November Theme: Paleontology. In Discovery Time this month children can participate in mock “digs,” using tools to uncover fossil replicas, or compare the sizes of different dinosaurs with life-size footprints and models. These interactive experiences help children grasp concepts like extinction, fossils, and Earth’s history while developing fine motor skills and observation abilities.This combination of exploration and play cultivates a sense of wonder about ancient life and introduces children to the methods scientists use to study the past.
Day: Wednesday
Time: 10 – 10:30 a.m. EST
Recommended Ages: Children ages 3 to 6 years
Location: WonderLab
Cost: Free with Museum Admission
Hands-on activities might include:
- Dough Fossils
- Mock Dino Dig
- What is the “past”
It is said that young children experience the world and express themselves in a “hundred languages.” Discovery Time utilizes a broad array of these learning languages – including music, art, stories, and creative movement – to connect children to science. Children ages 3 to 6 are developing increasingly complex theories about the world, rapidly gaining language, and learning to work with others. Discovery Time activities are designed by early childhood specialists specifically to nurture and challenge the rapid development of preschool-aged children in a fun, safe, and collaborative learning environment. Discovery Time sparks the interest of science education in young children by teaching them how to explore a broad range of topics with a curious mindset. Each month will have a different focus, ranging from oceans, to space, to physics, to human health and anatomy. You never know what you may learn at Discovery Time!
Children ages 3 to 6 are developing quickly and gaining and mastering skills in a wide variety of domains including language, motor, symbolic representation, and concrete operational thinking. Discovery Time is structured around exploring the scientific method: observing, hypothesizing, testing, and discussing the results! Discovery Time provides open-ended activities that are accessible and engaging for children across a spectrum of development, and helps generally prepare them for the more structured learning environments they will encounter in elementary school.