5 Sensational Senses

Students will use their 5 senses to experience the world in a whole new way! From comparing different tastes to describing the feel of unknown objects students will have a great time expanding their understanding of the world around them and learning how their senses can keep them safe. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: P-SCI1, P-SCI2, P-SCI3

The Science of Colors

Join us on a colorful adventure as we explore our favorite colors and what happens when they mix! Students will recognize differences and use them to create masterpieces that they can take home to remind them of their fabulous field trip. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: P-SCI 2, P-SCI 5, P-SCI 6

May the Force Be With You

Students will use imagination, teamwork, and engineering to explore what a force is and how we can change the speed and direction of objects that are in motion. We will even explore how to make objects move without touching them!.

NC Curriculum Alignment: PS.K.2, PS.K.2.1, PS.K.2.2

Engage in Engineering 

Students will discover their inner engineer as they explore the physical properties of different materials in our Makerspace! They will then use the engineering process to solve problems using teamwork, creativity, and innovation. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: PS.K.1, PS.K.1.1, PS.K.1.2

Blast off to Discovery

Students will build a working model of the Earth, Moon, and Sun to explore how they move together as a system. Using their model and a flashlight, they will investigate day and night and the Moon’s phases. Students will observe patterns in the sky by modeling the Earth’s rotation and the Moon’s orbit. Through hands-on engineering and scientific investigation, they will deepen their understanding of the Earth, Moon, and Sun system. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: ESS.1.1, ESS.1.1.1, ESS.1.1.2

Roots & Shoots Detectives

Students will explore the needs and parts of plants through hands-on investigations and creative activities. They will examine seeds, plants, and roots while learning how each plant part helps the plant survive and grow. Students will create plant artwork and conduct a soil investigation to discover which type of soil best holds water for healthy plant growth. Through observation, experimentation, and engineering, students will investigate what plants need to thrive. 

(only offered in Spring & Fall)

NC Curriculum Alignment: LS.1.1, LS.1.1.1, LS.1.1.2

What’s the Matter?

Students will investigate the properties and changes of matter through hands-on experiments exploring solids, liquids, and gases. They will model how atoms behave in different states of matter and observe how adding or removing energy can cause changes such as melting and freezing. Students will create a crayon art project by melting and reshaping crayons while exploring how heat changes materials. Through exciting science experiments, including creating gas with chemical reactions, students will observe how matter can change and expand in real-world situations. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: PS.2.1, PS.2.1.1.

Weather Watchers

Students will become junior meteorologists as they explore how weather forms and how scientists study and predict weather patterns. They will investigate clouds, thunderstorms, and tornadoes through hands-on experiments that model real weather events. Students will design and build their own weather tools, including an anemometer, to measure wind speed and explore how meteorologists collect data. Through observation, experimentation, and engineering, students will use evidence to better understand and predict the weather around them. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: ESS2.1, ESS.2.1.1, ESS.2.1.4

Bad to the Bone

Students will explore how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to support movement, protection, and growth. They will investigate the structure of bones by building a model that shows the different layers and parts of a bone. Students will create a model of the bones in the hand and participate in activities that demonstrate how muscles contract and relax to help the body move. Through hands-on modeling and challenges, students will discover how their bodies are built to move and stay healthy. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: LS.3.1, LS.3.1.1, LS.3.1.2

Crash Test Engineers

Students will explore force and motion by investigating how pushes, pulls, air pressure, gravity, and impact affect the movement of objects. They will learn about Newton’s Three Laws of Motion through hands-on challenges, including designing a balloon-powered car and an egg protection device. Students will use the engineering design process to plan, build, test, and improve their creations while experimenting with variables such as force, friction, speed, and distance. Through problem-solving and investigation, students will discover how engineers use science to design solutions and control the effects of forces. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: PS.K.2, PS.K.2.1, PS.K.2.2

Save Your Energy for this Trip!

Students will explore different forms of energy, including light, electrical, and sound, through hands-on investigations and experiments. They will investigate how light bends and reflects, build and test simple electrical circuits, and discover how energy can be transformed to create motion, sound, and light. Students will use engineering tools and materials to experiment with circuits, conductivity, and energy transfer. Through observation, testing, and problem-solving, students will discover how energy causes change and impacts the world around them. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: PS.4.2, PS.4.2.1, PS.4.2.2, 

Wild Weather

Students will become meteorologists as they investigate how weather forms and how scientists collect data to predict weather patterns. They will explore weather phenomena through hands-on experiments, including creating a snowstorm, making clouds, and modeling how temperature affects air movement. Students will design and build weather tools such as an anemometer and thermometer to measure and analyze weather conditions. Through observation, experimentation, and engineering challenges, students will use evidence to better understand weather systems and make predictions like real meteorologists. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: ESS.5.1, ESS.5.1.1, ESS.5.1.2, ESS.5.1.4

Stayin’ Alive

Students will explore how the human body works by investigating the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, skeletal, and nervous systems through hands-on models and experiments. They will build models to demonstrate how the heart pumps blood, how lungs move air, and how the digestive system breaks down food and absorbs nutrients. Students will investigate how bones protect the body and how the brain and nerves communicate to control movement through reaction-time challenges. Through modeling, experimentation, and scientific inquiry, students will discover how the body’s systems work together to keep us healthy and alive. 

NC Curriculum Alignment: LS.5.1, LS.5.1.2

At Cognition, everyone is welcome! We are committed to creating engaging, inclusive, and meaningful learning experiences for all students.

If you would like to bring your Exceptional Children (EC) class to Cognition for a field trip, we would love to work with you to customize an experience that meets the unique needs and interests of your students.

Please reach out to our Education Department at education@cognitiondavie.org to discuss your group and begin planning your personalized field trip experience.

We look forward to welcoming your students to Cognition!

Middle School Science Club

Science Club meets on select Tuesdays from 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM at Cognition. While North Davie Middle School currently participates, we would love to welcome students from all middle schools to join the fun! Please contact our education department more information at education@cognitiondavie.org

2026–2027 Meeting Dates:

• October 21, 2026
• December 15, 2026
• February 16, 2027
• April 20, 2027
• May 18, 2027