Children are in a circle leaning over a bin. Many of the children have their hands in the bin.

In-Person Programs Return


PROGRAMS NOW OPEN
In-person programs have returned. Scroll down for more information.

SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Join us at the PumpHouse for exciting education programs!  Our trained program facilitators offer fun, interactive and educational cultural programming specifically designed for school and camp groups.

The historic building houses steam machinery that played an important part in building Canada’s success. We have many events, programs and exhibits to capture your imagination, as well, we offer tours for larger groups with advanced notice. 

To see a full list of the education programs, please click here

TRAINS & TOTS 

Each week we engage our eyes, ears, and hands in developmentally appropriate activities designed to stimulate and support child development in the early years. Each week there is a different theme that will keep your tot entertained and learning!

To see the Trains & Tots schedule and to learn how to register, please click here

#YGKMuseumFromHome

The PumpHouse and MacLachlan Woodworking Museum are happy to offer downloadable PDF Activity Pages to keep your family engaged with STEAM education.

Activities are adapted from our regular programming for Trains & Tots (0-3 years) and education programs (Grade 1-8).

WE'D LOVE TO SEE YOUR CREATIONS!

Tag us on social media @KingstonPumpHouse and @WoodworkingMuseum with #YGKMuseumFromHome or email us at education@cityofkingston.ca

Toddlers

Let's Explore Textures!

We love to explore objects with our hands!  Let's use our hands and dough to see what impressions we can make with objects. Click here to download: Let's Explore Textures! - English 

Colour & Collect!

Let's explore the world through colour! Using eyes and hands, tots, will create a colourful container and go on a hunt to fill it with colourful objects. Click here to download: Colour & Collect! - English  French

Science & Technology

Orange You Interested

When life gives you oranges, try experiments with buoyancy! Using water and a healthy snack, explore displacement and how it helps things float. Click here to download: Orange You Interested - English  French

Mission Possible

When life gives you lemons, make invisible ink and write secret messages! Send those messages to other agents in your home and share the secret for them to read. Click here to download: Mission Possible - English   French

Penny For Your Drops

Water molecules like to stick together! Let's explore the attraction between molecules and demonstrate surface tension at home using coins and water. Click here to download: Penny For Your Drops - English   French

Power of the Pump

Machines, such as the the pumps in the PumpHouse use fluids to make work easier. Let's explore the properties of water in a fluid system using a water blaster! Click here to download: Power of the Pump - English  French

A Car That Rolls

Toy cars use simple machines to create movement. In this activity, use science to build a car that rolls. After your car is built, use math to calculate the car's speed. Click here to download: A Car That Rolls - English

Build-a-Structure

What makes a structure strong and stable? Let's build structures using materials found at home and explore material properties! Click here to download: Build-a-Structure- English    French

The Solar Still

The sun is an incredible star and a source of energy! Let's use the power of the sun and simple items around our house to turn saltwater into clean water. Click here to download: The Solar Still - English

Kinetic Sculpture

What forces make things move? What are the objects that move in the wind? Using wind as a force, design a kinetic sculpture that uses wind to move. Click here to download: Kinetic Sculpture - English  French

I Spy... Simple Machines!

I spy with my little eye... simple machines! Simple machines can be found everywhere. Let's review the 6 types of simple machines and see how many we can find at home! Click here to download: I Spy... Simple Machines! - English

Spinning Pinwheel

Pinwheels are a toy that use a wheel and axle to create movement. Create your very own pinwheel toy and explore how this type of simple machine works! Click here to download: Spinning Pinwheel - English   French

Tents & Tunnels!

Are you holding down the fort at home? Can you see the light at the end of the tunnel? Build a fort with creative tunnels to exercise your STEAM skills. Click here to download: Tents & Tunnels - English

Art & Mathematics

 Toilet Paper Puppets

Puppets are objects that are animated to tell stories. In this activity we will bring ordinary items from around the house to life with our creativity and imagination! Click here to download: Toilet Paper Puppets - English   French

Let's Explore Textures!

We love to explore objects with our hands!  Let's use our hands and dough to see what impressions we can make with objects. Click here to download: Let's Explore Textures!- English

Colour & Collect!

Let's explore the world through colour! Using eyes and hands, tots, will create a colourful container and go on a hunt to fill it with colourful objects. Click here to download: Colour & Collect!-English   French

Patterns and Printmaking

Let's go for a walk and explore textures through art! We will create rubbings to capture the different textures of objects we find outside or in our home. Click here to download: Patterns and Printmaking - English

Home is where the Treasure is

X marks the spot! Let's hide treasure and send our family on a treasure hunt! Let's explore what maps can do, how we read them and design a treasure map at home. Click here to download: Home is where the Treasure is - English

Social Studies & History/Geography

Home is where the Treasure is

X marks the spot! Let's hide treasure and send our family on a treasure hunt! Let's explore what maps can do, how we read them and design a treasure map at home. Click here to download: Home is where the Treasure is - English

Virtual Museum Activities

We're only a click away! Did you know that you can explore our museums online? While we're together at home, try our virtual scavenger hunts and see what you can discover at the PumpHouse and MacLachlan Woodworking Museum!

Click the links below to download each scavenger hunt:

PumpHouse Virtual Scavenger Hunt

PumpHouse Story Scavenger Hunt

MacLachlan Virtual Scavenger Hunt

MacLachlan Story Scavenger Hunt

Outdoors

Nature Journal

Stop and smell the roses! Or in this case, stop, look, and journal about nature. Your journal could include sketches, questions, notes or photographs. There are no rules! Click here to download: Nature Journal - English    French

The Solar Still

The sun is an incredible star and a source of energy! Let's use the power of the sun and simple items around our house to turn salt water into clean water. Click here to download: The Solar Still - English

Colour & Collect!

Let's explore the world through colour! Using eyes and hands, tots, will create a colourful container and go on a hunt to fill it with colourful objects. Click here to download: Colour & Collect!-English  French

Be a Field Naturalist!

Field naturalists identify plants, animals, insects and rocks. They like to share their information and educate others. Let's be field naturalists by exploring the nature near us! Click here to download: Be a Field Naturalist! - English     French

Objects, documents and works of art are the material expression of a community’s culture and history, and act as tangible witnesses to past achievements, events, ideas and ways of living.
Take on our building challenges and learn about water stewardship, explore simple machines, or explore our seasonal exhibition at the unique site of Kingston's first waterworks.
The PumpHouse is located in one of Canada’s oldest original water works – where steam-powered pumps provided the first running water to Kingston residents from 1851.