explore, imagine

explore, imagine

& discover

exhibits

Learning through play is the inspiration for all of San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum’s exhibits and programs as we encourage children to explore, imagine, experiment, and discover through hands on science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math (STREAM) activities.

explore, imagine

& discover

exhibits

Learning through play is the inspiration for all of San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum’s exhibits and programs as we encourage children to explore, imagine, experiment, and discover through hands on science, technology, reading, engineering, art, and math (STREAM) activities.

Child at SDCDM playing with column and block
Child at SDCDM playing with column and block

featured

exhibits

Indoor Exhibit Hall

Child at SDCDM reading a book with octopus in it at a table

Storytime Inventing

Storytime Inventing

Enhance your little one’s reading comprehension and problem-solving skills through interactive challenges inspired by some of your favorite children’s storybook characters. From constructing clever traps to engineering towers, this hands-on experience promises to spark creativity and foster essential developmental skills. Storytime Inventing is presented by Kid Spark Education.

Child at SDCDM playing outside smiling while looking up

Wind Tunnel

Wind Tunnel

The Wind Tunnel is an engaging tool for learning about natural forces and aerodynamics. Visitors can experiment with light materials and watch them fly. This exhibit encourages investigation through play and enhances skills and attitudes toward future learning.

Family playing with plastic blocks on table

Light Table

Light Table

The Light Table gives little ones the opportunity to build an illuminated structure with magnetic pieces. This activity allows visitors to practice engineering and problem solving skills while learning about magnets and light.

Keva Planks

Keva Planks

Keva Planks

The Keva table challenges little ones to use their imagination and attention to detail while creating a sturdy structure. This activity provides visitors the opportunity to experience gravity and the principals of civil engineering in action.

Toddler at SDCDM playing next to octopus statue

Toddler Tide Pool

Toddler Tide Pool

The Toddler Tide Pool features climbing structures and enclosures encourage crawling, pulling up, cruising and early walking. The area includes tactile and sensory games and activities, tactile mural, reading cushion area, foam and tumble block area, and images of sea life. Thank you to Toddler Tide Pool supporter
Linden Root Dickinson Foundation

Child at SDCDM pointing to image of a rabbit

Habitat Hangout

Habitat Hangout

Explore the rich environmental wonder that is San Diego County through two habitat areas: the Coniferous Forest and the Chaparral. Little ones and their families will explore environmental sciences in hands-on experiences gaining skills in sorting and classification, comparing and contrasting, social awareness, and more! Thank you to Habitat Hangout supporter Escondido Rotary.

Bernoulli Table

Bernoulli Table

At the Bernoulli Table, little ones can explore how aerodynamics and air pressure can keep objects afloat. Test multiple items and see how size, shape, and weight can affect the object’s ability to float.

SDCDM Curiocity

Curiocity

Curiocity

At Curiocity, kiddos will step into our imaginative city to grocery shop at Jimbo’s, wash clothes at Grande Laundry, test their color matching skills at the Applied Energy Services (AES) light board, enjoy a meal at Bite Size Bistro, cook and clean in their home, and discover other fun experiences! This exhibit is generously supported by Jimbo’s, Grande Laundry, and AES.

Child at SDCDM playing with plastic balls on wall

Ball Wall

Ball Wall

The Magnetic Ball Wall is a changeable ball run that is ideal for kids that love to build and tinker. Kids can make quick adjustments and test out their paths to get the ball exactly where they want it to go. This exhibit allows children to experiment with kinetic and potential energy, momentum, and the force of gravity.

Child at SDCDM watching puppet theater

Puppet Theater

Puppet Theater

The Puppet Theater is the ideal place for kids to develop speaking and listening skills. Communicating with puppets gives little ones the confidence to express their ideas and feelings through the roles they take on. Parents let their kids take the lead and showcase their creation.

Child at SDCDM playing with peg board

Light Wall

Light Wall

The Light Wall is a fun way to create an illuminated image. With numerous colored pegs, this wall allows visitors to use their imagination to design patterns, shapes, and pictures.

Child at SDCDM reading a book with octopus in it at a table

Storytime Inventing

Storytime Inventing

Enhance your little one’s reading comprehension and problem-solving skills through interactive challenges inspired by some of your favorite children’s storybook characters. From constructing clever traps to engineering towers, this hands-on experience promises to spark creativity and foster essential developmental skills. Storytime Inventing is presented by Kid Spark Education.

Child at SDCDM playing outside smiling while looking up

Wind Tunnel

Wind Tunnel

The Wind Tunnel is an engaging tool for learning about natural forces and aerodynamics. Visitors can experiment with light materials and watch them fly. This exhibit encourages investigation through play and enhances skills and attitudes toward future learning.

Family playing with plastic blocks on table

Light Table

Light Table

The Light Table gives little ones the opportunity to build an illuminated structure with magnetic pieces. This activity allows visitors to practice engineering and problem solving skills while learning about magnets and light.

Keva Planks

Keva Planks

Keva Planks

The Keva table challenges little ones to use their imagination and attention to detail while creating a sturdy structure. This activity provides visitors the opportunity to experience gravity and the principals of civil engineering in action.

Toddler at SDCDM playing next to octopus statue

Toddler Tide Pool

Toddler Tide Pool

The Toddler Tide Pool features climbing structures and enclosures encourage crawling, pulling up, cruising and early walking. The area includes tactile and sensory games and activities, tactile mural, reading cushion area, foam and tumble block area, and images of sea life. Thank you to Toddler Tide Pool supporter Linden Root Dickinson Foundation

Child at SDCDM pointing to image of a rabbit

Habitat Hangout

Habitat Hangout

Explore the rich environmental wonder that is San Diego County through two habitat areas: the Coniferous Forest and the Chaparral. Little ones and their families will explore environmental sciences in hands-on experiences gaining skills in sorting and classification, comparing and contrasting, social awareness, and more! Thank you to Habitat Hangout supporter Escondido Rotary.

Bernoulli Table

Bernoulli Table

At the Bernoulli Table, little ones can explore how aerodynamics and air pressure can keep objects afloat. Test multiple items and see how size, shape, and weight can affect the object’s ability to float.

SDCDM Curiocity

Curiocity

Curiocity

At Curiocity, kiddos will step into our imaginative city to grocery shop at Jimbo’s, wash clothes at Grande Laundry, test their color matching skills at the Applied Energy Services (AES) light board, enjoy a meal at Bite Size Bistro, cook and clean in their home, and discover other fun experiences! This exhibit is generously supported by Jimbo’s, Grande Laundry, and AES.

Child at SDCDM playing with plastic balls on wall

Ball Wall

Ball Wall

The Magnetic Ball Wall is a changeable ball run that is ideal for kids that love to build and tinker. Kids can make quick adjustments and test out their paths to get the ball exactly where they want it to go. This exhibit allows children to experiment with kinetic and potential energy, momentum, and the force of gravity.

Child at SDCDM watching puppet theater

Puppet Theater

Puppet Theater

The Puppet Theater is the ideal place for kids to develop speaking and listening skills. Communicating with puppets gives little ones the confidence to express their ideas and feelings through the roles they take on. Parents let their kids take the lead and showcase their creation.

Child at SDCDM playing with peg board

Light Wall

Light Wall

The Light Wall is a fun way to create an illuminated image. With numerous colored pegs, this wall allows visitors to use their imagination to design patterns, shapes, and pictures.

Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden

The Museum’s outdoor Trudy Bronner Discovery Garden captivates children with a wide variety of nature-based science activities and exhibits. Interactive exhibits such as the Water Ways Table, Nature Play, and the Pollinator Garden help children of all ages learn to appreciate their surroundings.

In Base Camp, children become young archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists as they learn about people, places and ecologies of the past.

Kids at SDCDM playing in water table

Visit this interactive water table to explore buoyancy, water flow, and test your problem-solving skills while constructing pathways and structures.

After your sensory experience at Water Ways, visit Freshwater Fun to learn about sustainability, pollution prevention, and the water cycle. You will see fish and plants not only living together but helping each other thrive.

These large foam blocks can be used to create an imaginary world. Build towers, houses, and other structures and collaborate with other aspiring architects.

In the Maker Studio, guests are invited to participate in workshops with Museum Educators and answer a daily Big Science Question. Get ready to use your imagination, build as engineers, create magnificent masterpieces, and much more.

The Edible Garden is full of life! Guests are invited grab watering cans to nurture the growing plants, pick up a magnifying glass to embark on a bug scavenger hunt, or explore with their 5 senses.

This collection of rubber and wooden pieces can be combined in many different ways to create a track for a rolling object. Explore and discover how structure affects elevation, speed, distance, and motion while rolling a ball along your track.

Tortoise at SDCDM

Meet Sebastian, the 50 year old North American Desert Tortoise! Guests can get an up close look at Sebastian and learn about his different adaptations and the importance of conservation.