April 2025
Spark!Lab History Month Theme: Alabama Aviation
Bulletin Board 1: Shuttle pilots
Bulletin Board 2: Shuttle
Spark!Lab Hands on Learning Activities
Location/Times: Spark Lab (Each event is within Spark!Lab hours of operation 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.)
- (Daily) Space Shuttle: Celebrate 30 Years & 135 Missions of the Space Shuttle. A Legacy of Spaceflight Achievements! Build and launch your own straw Shuttle, honoring Huntsville's role in this historic program.
- (Mondays) Quick Plane Honor Alabama aviation history! Build and test your own paper Quick Plane, commemorating the Quick Plane's maiden flight, April 7, 1908.
- April 12: STS-1: Hail Columbia! On April 12, 1981, STS-1 launched, beginning 30 years of space shuttle missions. Discover the history of the Space Transportation System and build your own paper space shuttle.
- April 19: Mars Ingenuity: Celebrate Ingenuity's groundbreaking flights on Mars. Ingenuity is the first vehicle to achieve flight on another planet! Build and test your own Mars flying machine.
- April 22: Earth Day: Celebrate the 55th Anniversary of Earth Day with hands-on Earth science activities!
- April 24: Hubble Space Telescope: Celebrate Hubble’s 35th anniversary by designing and building your own future telescope model!
- April 26: Celebrate World Pilots' Day! Learn the fundamentals of flight and test your skills by flying a paper airplane.
April’s Maker Lab Theme: The Process of Design
Maker Lab Activities
Disclaimer: Because of the technological equipment and the dexterity and skills necessary to safely operate classroom tools, this space and its activities are designed for students ages 12 and older (middle and high school).
Sunday (April 6, 13, 20, 27)
(12:00 - 2:00 pm) Open Lab Time: Inventors Club (free)
Let your inner inventor come play in our new Maker Lab! Learn about famous inventors, the patent process and how to sketch your idea to scale using the Engineering Design Process. Use upcycled materials to bring your physical invention to life. Our Maker Staff will help you practice with tools like hammers, screw drivers, rotary cutters, and LED simple circuits to create an engineering model of your invention that you can take home. Ages: 12+
Monday (April 7, 14, 21)
(11:00 - 3:00 pm) Open Lab Time: Inventors Club (free)
Let your inner inventor come play in our new Maker Lab! Learn about famous inventors, the patent process and how to sketch your idea to scale using the Engineering Design Process. Use upcycled materials to bring your physical invention to life. Our Maker Staff will help you practice with tools like hammers, screw drivers, rotary cutters and LED simple circuits to create an engineering model of your invention that you can take home. Ages: 12+
Wednesday (April 2, 9, 23, 30)
3D Printing in Space: (Intro to 3D Printing) ($5)
Explore 3D printing technology through the lens of industrial fabrication and 3D printed solutions for current and future space exploration. Take a tour of the Rocket Center's collection of 3D Printers and select a 3D-printed keepsake to take home after the tour. Q&A with 3D printing experts to answer your technical questions on modeling and design. Ages: All
(10:00 am - 10:45 am) Session 1
(11:00 - 11:45 am) Session 2
(1:00 - 1:45 pm) Session 3
Friday (April 4, 11, 18)
(10:30 - 11:30 am) From Pixels to Prototype: Teen Maker Hour Explores 3D Printing ($10)
This hands-on class takes us from 3D design to 3D printed prototypes. Join us as we review the basics of 3D printing hardware and software, select a space object to 3D print during the class, and explore the Engineering Design Process using TinkerCAD software to model objects suitable for 3D printing. Ages: 12+.
Greetings from Space! ($5)
Come learn the basics of digital design using Cricut Design Space and exploring techniques for creating custom 2-D artwork. Our Maker staff will help you design a space-themed greeting card incorporating elements like stars, planets, and rocket ships. Bring your design to life using our Cricut Cutting Machines that combine creativity and technology in a unique way. Ages: 12+
(1:00 pm – 2:00 pm) Session 1
(2:30 pm – 3:30 pm) Session 2
Saturday (April 5, 12, 26)
(10:30 - 11:30 am) From Pixels to Prototype: Teen Maker Hour Explores 3D Printing ($10)
This hands-on class takes us from 3D design to 3D printed prototypes. Join us as we review the basics of 3D printing hardware and software, select a space object to 3D print during the class, and explore the Engineering Design Process using TinkerCAD software to model objects suitable for 3D printing. Ages: 12+.
(12:30 – 3:30 pm) Open Lab Time: Inventors Club (free)
Let your inner inventor come play in our new Maker Lab! Learn about famous inventors, the patent process and how to sketch your idea to scale using the Engineering Design Process. Use upcycled materials to bring your physical invention to life. Our Maker Staff will help you practice with tools like hammers, screw drivers, rotary cutters and LED simple circuits to create an engineering model of your invention that you can take home. Ages: 12+
STEM on Stage [NEW SHOW!]
Join us for STEM on Stage at the U.S. Space & Rocket Center! These live daily STEM performances incorporate our artifacts and exhibits as we illustrate science concepts. These short, interactive STEM on Stage performances occur daily in our “Dare to Explore: Frontiers of Space” exhibit.
- Force Meets Spaceflight! is an exciting and interactive STEM stage show that takes the audience on a thrilling journey through the science of rocketry. With hands-on interactives, the show simplifies complex concepts, proving that anyone can master the basics of launching a rocket to the stars!
April: STEAM Literature Series (Every Thursday at 10 a.m. inside Spark!Lab)
- Our Solar System: Learn about the objects that make up our solar system.
- April 10: The Sun & Moon: Both the Sun and the Moon light up our sky, but what makes them different?
- April 17: Constellations: Learn about the stars and which ones create pictures in the night sky.
- April 24: Telescopes: Celebrate Hubble's launch date by learning about telescopes!