Kids Science 

We visit elementary, middle and high schools, as well as community groups in priority neighbourhoods, to talk about and demonstrate science in an entertaining and informative way using curriculum-based workshops and demonstrations.

Would you like a member of our team to visit your school for a workshop?

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We run events once a month where students from schools in Toronto and the GTA can attend presentations by SickKids scientists, visit world-renowned research labs, and learn lab skills and procedures.

Are you a teacher or student interested in visiting SickKids for a Lab Visit? Fill out a form online to register!

Register for a Lab Visit

Every May, we host a Science Extravaganza for over 100 students in Grade 9 and 10 from across Toronto and the GTA. Students hear from SickKids Research Institute scientists, participate in group activities and challenges, have lunch with SickKids research staff and tour of award-winning labs. In addition, this event is an opportunity for students to meet mentors, interact with students from other schools and engage with scientific professionals. 

The next Science Extravaganza is TBD based on COVID guidelines and spacing limitations. 

Each summer, high school students are selected to visit the Hospital three times a week during the month of August. They will hear from guest speakers from different departments, tailored to their interests. Previous speakers have included researchers from oncology, psychology, pain management, paediatric cardiology, global health, and more. The students also visit research labs, learn laboratory-based skills, and participate in workshops and talks. Applications for students are available every February or March.

Learn more about summer programs

The StAR program is a six-week paid research internship is designed specifically for students from underrepresented groups, specifically those who identify as being from Indigenous, Black, and Filipino communities. Students will be paired with a SickKids research lab, work in-person with research staff complete a project of their own, and present their findings as part of a research symposium.

The StAR Program is made possible thanks to a grant from the McCall MacBain Foundation.

The application period for the 2023 StAR program is now closed.

The program hosts a live 30-minute science program every week that is broadcast throughout SickKids on its closed-circuit television system in cooperation with the Department of Child Life and the assistance of SickKids’ therapeutic clowns. We also partner with other SickKids programs to help promote science to the in-patient population through regular demonstrations and lessons for TDSB classrooms, one-on-one patient visits, Science Fairs, and special event days through the SickKids Research Institute.

The StAR program provides Indigenous, Black, and Filipino high school students with a first-hand, in-person, perspective of the research underway at world class SickKids Research Labs over six weeks in the summer.

Students will work full-time as part of this paid research internship program, and will take on a small research project with the guidance of their lab mentor(s). At the end of the internship, students will share what they have learned by presenting their projects at the Research symposium event to all their peers and rsearch staff. As part of this program, students will also have access to other science career and research experiences through the Kids Science program.

The StAR Program is made possible thanks to a grant from the McCall MacBain Foundation. 

Program eligibility

Applicants must be: 

• At least 16 years old by start date and in high school Grade 11 or 12 
• Must have previously taken Grade 10 Science (Grade 11/12 Biology and Chemistry would be an asset, but not required) 
• Black, Filipino, or Indigenous 
• Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident (must have a valid Social Insurance Number card)

The application period for the 2023 StAR Program is now closed. 

Each summer, a select group of high school students will be invited to SickKids for our Mentorship Program. Prior to the program, students will be able to fill out a survey describing their interests in bio-medical research.  The goal of this program is to cover all the topics students are interested in throughout the progam, so that everybody gets to hear about what interests them. 

Selection for the mentorship is based on the submitted appication. 

Key dates 

The registration period for the 2023 Summer Mentorship Program has now opened. Please use the link below to visit the application before the deadline of May 1, 2023.

Apply now for the 2023 Summer Mentorship Program

Kids Science partners with the SickKids Summer Research (SSuRe) Program, which provides opportunities for university students to conduct research in a laboratory or clinical setting at SickKids under the supervision of a Research Institute scientist. Find out more about this year’s program activities, learn how to apply for a research position, and important deadlines. 

Learn about the states of matter in a fun, exciting and experiment-filled way! Have fun with plasma balls, bubbles, and interactive experiments with dry ice! 

How does the body work? This workshop provides experimental activities to investigate how the major systems (respiration, circulatory, and digestion) in our bodies function.   

*Possibility of extending workshop up to one and a half to two hours with Nervous & Musculoskeletal Systems 

This workshop will take you out-of-this-world and into outer space, where you’ll learn all about stars, how gravity works, and why Pluto isn't considered a planet anymore.   

*Space is split into two presentations: Sun and Stars, as well as Planets, Comets and Meteors, which can be combined into a two-hour lesson 

Animated movies and TV shows all use the same techniques to "trick" your eyes into seeing something moving when it really isn't. Learn how our eyes get tricked with optical illusions in this animated workshop! 

Tiny particles make up everything in the universe, from you and me to the clouds in the sky. Learn how these interact in an ooey-gooey presentation, that includes making two different types of slime! 

A kit focused on all different types of engineering! Learn how to build your very own structures, from bridges to dams, test the strengths of materials, participate in a bridge building competition, and learn about all that engineers do! 

A non-stop energy packed workshop! Learn about kinetic and potential energy, as well as renewable sources, all while playing with toys. 

From airplanes to hot air balloons, how do they fly? Learn about how things fly, move, push, and pull through interactive demonstrations. 

Build circuits, light up lights, and find out what does (and doesn’t) conduct electricity!  This workshop is an illuminating take on all things dealing with electricity, current, and static. 

Learn about what tools CSI's use in this workshop, where we learn how to use science to solve crimes. You'll learn how to b more observant, disociver fingerprints, chromatography, and learn how the human brain can get tricked through illusions.

Straws are not just for drinking – you can have a lot of fun (and make a mess) using some simple every-day items! 

Sounds are everywhere - but how do we hear them? How are they made? And how do musical instruments work? Here’s a hint – it’s all about vibrations. 

Every day, all over the world, people encounter all sorts of weather. You’ll learn how weather is made, why do we have seasons, why it is important, and how "extreme weather" is so different than everything else. 

Bugs (more commonly known as insects) are the most abundant types of animals on Earth, but how are they different than us? What makes them so successful? And how can you tell them apart?

Learn what it takes to become a Nurse and Doctor in this in-depth presentation discussing course requirements, exams, tips/tricks, and MCAT breakdown, and more!

*Recommended for students in Grade 8 or above* 

Cells are tiny parts that make up the larger whole of practically every living thing on Earth. But how do they grow and change? And what happens when that change goes out of control? 

Animals are some of the most wonderous creatures, each perfectly adapted to whatever environment they live in. In this workshop, students will learn about the different types of habitats, how animals have evolved to survive within them, and how scientists keep track of every animal every known. 

Can you name all the elements in the Periodic Table? If not, don’t worry! In this lesson, we will take you on a tour some of the most interesting and note-worthy elements. 

Ever wonder how colour and light are related? Turns out that we cannot see one without the other! And why are they so important? 

The human body moves in a huge varies of ways – up and down, back and forth, side to side. But how do our muscles work to help us do this? The answer is not as simple as you think. And students will walk away with a full understanding of the bones in the hand, due to our anatomical model take-home.