Welcome to Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose’s official page! The purpose of this page is to discuss events, experiences and fun at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM). Off-topic posts or advertisements for events, businesses or services not directly related to CDM may be removed and possibly flagged as spam. We encourage conversation, and open and honest feedback and discussion is welcome, but we ask that you be respectful at all times. Insults or attacks regarding individual staff members or visitors will not be tolerated. As a family-friendly page, any post with offensive language will be deleted.
"Babies don’t simply learn they should try harder at everything. Just like grownups, babies make rational decisions about effort."
Persistence and self-control are valuable traits that can help kids succeed in school and beyond. A new study suggests infants can learn stick-to-itiveness by watching adults persist in a difficult task.
"The idea that ice is slippery because of water on its surface had been around for a long time but wasn’t convincingly proved until 1987. And while that may seem like a very long time ago to a 4-year-old, I assure you that this date is recent enough that many grown-ups are still coming to terms with the idea that the current year is not 1988."
The questions that kids ask about science aren’t always easy to answer. Sometimes, their little brains can lead to big places that adults forget to explore. Tha…
"Exercise supports our ability to think creatively, make decisions, focus and retrieve key information."
Exercising not only helps the body but it helps the brain. Schools are incorporating movement into the school day with activities like "The Daily Mile" to get kids active and prepared to learn.
"Mister Rogers' Neighborhood focused on one audience: preschoolers. And for good reason. Today, increasing evidence points to the importance of early childhood education. Its impact can be felt decades down the road — in adults' education levels, incomes, even health."
The popular film this summer shows how the topics — and the format — Fred Rogers brought to TV are as relevant to education and child development as they ever were.
Happy #FourthOfJuly! In celebration of the 243rd anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, people all over the country are going to see fireworks tonight. But why are fireworks such an integral part of #IndependenceDay festivities?
Short answer: Because John Adams wanted it so.
Long answer: Fireworks have been tied to July 4th since 1777, just one year after the Declaration was signed, when Philadelphia citizens organized the first official commemorative celebration. That night, they set off 13 fireworks in honor of the 13 colonies.
Then-Massachusetts delegate to the first Continental Congress John Adams wrote to his wife, "I am apt to believe that [Independence Day] will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival... It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more."
July 4, 1777 was during the Revolutionary War, which would not end until September 3, 1783 (when the Treaty of Paris was signed). Most historians agree that this early tradition of remembering and honoring the Fourth of July was in an effort to keep spirits up during a long and exhaustive war, and to instill national pride in the fledgling country.
Enjoy the fireworks tonight! You are part of this history, just as John Adams envisioned.
We're thrilled to have received Palo Alto Humane Society's Community Partner of the Year award. Heidi Lubin, Visual Arts Program Developer and Jessica Torres, Associate Director of Education represented us at the PAHS ceremony. We value our continued partnership with great community partners like PAHS!
"We should begin to green our educational provision – and our own backyards and schoolyards are certainly a good place to begin."
This week is #MudWeek at the Museum! Join us to shape, squish, and splatter mud in Bill's Backyard. Be sure to bring a change of clothes!
New research has shown that living near green spaces can improve children's cognitive development.
Happy July! A new month means new activities in our program spaces. In Bill's Backyard, use natural watercolors made from vegetables and flowers to paint a masterpiece. For our 4 and under crowd, explore the beauty of ice as it transforms with rock salt and watercolor paints in the Wonder Cabinet Art Studio. The Art Loft is currently closed, but reopens July 19 with art inspired by Expressionist painters. Come and create! #PurpleMuseumCreations
"As paradoxical as it sounds, boredom is interesting! When we get bored, our minds begin to wander. And when our minds wander, remarkable things happen. Our brains begin making surprising connections."
Why we should all strive to be bored every once in a while
Shape, squish, and splatter! It’s time to get dirty during #MudWeek! International Mud Day on June 29 will kick off a whole week of exciting mud play. Bring a change of clothes!
Shape, squish, and splatter! It’s time to get dirty during Mud Week! International Mud Day on June 29 will kick off a whole week of exciting mud play. Bring a change of clothes!
#ICYMI: "As the world becomes increasingly diverse, your children will meet people from many different types of families. Children and communities thrive best when members strive to get along and understand each other — and most importantly, respect one another."
Talking to children about LGBTQ topics
Join us this summer for Music Fun Under the Sun!
See a complete list of our concerts: www.cdm.org/music-fun-under-the-sun
In addition to being the first day of summer, today is also #NationalSelfieDay! For as long as humans have been making art, we have been making it in our own image. If you think selfies are a millennial invention, you underestimate just how much we have loved and documented our own visages over the course of history.
So we're taking the opportunity to share some of our favorite historical selfies. Click through the gallery, and feel free to share your own!
#FunFactFriday: Buckle up y'all, it's going to be a loooooooong day. Longest one of the year, in fact! Happy summer solstice!
In addition to marking the first day of summer, the summer solstice gives those of us in the Northern Hemisphere the most minutes of sunlight of any day of the year. The term "solstice" comes from the Latin sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still) because on this day, the sun's relative position in the sky doesn't keep advancing northward, but appears instead to stand still. (The rest of the year, the tilt of the Earth's axis makes it so that the sun's path rises and falls differently one day to the next.)
Today, the sun will rise at its easternmost point, and set at its westernmost point, so you'll see sunlight in places you may never have noticed before. The world will be illuminated in a different way!
Join us on SATURDAY, JUNE 22 for Proud of My Family! This annual event is a celebration of all types of families, especially LGBTQ+ parents, relatives, and friends.
Come move and groove in the Rainbow Dance Zone, make rainbow art of all kinds, and paint with the colors of the Pride flag on our new temporary art installation.
A great big THANK YOU to the VMware volunteers who spent their Friday afternoon with us doing unglamorous museum maintenance, like mulching our native garden and washing our Imagination Playground big blue blocks! We ❤️ volunteers!
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose's cover photo
Kids of all ages naturally follow the scientific process as they learn about the world. They ask questions, fixate on their chosen topic, make guesses about why things work the way they do, and test those hypotheses. But sometimes they stumble on the path to forming their conclusions. Here’s five ways to cultivate your child’s perseverance.
5 Ways to Help Build Your Child’s Perseverance
Happy June! A new month means new activities in our program spaces! In the Art Loft, pick up a brush and help us paint our new art installation with all the colors of the rainbow. In Bill's Backyard, learn about bee lifecycles and design your own hive. For the four and under crowd, join us in the Wonder Cabinet to paint masterpieces using magnets. Come and create! #PurpleMuseumCreations
Are you going to the Silicon Valley Jewish Music Festival, hosted by our friends at the APJCC in Los Gatos? We'll be there with a fun activity: solar cooking! Join us for a fun and kid-friendly day of music, food, nature activities, and more!
Enjoy live music, food, and family activities at this annual festival on the JCC field. This year’s theme will be camping and there will be song circles around an artificial campfire in between the headlining bands that will perform on the main stage.
We had so much fun wrapping up our "Happy Trails" program that helps urban families gain skills, comfort, and confidence in exploring nature. We didn't let a little rain stop our Nature Festival last Saturday. Program participants and museum visitors created nature journals, identified tracks, examined pelts and learned how to support pollinators by making their own Air Bee & Bee. The program launched last fall and was made possible by generous grants from Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority and Applied Materials
Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose's cover photo
Discovery Duck has gone for a bath this summer, and we're excited that our new friend Sid is here! Come visit our new summer exhibit, Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit!
Opens Saturday, May 25
Sid the Science Kid: The Super-Duper Exhibit! was created by The Magic House® in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company.
A big shout-out for the KPMG volunteer "green team" for grabbing hoes, rakes and shovels and helping us spruce up the exterior of our outdoor space, Bill's Backyard. We're so happy, we're "greening" from ear to ear.
#FunFactFriday: "For a sound to bounce back and make an echo, there has to be a lot of space between the sound source and the thing (wall or mountain) that it hits and bounces back."
When a sound is made, it spreads. And when it hits a hard surface that is far away, it bounces back and comes back to where the sound was made. That's what we call an echo.
"If we want kids to be curious about math outside the classroom, we need to take math off the page and into the real world."
Here are some activities and conversation starters that can help kids find math all around them.
"Children have a curiosity about the world that leads them to question almost everything around them. So what should you do if you don’t know the answer?"
But, why?
"Even though none of us can actually go back in time, we can take these lessons and apply them to how we interact with young people currently experiencing their own journey with science."
What sparked their curiosity, and what experiences threatened to put out that flame? The answers might be somewhat unexpected
Whether you're attending our Legacy for Children Award event or participating from afar, we invite you to join in our fundraising campaign!
You can donate at the link below. Let's go #TeamPurple! #LFCA19
Silent Auctions Made Easy
Tonight, as we present the Legacy for Children Award to Dr. Milton Chen, we invite you to join us on our mission.
Whether you attend our event or participate from afar, we invite you to help support us in inspiring creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning for every child. Join us online by downloading Handbid at the link below for a live auction starting at 5 p.m.
Let's go #TeamPurple! #LFCA19
Silent Auctions Made Easy
Our 2019 Legacy for Children Award celebration is underway! We are excited to honor Dr. Milton Chen, a phenomenal advocate for children's education and the systems that serve them. We are so thankful for all of our board members, donors, and community supporters who help us in our mission to inspire creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning in every child who walks through our doors. #LFCA19
Who is Dr. Milton Chen, our 2019 Legacy for Children Award Recipient? He is best known for co-creating the pioneering educational website Edutopia, in partnership with the George Lucas Educational Foundation. He champions interactive learning opportunities for all students, and is committed to systemic changes that allow for everyone to access hands-on skills.
The Legacy for Children Award supports our Museum's mission. Thank you to our generous board members and donors who contribute. Your donations make a tangible difference in the lives of children in Silicon Valley. #LFCA19
"All we can say is, let's get these kids some patents pronto."
Who wouldn't love a tree rocket?
This week we're celebrating Dr. Milton Chen, a pioneer in the world of children's education. We are honored to present to him the Legacy for Children Award on Friday, May 10. #LFCA19
Help us celebrate Dr. Chen by sharing some of your favorite hands-on educational memories. What has stood out to you during your lifetime of learning?
Happy May! A new month means new activities in our program spaces! In the Art Loft, come play with clay. In Bill's Backyard, weave natural materials to create a tapestry. For the four and under crowd, join us in the Wonder Cabinet to design your own suncatcher collages. Come and create! #PurpleMuseumCreations
Miss any of our favorite #ChildrensBookWeek memories? Don't worry – we rounded them up for you! What are some of the children's books you love?
Check out some of our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood
“When I was young, I loved all Roald Dahl’s stories, but ‘The BFG’ always stood out to me as a favorite. It was the perfect mix of absolute silliness with some scary moments sprinkled in too. It’s also one of the books I remember my mom reading to my sister and me as we got a little older. It’s a scrumdiddlyumptious read for kids and adults both!” — Christine Thalls, Urban Ecology Program Developer
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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?
“Wayside School’s many mysteries, silly tales, dozens of main characters and multi-layered jokes introduced a whole new way of reading — at least for me. What I truly love about the series is that while some of the stories within are content to make you smile, most manage to say something interesting about the unpredictable way children’s minds work and the challenges of changing one’s own perspective. As the author, Louis Sachar, writes in the books introduction: ‘It has been said that these stories are strange and silly. That is probably true. However, when I told stories about you to the children at Wayside, they thought you were strange and silly. That is probably also true.’” — Bridget Moore, Exhibits and Graphic Designer
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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?
“I love ‘The Rainbow Fish’ because it is the first book (that I remember) that launched me into an undersea world. I remember I wanted to learn more about the different kinds of marine organisms after reading this book. I love the color and the way it was drawn. I recommend this book because it has beautiful artwork that all ages will enjoy and it teaches us about sharing.” — Maria Luisa Ponce de Leon, BioSITE Educator
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Happy 100th anniversary of Children's Book Week! This children's literacy initiative celebrates the books that shape lifelong readers. Here at the Museum, we see how much joy reading can give kids and their families, and we believe books have the power to change lives and the world. So this week, we're sharing our childhood favorites that have stayed with us into adulthood. What are some of the stories you love?
180 Woz Way
San Jose, CA
95110
VTA Light Rail - Children's Discovery Museum Station
Regular Museum Hours: Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, Sunday: 12 p.m. - 5 p.m., starting Saturday, May 25 Members' Hour is 11:00 a.m. to noon on Sundays Please check www.cdm.org for hours and schedule changes!
| Monday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Tuesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Wednesday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Thursday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Friday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 10:00 - 17:00 |
| Sunday | 12:00 - 17:00 |
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Kick off the Year of the Pig at our Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3. Enjoy traditional Chinese and Vietnamese crafts, see lion dances and lively performances, try calligraphy and more!
Happy 2019! Thank you to all of our friends, supporters, visitors, members, and donors for a wonderful 2018. All of us at the Museum wish you and your families a very Happy New Year! We're open today from 10am - 5pm.
Just because Christmas and New Year's is over doesn't mean we're finished with the holiday season! Join us for El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos, or Three Kings Day on JANUARY 12-13! Celebrate this holiday cherished by Spanish and Latin Americans the world over by trying Rosca de Reyes bread, making papel picado (cut paper art), and seeing lively performers and musicians!
This night may belong to the adults, but the day belongs to the kids! Celebrate the arrival of 2019 with your whole family at Noon Year's Eve. Participate in our “countdown to noon across the world” with family hugs, a noisy celebration, and the Museum’s version of the famous Ball Drop in Times Square at noon, 1pm and 2pm!
Join us for Menorahs and Miracles: A Hanukkah Celebration on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2. Dance to the joyful sounds of world musician and singer LIOR BEN-HUR, go on a miracle scavenger hunt in Bill's Backyard, taste delicious latkes, make celebratory candles, and more!
Don’t miss Meet the Artist: Jonathan Pappas of Uber Maze TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 20! Bring the whole family for an a-maze-ing day making and solving classic, noodle, line and crazy mazes. Jonathan will also create a jaw-dropping giant Uber Maze in a live showcase!
Join us for Menorahs and Miracles: A Hanukkah Celebration on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2. Dance to the joyful sounds of world musician and singer LIOR BEN-HUR, go on a miracle scavenger hunt in Bill's Backyard, taste delicious latkes, make celebratory candles, and more!
Don’t miss Meet the Artist: Jonathan Pappas of Uber Maze on November 20! Bring the whole family for an a-maze-ing day making and solving classic, noodle, line and crazy mazes. Jonathan will also create a jaw-dropping giant Uber Maze in a live showcase!
Join us on SEPTEMBER 22 for the Lantern Festival, an evening of family fun making lanterns and launching rockets! Space is limited, so buy your tickets now: https://bit.ly/2wTKLQv
Attention Discovery Express passengers, choo-choo-choose to ride the train with us this weekend. We're thrilled to bring back Discovery Express on select days for fun family train rides around the Museum. Look for the train on SUNDAY, JUNE 17 starting at 1:45 pm. The last train leaves the station at 4:15 pm. All aboard!
Aliens are real after all! And they're party animals! #LFCA18
We are excited and honored to present the Legacy for Children Award to local hero Steve Smith! On stage presenting the award are three elementary school students who learned a lot from Mr. Smith about the powers of perseverance and determination. Steve Smith is exactly the kind of person we want inspiring the next generation of explorers. #LFCA18
We are excited and honored to present the Legacy for Children Award to local hero Steve Smith! On stage presenting the award are three elementary school students who learned a lot from Mr. Smith about the powers of perseverance and determination. Steve Smith is exactly the kind of person we want inspiring the next generation of explorers. #LFCA18
Monster Jam provides the most unforgettable experience for the entire family. Everyone remembers the first time they saw a monster truck soar. Come make those memories at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara from April 28th! As a friend of the museum, save 20% on tickets by using the code CDM here: https://bit.ly/2HNjsvy Savings valid on all seats except front row. No double discounts. Ticket prices at market pricing are subject to change. Additional fees may apply. Valid at all points of purchase. Offer expires April 27, 2018.
Join us for Children of the Dragon! This culturally rich Vietnamese celebration is chock-full of fun activities! Paint silk, rub a dragon, taste a jackfruit and more on Saturday and Sunday, April 21 and 22!
Are you ready to engage your inner scientist as you explore the natural world around you? You won't want to miss the excitement of Question Quest! We're thrilled to be joined next week by Youth Science Institute - YSI, Santa Clara Valley Water District, Our City Forest, Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, Guadalupe River Park Conservancy, Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, and more! Thanks to our friends at Oracle for supporting this amazing week of science exploration! #OracleGiving
Join us SATURDAY, MARCH 3 for an evening of entertainment for the whole family! Our first Family Lunada of the year features special performances by Grito de la Cultura, Bolivia Corazón de América and Grupo Folklórico Los Quetzales. Doors open at 5:30 pm.
Ride a blender bike, embark on a balanced-plate scavenger hunt, and plant a rainbow at Kids Food Festival on SUNDAY, MARCH 11. Find the fun in healthy eating! Find out more: http://bit.ly/2F2boVA
Join us TOMORROW as we kick off Lunar New Year: Year of the Dog! This weekend, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17-18, will be filled with lively music, colorful dances, culturally-rich art activities, and a four-legged friend from the Humane Society Silicon Valley! This is not one to miss! Special programming: 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. both days
Have fun and get active during winter break! Schools may be out, but Kids Like To Move It! Join us MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 - FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 for a week full of fun activities that will get you moving, dancing and challenging yourself to learn new skills!
Kick off the Year of the Dog at our Lunar New Year: Year of the Dog Celebration on SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17th AND 18th. Experience Vietnamese and Chinese cultures with lively music, colorful dances, and culturally-rich art activities, and meet some four-legged friends from the Humane Society Silicon Valley! Special programming: 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. both days
Kick off the Year of the Dog at our Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday and Sunday, February 17th and 18th. Lunar New Year is an immensely important holiday in the lives of many people, a time for special foods, gifts, rituals, and family gatherings. Lunar New Year falls on a different day each year. This year the New Year falls on Friday, February 16, and is celebrated throughout the month of February. Try your hand at traditional crafts, enjoy displays and performances, and come together as a community! Special programming: 12:00 noon – 4:00 p.m. both days
Happy New Year! We loved celebrating the start of 2018 across time zones with you all at Noon Year's Eve, and we can't wait for an exciting year ahead!
Today is the first day of Hanukkah, and we wish you all a Chag Hanukkah Sameach! We recently partnered with the APJCC in Los Gatos to host Menorahs and Miracles: A Hanukkah Celebration. We're thrilled to educate our visitors about this traditional Jewish holiday and share in the joy of the holiday season with you all! #PurpleMuseumCreations
Acclaimed Native American muralist #JaqueFragua and Empire Seven Studios' Juan Carlos Araujo spent the week transforming the Museum's massive stucco-covered passageway into a pallet of brightly colored imagery and bold symbols drawn from traditional Native American ceramics, blankets, world designs and more. Incorporated into the iconographic motifs were design ideas submitted by the community! Have you visited yet?
Muralist #JaqueFragua began the stenciling process this morning for our exciting new portico mural! The design was inspired by our community and we have our EY Connects volunteers and students from Rocketship Alma Academy to thank for articulating their visions for the mural and helping us make this a possibility. Be sure to check out the mural when you visit the Museum!
#ThrowbackThursday: Exactly one year ago, we broke ground on Bill's Backyard. Today, it's such an exciting space filled with life and many opportunities for discovery! Watch the transformation as a half-acre of unused space outside our Museum turns into this unique outdoor learning environment! #exploreBB
Wow! Bill's Backyard opens TOMORROW. Join us for the fun and learning!
The incredible Mister G was on Univision's Despiertaadlb this morning promoting music for children and his new album, Mundo Verde! Be sure to catch Mister G here TODAY at the Museum for #MusicFunUnderTheSun at NOON!
#TBT: Last year, we brought back TapeScape, a popular art installation created by Eric Lennartson. Reminiscent of ice crystals forming, miles and miles of packing tape were stretched and interlaced over metal structures to create the engaging, interactive environment. Check out this timelapse of what it took to put TapeScape together!
💃🕺 We dance, dance, danced with Joanie Leeds of Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights this afternoon!
SOS! Help us figure out what these Summer of Service team leaders are acting out. We can't wait to see all the campers here next week and play more games with y'all!
Stephanie Serrato, Striped Team Leader, may be new to Summer of Service, but she's stoked about fostering the future leaders we help shape here! Summer of Service, our community-service oriented summer program, is still accepting registrations for sessions 2 through 4. Reserve your spot now: http://bit.ly/2pRFRxP
It's a bird! No, it's a plane! No, it's Thomas the Tank Engine! Discovery Duck is on vacation, so Thomas is hanging out with us for the summer. He's excited to see you before you even go inside! Come visit Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! #ExploreWithThomas
We say hello, you say...? Hola, Smashmouth! Thank you to this awesome band from our neighborhood for coming out and helping us celebrate Ms. Manzano! #LFCA17
We asked Alex Berlaga, 17, of Palo Alto: How do you hope to inspire the kids who come into the museum and see this project? What do you hope they get out of it? Join us at 1:15pm today on livestream or here in the museum to see the chain reaction and domino build topple!
Understanding Genetics at The Tech Interactiv
201 S Market StThe Tech Challenge: Signature Program of The
201 S Market St.San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
560 S 1st StSan Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles
520 S 1st St
Evergreen Valley College Art Gallery
3095 Yerba Buena Road, Visual Arts Bldg
Understanding Genetics at The Tech Interactiv
201 S Market St
Hoover Middle School Washington D.C. Trip
Hoover Middle School, Dana Street
