The Science of Emotions: Why Feelings Matter at the Discovery Center (and in Life!)

Emotions are more than moods; they’re essential tools our brains use to navigate the world. At the Magic City Discovery Center, we believe that exploring emotions is just as important as exploring science, technology, engineering, art, and math. That’s why we’re inviting kids to dive deep into the world of feelings this summer with our Inside Out Summer Camp, inspired by the Disney/Pixar film Inside Out. But what is an emotion, really? And how can understanding our emotions help kids grow into confident, resilient learners?

Let’s explore the science of emotions, how it connects to STEAM learning, and why emotional intelligence is a core memory in the making.

What Are Emotions? A Brain-Based Look

Emotions are more than just the cute characters in Inside Out; they are “a complex reaction pattern, involving experiential, behavioral, and physiological elements, by which an individual attempts to feel with a personally significant matter or event,” according to the American Psychological Association. In kid terms? An emotion is how your body and brain react when something important happens to you. It’s what you feel, how you act, and what your body does all at the same time.

As children grow, their brains are constantly learning how to interpret and manage emotions, laying the foundation for emotional intelligence (the ability to understand and respond to emotions in ourselves and others).

Why Emotions Matter for Learning

Emotions are essential to learning, shaping what we pay attention to, how well we remember, and how motivated we feel to explore. Neuroscientist Mary Immordino‑Yang and colleagues explain that emotions like curiosity and joy light up brain regions involved in decision‑making and memory formation, helping children absorb and apply new knowledge more effectively (Immordino‑Yang & Damasio, 2007). Even “challenging” emotions—like frustration or disappointment—play a valuable role by helping kids build resilience, empathy, and problem-solving skills. At the Discovery Center, every hands-on activity is a chance for children to feel, learn, and grow—all at once.

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Is a Superpower

Social-emotional learning (SEL) equips children with skills to understand and manage emotions, build relationships, and make responsible decisions. A landmark meta-analysis of 213 school-based SEL programs involving over 270,000 students found that those who participated demonstrated significant improvements in social-emotional skills, attitudes, behavior, and academic performance, equating to an average gain of 11 percentile points in academic achievement.

At the Discovery Center, these aren’t just stats—they’re happening every day. Whether a child is negotiating turn-taking in our farmers market or problem-solving on our magnetic ball wall maze, they’re practicing emotional regulation, collaboration, and creativity.

Inside Out... and Outside the Box

Just like in Inside Out, we know that every emotion has a role to play. Joy isn’t the goal 100% of the time. Sadness connects us to others. Fear keeps us safe. Anger tells us when something isn’t fair. Disgust helps us make thoughtful choices. When kids understand this, they gain the tools to navigate life’s ups and downs. By combining science, art, and heart, our Inside Out Summer Camp, sponsored by Minot Golden K, empowers kids to explore their inner worlds while building skills that will last a lifetime.

Let’s Discover Emotions Together

At the Magic City Discovery Center, emotions are welcome, and they’re part of the plan. From hands-on exhibits to themed camps, we invite children to explore not only how the world works, but how they work within it. So this summer, let’s play, learn, and feel from the inside out.