3–5-Year-Olds and Grades Pre-K–1

Discovery Fun programs give young children their first taste of the natural world by engaging their senses in interactive exploration in the Museum’s Discovery Room. Young students explore Discovery Boxes, Discovery Drawers, microscopes, an active beehive, animal costumes, animal hand puppets and much more. Teachers receive a packet with material for each student, post-visit class activities and a natural history object for the class’s science center. Programs are adapted for each age group.

Registration Information

Be a Discovery Fun Volunteer

Wednesdays at Prairie Ridge
Rising Kindergarteners–Grade 1
September–October 2007
April–May 2008
Class size for rising Kindergarteners: two classes with a maximum of 16 children in each class
Class size for Kindergarteners–Grade 1: two classes with a maximum of 25 children in each class
Class time: 10–11:45 a.m.
Fee: $45 per class
Location: Prarie Ridge Ecostation, Raleigh, NC
Life is all around us — all we have to do is read the signs! We’ll begin our adventure with a brief circle-time introducing the Ecostation and the animals that live there. Next we’ll hike through the prairie to a bird blind overlooking a pond. On our travels we’ll look for animal signs using all our senses and a few tools.

By the Beaver Pond
Preschool–Grade 1
All Seasons
Meet wet creatures such as dragonfly nymphs, frogs, tadpoles and turtles, that live in or near the pond. Learn how they eat, swim and use the beaver pond as a home.

In the Backyard
Preschool–Grade 1
September–November & mid-March–June
Discover the fascinating world of our closest wild neighbors! Meet live backyard animals such as box turtles, rabbits and snakes. Find out how the backyard makes a good animal home.

Rocks
4-Year-Olds–Grade 1 (not recommended for 3- and young 4-year-olds)
September–January
Share a journey through time with three rocks: metamorphic, igneous and sedimentary. Learn how rocks were formed. Meet a live animal whose ancestors can be found as a fossil.

Winter Backyard
Preschool–Grade 1
December–mid-March
Discover the winter habits and habitats of our backyard animals. Meet some live animals such as salamanders, toads and flying squirrels and learn how animals get along in cold weather.

Dinosaurs
4-Year-Olds–Grade 1 (not recommended for 3- and young 4-year-olds)
February–June
Take a pretend field trip back to the time of dinosaurs. Discover how long, how tall and how hungry dinosaurs were. Meet some live animals whose ancestors lived in prehistoric times.

Parent-led Exploration of the Discovery Room
Parents with children 3 years old and younger
All Seasons
Fee: $25 per session
Group Size: Maximum 16 people; parents must accompany children
Your children may be too young for a Discovery Fun program, but they are never too young to enjoy and explore the Discovery Room. This offering allows groups of moms and dads to reserve the Discovery Room. Museum staff provide a brief introduction, then provide guidance and room supervision during this 45-minute experience.

Science Curriculum Correlations	Properties of Common Objects	Similarities & Differences	Needs of Living Organisms	Solid Earth Materials
	K	K	Grade 1	Grade 1
Prairie Ridge
By the Beaver Pond
In the Backyard
Winter Backyard
Rocks
Dinosaurs

Registration Information — Discovery Fun Classes
	3–5-Year-Olds, Grades PreK–1
	September 25, 2007–June 27, 2008
	Tuesday–Friday 10 & 11 a.m.
*	Preschools: $30 per program Grades K and 1: $35 per program
*	Recommended no more than 16 Preschool maximum 20 K–Grade 1 maximum 26 One adult for every five children
* Wednesdays at Prairie Ridge and Parent-led Exploration programs have different fee and class size guidelines. To register Submit a scheduling worksheet online or call the Scheduling Coordinator at 919.733.7450, ext. 555 (or toll-free in North Carolina 877.4NATSCI, ext. 555). Register at least four weeks in advance. Scheduling starts Tuesday, August 21, 2007. Note: Calendar fills up quickly, so schedule early! Invoice Sent within five days of contact with Scheduling Coordinator. Program materials Sent approximately four to six weeks prior to visit. Cancellation Minimum two-week notice required for refund. Cancellation (due to weather) Rescheduled at teacher request and as calendar permits. Special Populations: Many programs can be tailored to meet the needs of special populations. Please indicate special needs of your group when scheduling a program. Financial assistance is available to some groups. Contact Liz Baird, director of school programs, for more information and to request assistance.

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