The science activities that a child finds in our classroom are designed to “put the world in the palm of his hand." Children work with maps, learn about various cultures around the world, celebrate similarities and differences, and ponder the beauty of the natural world.
The early childhood classroom offers children many opportunities to expand their knowledge of the world during the years when they are motivated by spontaneous interest. The large, colorful wooden puzzle maps introduce the children to the maps of continents, countries, and states. At first, the children use the maps simply as a visual-motor exercise, and then later they learn the names of the pieces and places. As the children become more familiar with maps they are introduced to the concepts of land and water formations and weather and climate. A variety of hands-on activities help to reinforce these concepts.
Curiosity is stimulated through natural specimens, discovery projects, and experiments. Children participate in activities that foster their sense of wonder and encourage them to question, experience, experiment, and draw their own conclusions. Beautiful sets of cards and puzzles introduce the plant, animal, and fungi kingdoms. Science and nature activities foster a love and appreciation for all living things.