Discover our newest exhibit, Faithful Friends, with fun and engaging programming that inspire children to ask questions and learn about the diverse world of faith, beliefs, culture, and friendship!
Kaleidoscope Room inside Faithful Friends
Activities, events and times subject to change.
A dynamic space for hands-on activities, storytelling, and cultural programming, the Kaleidoscope Colloquiums in the Kaleidoscope Room invite you to engage in crafts, games, and rotating interactive experiences inspired by global traditions. Designed to spark curiosity and creativity, these workshops will host community partners, artists, and educators who bring beliefs, faith-based and cultural storytelling to life. Families can explore a diverse collection of books and resources that encourage conversations about friendship, respect, and understanding.
Kindness Quilt: Just like the bunny class in the Kindness Quilt book by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace, Children’s Museum Houston is making its own Kindness Quilt! You can help us by adding your own Kindness Square to our wall. Think of something kind, thoughtful, special...that you have done for someone recently then write and/or draw it.
When: July 1st – 31st All Day in Kaleidoscope
Mandala Spirals: Asalha Puja (Dharma Day) is an important festival for Theravada Buddhism. It is celebrated in countries with large Theravada Buddhist populations such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand. This day celebrates the Buddha’s first sermon where he discussed the “Four Noble Truths” as his solution: “The Noble Eightfold Path”. The spiral drawings are reminiscent of Mandala art, a valued part of Buddhist ritual and meditation practices.
When: July 25th – 31st All Day in Kaleidoscope
Friendship Flower: Let’s make a Friendship Flower to share with someone special! This project was created by the Paving the Pathways to Success organization for their group project. This organization celebrates the uniqueness of students with disabilities and provides them opportunities for professional development and teamwork. The Paving the Pathways to Success Team hopes that you all will enjoy making a fuzzy Friendship Flower to share with a loved one.
When: August 1st – 9th All Day in Kaleidoscope
Toasting Bread: Lammas is one of the 4 “quarter days” of the seasonal calendar and an important Celtic holiday that heralds the harvest season. Traditionally, this holiday began with the grain harvest and celebrated the abundance of the growing season. The baking and blessing of bread is an important part of the celebrations.
When: August 1st – 9th All Day in Kaleidoscope
Cardstock Trees: We are making wisdom trees to celebrate Guru Purnima, a holiday that honors spiritual and academic teachers! This celebration is from the Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Jain religious traditions and includes honoring gurus (teachers/leaders). In Jainism, Lord Mahavira was a revered spiritual leader who promoted values such as anekantvada (multiplicity of viewpoints). This value argues that total knowledge can only be attained when considering and respecting all viewpoints.
When: July 29th – August 6th All Day in Kaleidoscope
Washi Paper Lanterns: We are making washi paper lanterns to celebrate the Japanese holiday of Obon. This festival honors loved ones who have passed on as well as family still living. Many people travel to their hometowns to spend time with their family, clean gravestones, and participate in joyous festival activities such as group dancing called Bonodori. When the holiday concludes, everyone bids farewell to their ancestors with lanterns. Many float the lanterns down a river to send their ancestors home.
When: August 10th – 20th All Day in Kaleidoscope
Build a Best Friend: What qualities make a good friend? Why is friendship important? With this activity you can build your own Best Friend paper doll to take home!
When: August 10th – 31st All Day in Kaleidoscope
Paper Lilies: The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an important holy day for the Catholic Church. This holiday marks the celebration of life for the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ, and her assumption into Heaven. Catholics observe this holiday with church masses and communal/familial feasts. Lillies are closely connected to the Virgin Mary as they represent purity and innocence. There are even white lilies that bloom in mid-August around the time of this holiday.
When: August 7th – 15th All Day in Kaleidoscope
Cardstock Flames: Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest continually practiced religions. Zoroastrians worship God, called Ahura Mazda, in sacred spaces called Fire Temples. Indeed, fire plays a central role in Zoroastrian worship. The flames represent purity, goodness and the divine presence of Ahura Mazda who brings the light of wisdom to the dark of chaos. Once established and purified, the flames in Zoroastrian Fire Temples burn continuously.
When: August 16th – 31st All Day in Kaleidoscope
Spiderwebs: Let’s make a woven spider web to celebrate the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad. This Muslim holiday, called Mawlid al-Nabi, honors the Prophet’s life and virtues. Why a spider's web? Well, this features in a popular story about Muhammad.
When: August 21st – 31st All Day in Kaleidoscope
Kaleidoscope Room inside Faithful Friends
Supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
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