- Snapology offers after-school and camp programs for children, teaching them science concepts using Lego blocks and technology. Students can learn about kinetic energy and gravity by building their own model amusement parks or learn about computer programming with tablets. Snapology also provides activities for birthday parties and other events.
Location and hours vary. 281-889-5470
www.snapology.com/locations/sugarland
Cost: $100-$200 per semester - Kids Robotic Academy offers after-school STEAM-based robotics programs to children ages 3 years old to 14 years old. The academy provides classes at its location in Sugar Land and has mobile locations at nearby schools. All necessary materials are available at the center. Children can also participate in competitions.
4821 LJ Parkway, Ste. 55, Sugar Land • 713-454-7004
www.kidsroboticacademy.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Cost: $295 per 11-week semester, $110 per four weeks,
$30 one-time class - Students ages 7-14 years old learn coding and computer programming as they develop their own video games. Children can also learn basic business skills as they sell their final products through the digital application store, keeping any and all profits they may receive from game purchases.
18318 University Blvd., Ste. 100, Sugar Land
281-456-3010
www.codeninjas.com/locations/tx-sugarland-riverstone
Student hours: Mon.-Fri.: 3-7 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Cost: $200 and up per month - The Rosenberg Railroad Museum preserves the railroad history of Fort Bend County. The museum offers its Wig Wag preschool program for 2- to 5-year-olds, a field trip program and a homeschool program featuring eight classes from Aug. 23-Dec. 13. Take part in Fall Fun Fest “May the STEAM be With You” event Sept. 22 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., featuring model steam trains, a trackless ride-on-steam train, games, crafts and food trucks. Admission to the special event is $8.
1921 Avenue F, Rosenberg • 281-633-2846
www.rosenbergrrmuseum.org
Hours: Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 1-5 p.m.
Cost: $5-$7.50 (admission) - The Fort Bend Museum currently features an interactive textile exhibit to teach students about how clothes were made in the 19th century. This display will run through the month of September. Permanent exhibits include a county history gallery, and visitors can also experience home tours, featuring the Long-Smith cottage and the historic Moore Mansion.
500 Houston St., Richmond • 281-342-6478
www.fortbendmuseum.org
Hours: Tue.-Fri.: 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.,
closed Sundays and Mondays
Cost: $3-$10 - Best Brains offers a unique class, teaching students how to use the abacus, an archaic tool used for basic mathematical calculations. Children learn to solve equations with the abacus and to use visualization techniques to perform mental calculations. The Best Brains franchise also hosts annual regional abacus tournaments —a way to sharpen students’ mathematical skills.
11134 Hwy. 6, Sugar Land • 832-674-0000
www.bestbrains.com/sugarland_north
Hours: Mon., Wed. 5-8 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-1 p.m.,
closed Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays
Cost: $79 per month, one class each week - Artists of all ages are welcome to create their own art work using pottery, glass work or clay. Adults and children can purchase and paint pottery or arrange glass pieces to be fused into masterpieces. The studio also offers workshops and individual sessions for the pottery wheel and clay, as well as learning techniques, such as slabbing, coiling or pinching. Clay work sessions require advance notice.
13817 Hwy. 59, Sugar Land • 713-234-7789
www.fireitup-pottery.com
Hours: Tue.-Thur.: 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun.: Noon-6 p.m., closed Mondays
Cost: varies - Houston Museum of Natural Science-Sugar Land offers permanent exhibits, such as Life Science, Earth Science, Space Science, the Hall of Paleontology and Discovery Works. A new Augmented Reality display is a permanent addition with new shows every six weeks. A special hands-on exhibition —Collection of History, Mystery and Wonder —features life-sized animals, Roman armor replicas, an Egyptian chair, shark jaws, African masks and more items from all over the world.
13016 University Blvd., Sugar Land • 281-313-2277
www.hmns.org/hmns-at-sugar-land
Hours: Thu.-Fri. 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m.; open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 28, Oct. 19 and Thanksgiving week.
Cost: $9 (children); $12 (adults) - Children can visit different displays to learn about topics such as infrastructure, city government, science, economics and culture. Exhibits are developed with state and national education standards in mind and some feature interactive learning activities and craftwork. The discovery center caters to children up to 12 years old, and the Tot*Spot exhibit provides a safe and friendly environment for those 35 months old and younger to explore.
198 Kempner St., Sugar Land • 832-742-2800
www.childrensdiscoveryfb.org
Hours: Tue.-Sat.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sundays and Mondays
Cost: $11-$12 - Stargaze and look into space at George Observatory in Needville. The center offers weekday one-hour astronomy classes for children ages 5 years old to 12 years old. Birthday parties and group reservations are available, and special viewings of meteor showers also take place throughout the year.
21901 FM 762, Needville • 281-242-3055
www.hmns.org/george-observatory
Hours: Sat. 3-11 p.m., Tue.-Sat. by reservation
Cost: $7 (adult admission), Free (children 12 years old and younger admission), $4-$7 (adult and member telescope tickets), $6 (children, military, teachers and seniors telescope tickets), $3 (planetarium tickets)