? It’s chlorophyll! Experiment with plants from the Rooftop Ramble garden to discover how plants process sunlight to get their nutrients.

Join us each week for new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. These hands-on programs foster creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, build problem-solving skills, and offer new ways for kids to explore the world around them.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Music with Junebug (Afternoon)
2024-05-10 13:00 - 13:30, 2024-05-17 13:00 - 13:30, 2024-05-24 13:00 - 13:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for Music with Junebug led by Junko Yamauchi.

This program gives toddlers and preschoolers the opportunity to sing, dance, explore instruments, and play! Music and movement activities promote brain development and connect us to our family and community.

Music with Junebug takes place in our Celebrations room, and is free with general museum admission.

Clay Day: Ceramic Pinch Pots
2024-05-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore the squishy, smudgy, sculptable world of clay! Today we’ll “clay it forward” with ceramic clay pinch pots.

Each Friday, join us for a different drop-in clay experience in the Art Studio. We’ll work with a variety of media–ceramic clay, dough, paper clay, polymer clay, and more. This event is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Yarn Birds
2024-05-11 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-05-12 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
It’s finally springtime, and the birds have migrated back to Wisconsin! Make a little winged companion out of yarn and imitate the coloring of your favorite backyard bird.

This event is free with the price of general admission. Image credit: Muhaiminah Faiz

Saturday Art Adventures: Tissue Paper-Dyed Bandanas
2024-05-11 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, we’ll dye our own custom bandanas using tissue paper.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Let's Make! with Lexie
2024-05-12 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-19 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-26 13:00 - 15:00
Explore new materials and creative techniques through facilitated art activities and bring home hand-made treasures. Projects vary each week and may include sculpture, painting, comics, printmaking, and more!

This event is free with general museum admission.

Early Explorers Playgroup
2024-05-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Social time for babies and their grown-ups!

This playgroup is thoughtfully designed for our earliest visitors. We will provide a space for infants and toddlers (2 years and under) and their caregivers to explore and play together, and engage in activities that support various aspects of child development. Parents and caregivers will have the opportunity to connect with one another over a variety of topics. Come meet other families and make new friends!

This event will be held in the Celebrations Room and is free with general museum admission.

Playdough Party with Junko
2024-05-15 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-05-22 13:30 - 14:30
Join Junko each Wednesday to create your own scented playdough that’s a squishy, smush-able sensory delight.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Museum Hours: 9 am–12 pm
2024-05-16 00:00 - 23:59 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Madison Children’s Museum will open at 9 am and close promptly at 12 pm (noon) on Thursday, May 16. These abbreviated hours are for one day only, and will accommodate MCM’s hosting the Association of Children’s Museums InterActivity conference! The museum will return to normal hours (9 am–4 pm) on Friday, May 17.

Music with Junebug (Morning)
2024-05-17 10:30 - 11:00, 2024-05-24 10:30 - 11:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States

Exploration Station: Pet Rocks
2024-05-18 10:30 - 12:00, 2024-05-19 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Create a custom a pet rock to bring home and care for! Fill out an “adoption certificate” with their name, birthday, and personality traits.

This event is free with the price of general admission.

MCM Roadshow: Book Bus Palooza with Madison Reading Project
2024-05-18 10:30 - 13:00 | Kohl Center, 601 W Dayton St, Madison, Wisconsin, 53703, United States
Join MCM Roadshow for Madison Reading Project‘s Book Bus Palooza at the Kohl Center! Celebrate the unveiling of MRP’s brand new, ADA-compliant Book Bus. We’re inviting families to get creative at our arts-and-crafts table and flex their collaborative skills at our fort-building station. Enjoy more activities from Madison Reading project, the Dream Bus, Madison Public Library, Sun Prairie Public Library, MMoCA’s Art Cart, and UW Athletics.

Madison Children’s Museum Roadshow brings mobile exhibits, maker activities, and more to community events in Madison and the surrounding area.

Saturday Art Adventures: Paper Plants
2024-05-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, let’s get inspired by spring blooms and create our own paper plants.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Music Time with Tim: Game Day!
2024-05-22 11:00 - 11:30
Explore the world of music and rhythm! Join Tim in the Celebrations room each week to enjoy play-based songs, games, and stories. Today we’ll play games that include music and movement.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Tales with Teresa
2024-05-23 09:30 - 10:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join us for story time and hear Teresa read some of her favorite books using her DynaVox. With this speech-generating device, Teresa will share stories and help build listening skills, develop early literacy, and celebrate each other’s differences.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Messy Art with Laurie: Dinosaur Printing
2024-05-23 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Laurie and our Art Studio staff for a weekly drop-in art experience designed for MCM’s youngest visitors and their caregivers. Through open-ended & process-based projects, empower your little artist to freely explore materials and art-making with their senses. And the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today we’ll create fiercely adorable dino prints.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Veronika of Toddler at Play

Sensory Worlds with Junko
2024-05-23 13:30 - 14:30 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Join Junko in the Urb Garden as we explore different sensory materials every week!

This event is free with general museum admission.

STEAM Time: Marvelous Magnets
2024-05-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Experiment with magnets to see how they stick together and repel. Test them on a variety of objects and make your own magnet to bring home.

Join us each week for new STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. These hands-on programs foster creativity, ignite curiosity, encourage divergent thinking, build problem-solving skills, and offer new ways for kids to explore the world around them.

This event is free with general museum admission.

Clay Day: Modeling Clay Pictures
2024-05-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Explore the squishy, smudgy, sculptable world of clay! Today we’ll “make and take” images made with modeling clay.

Each Friday, join us for a different drop-in clay experience in the Art Studio. We’ll work with a variety of media–ceramic clay, dough, paper clay, polymer clay, and more. This event is free with general museum admission.

Exploration Station: Bubble Science
2024-05-25 10:30 - 12:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Somebody burst your bubble? No worries—we can make new ones! Explore the shiny, pearlescent world of bubble science and learn how these squeaky-clean beauties are formed.

This event is free with the price of general admission.

Saturday Art Adventures: Handmade Books
2024-05-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Madison Children’s Museum, 100 N. Hamilton Street, Madison, WI, 53704, United States
Dive into an exciting drop-in art experience each week with Laurie and our Art Studio team. Embark on projects with a wide variety of art media and processes for all ages and abilities. Materials are included—and the best part? We take care of cleanup! Today, let’s make custom handmade books.

This event is free with general museum admission. Image credit: Cassi Griffin (Crafty Crow)
