data science alley
Step through colorful, reactive gateways, send a pom-pom through wind-powered tubes and, in the process, discover how data points are collected and aggregated. Explore figures and statistics through play, and think about the data found in our day-to-day lives.
recommended for ages 5-12
exhibit experiences
data entry
Enter Data Science Alley through colorful, reactive gateways, and cast your vote in a set of rotating questions. Visitors can also discover how others cast their votes over time.
new heights
In this playful version of a scatter plot, visitors use a magnetic disc to track their standing vertical jump height.
pom pom poll
This playful twist on the classic pneumatic-tube system allows children to see themselves as a data point and contextualize their choices or measurements through the experience of other visitors.
data cloud
Using an array of colored string, visitors physically map where they travel and how they spend their time. Children can begin to understand and explore how we spend our day-to-day lives.
react!
In this playful twist on a classic whack-a-mole arcade game, visitors are invited to play against each other in a test of their reaction time.
everbrite
This large-scale, modern-day lite brite allows visitors to twist and turn illuminated dials to reveal hundreds of colors. Identify and create patterns—a key data science skill!
what is your child learning?
Experimentation through active play
Probability and statistics
Data exploration (What is data? How does data connect us to our community? How can we tell stories through data?)
Decision-making skills
who uses these skills?
Data analyst
Entrepreneur
Statistician
Cartographer
Politician
Data visualization artist
where is this exhibit located?
Data Science Alley is located on Floor 1, one level down from the main entrance, next to Art + Tech and Little Movers.
extra Museum resources
STEAMwork videos
STEAM Daydream with National Children’s Museum podcast
meet a STEAM expert!
The IF/THEN® Initiative is a national effort sponsored by Lyda Hill Philanthropies® to inspire young girls to pursue STEM careers while creating a culture shift in how the world perceives women in STEM.
Tiffany Kelly, sports data scientist
Wondering how data science relates to sports? Check out Tiffany, a sports entrepreneur and data scientist. She breaks down sports games by numbers to understand them better. You will apply these same principles throughout Data Science Alley!
