Demonstrations

Available all year.
Monday–Friday at 9:30, 10:30, 11:30 am. and 12:30 pm.

Reserve gallery science demonstrations for your group!

Enliven your group’s visit with an exclusive demonstration. These activities are presented by gallery educators on a wide variety of topics. Each demonstration is 30 minutes in length and is available by reservation only.

Please request demonstrations when you make your group’s reservation.

Choose from the following demonstrations. Each can accommodate up to 25 students.

The Scientific Method
Scientists solve problems by making observations, designing and conducting experiments, and using the scientific method. You’ll be the scientist as you experiment with soda cans.
Virginia Science SOLs: 2.1, 3.1, 4.1, 5.1, 6.1, LS.1, PS.1, ES.1, BIO.1, PH.4, PH.7

Supercool: Liquid Nitrogen
How do solids, liquids and gasses respond to extremely cold temperatures? Observe some exciting phase changes using liquid nitrogen in this chilling demonstration on states of matter.
Virginia Science SOLs: 2.3, 3.3, 5.4, PS.5, PS.7, CH.5

Bulls Eye! Cow Eye Dissection
Take an up-close look at the structure of a cow’s eye as an educator describes the functions of each part and compares the structures to those found in the human eye. Find your blind spot!
Virginia Science SOLs: 5.3, LS.3, BIO.1, BIO.5

Air Pressure
Crush a can using only air! Discover how our lungs work. How does a plane fly? This demonstration is an excellent introduction to air pressure and Bernoulli’s principle.
Virginia Science SOLs: 2.3, 5.4, 6.6, PH.4, PH.7

Radical Reactions
Colorful flames, a foam fountain, a rainbow in a tube, see chemistry at its coolest! This demonstration highlights some impressive chemical and physical reactions.
Virginia Science SOLs: 5.4, 6.4, PS.2, PS.5, CH.5

Fee: $10 per student (Includes free admission to exhibit galleries.) Add a second workshop, demo or lab session for $4 per student.