Invention Convention

Invention Convention

Unleash imagination inside this workshop filled with gadgets and gizmos that kids design and build.

Virtual Exhibit
3D Field Trip Coming Soon
Ages
5+
Admission
Included with General Admission
Perfect For
Creative Thinkers
Puzzle Solvers
Techies & Gamers
Location
Lower Level
Accessibility
See Accessibility
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are the state standards for Texas public schools from kindergarten to year 12.
TEKS
Science
About the exhibit

Concoct and construct contraptions in a room full of spare parts, recycled and household materials, project tables, schematics and various instruments from floor to ceiling. Invention Convention is designed to walk you through the process of engineering an invention:

  1. Identify a problem.
  2. Dream up a solution.
  3. Design and build.
  4. Test, modify, and repeat!

Design, build, code, and experiment—you may be the next great inventor!

Educators

Invention Convention exercises kids’ problem solving and creativity as they engineer their way through design challenges like building airplanes and cars. The exhibit also provides opportunities for kids to learn about coding and computer programming. Through creative problem solving, students develop and utilize their knowledge and skills in science, math, and social studies. Content includes properties of matter, force, motion, energy, electricity, geometry, measurement, and science and society.

Virtual Exhibit
3D Field Trip Coming Soon
Ages
5+
Admission
Included with General Admission
Perfect For
Creative Thinkers
Puzzle Solvers
Techies & Gamers
Location
Lower Level
disability Accessibility
See Accessibility
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) are the state standards for Texas public schools from kindergarten to year 12.
TEKS
Science
CONSIDER WEARING A MASK
Please consider wearing a mask. Feeling sick? Come back when you feel better. Exposed to someone with COVID in the last 7 days? Please visit us another day. We remain committed to the safety of children, visitors, and our staff and follow CDC guidelines.
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What Parents are Saying

“There was SO much to do down there in the invention part—constructing all kinds of little gadgets and then testing them.”

Karen W.

trekaroo.com

What Parents are Saying

“We spent hours in the hands-on Invention Convention, and I suspect we could’ve spent days without getting bored.”

Jen R.

Parent

What Parents are Saying

“Our 5 year old daughter made gliders, parachutes and lego cars and practiced the usual design technique of: design, test, modify design, re-test, etc.”

Byron L.

tripadvisor.com

Exhibit Features

There’s a lot to see and do in this exhibit—check out some of these unique activities!

Invent with LEGO®

There is an inventor in all of us.

Use LEGO® bricks to build a vehicle for the Test Tracks, create epic marble runs, or encourage junior inventors at the toddler-friendly DUPLO® table.

Make Something Fly

From parachutes to rocket ships!

Flying objects are one of our favorite types of invention. Learn the basics of aviation by building rockets and airplanes at the Launch Cage or aerial devices for the Wind Towers.

Learn to Code

An essential tool for the modern inventor.

You can learn the basics of code as you control robots, sequence music, create animations and more.

What Can My Family Do?

Here are activity suggestions for specific age groups in this exhibit.

Toddler Activities

  • Explore, make, and talk about shapes.
  • Stack blocks.
  • Observe how objects move.

Preschooler Activities

  • Build a LEGO® Marble Run.
  • Create moving art with Cranks and Cams.
  • Learn sequencing with lights and music.

Lower Elementary Activities

  • Invent a flying vehicle.
  • Build LEGO® cars at Test Tracks.
  • Create a stop motion animation.

Upper Elementary Activities

  • Use Block Coding to program a robot.
  • Solve design challenges at Wind Towers.
  • Explore sequencing and variables with lights and music.

Exhibit Guidelines and Rules

Thank You to Our Exhibit Sponsors
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Thank You to Our Exhibit Sponsors

Bring the Museum Home with You

Keep the inspiration, invention, interaction and imagination going.

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