Preschoolers Spend A Day In The Life of a Ladybug

When parents bring their preschoolers to The Discovery Center, they can be certain they'll find plenty of enriching exhibits and activities. Early Childhood Coordinator Tarah Adams provides plenty of exciting lessons for the littlest explorers through the Nature Kids class series. Each month, Adams selects a new theme that will be covered in her weekly Nature Kids session. Children attending the classes this June will learn all about the life of a butterfly.

Nature Kids Makes Learning Fun With Acting, Crafts, Cooking, and More

Each week, the lessons taught at Nature Kids incorporate acting, costumes, arts and crafts, storytelling, and cooking projects to teach science to children. This spring, Becky Mendoza and Jenea Harmon brought their sons Evan and Joah for a fun morning out in nature. During this particular session, the boys donned ladybug costumes to learn all about how the insects eat.

With the bright red wings that were attached to their backs, visitors may have thought they were watching giant ladybugs at work. However, this was simply part of the day's lesson plan. In their ladybug costumes, Evan and Joah patrolled the Discovery Center's rose gardens in search of "aphids", or packets of fruit snacks hidden by Adams among the plants. Through this engaging play scenario, the preschoolers were able to develop an understanding of how ladybugs eat.

After collecting their snack, the ladybugs-in-training took a seat in the garden to hear an informative story all about ladybugs. This story was another learning tool utilized by Adams to complement the hands-on activity. After approaching the topic with several different kinds of activities, the preschoolers left their lesson with a real understanding of the material covered.

Parents Can Spend Quality Time With Their Children at The Discovery Center

Parents such as Mendoza are happy to bring their children to activities at The Discovery Center. “ The classes here are nice and small; it allows you to be one on one with your child and the teacher,” she said.

Program coordinator Tarah Adams believes that The Discovery Center and Nature Kids provide an important service to the children of the Central Valley. “There are not many opportunities for kids to play in nature anymore; that is why Nature Kids classes are so important,” said Adams. “When children encounter something, and they interact with it, they build a love for it.”

The Discovery Center offers preschoolers the opportunity to study a new nature topic each month. In July, Nature Kids students will learn about bees and their home, the hive. To find out how you can register your preschooler for the Nature Kids program, or attend a single Nature Kids class, please visit our website.