Welcome Back, Science Tots

The Preschool Science Series has made some recent changes that readers with preschool-aged children will be thrilled to hear about! The official relaunch of our Science Tots program divides our smallest scientists into programs particularly tailored to the learning goals of their age groups.

Science Tots and Storybook STEAM are two programming options that fall under the umbrella of Preschool Science Series. Science Tots is for ages 18-36 months. Storybook STEAM is for ages 3-5.

“We originally started these two programs in January of 2020,” said Manager of Early Childhood, Camps and School Engagement Emily Lemonds. “Then the lockdown came in March 2020.”

Lemonds continued, “When the Discovery Room opened in the summer of 2022, we relaunched Preschool Science classes for ages 3-5, and brought back the toddler option in spring of 2023.”

Regarding our Science Tots program, research states that most brain development happens in the first three years of a child’s life. Each 45-minute Science Tots class is designed to provide opportunities to support brain development and learning. Toddlers and their grown-ups will explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics through songs, stories, hands-on exploration, and play. Activities will ignite curiosity and wonder in young children as well as empower parents and caregivers to support their child’s STEM learning in class and in their daily lives. Science Tots programming is offered on the second and fourth weeks of the month.

In our Storybook STEAM programs, we emphasize that engineering is the process of using science and technology to solve real-world problems. Today’s preschoolers are tomorrow’s engineers and problem-solvers! In each 45-minute class, we use a thought-provoking storybook to engage children in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) challenges, exploration and play. Little engineers will learn science and math concepts as they design and create solutions to problems connected to the characters in the story or their everyday lives. Storybook STEAM is offered on the first and third weeks of the month.

These programs take place in the Learning Lab on the second floor, near the Life Science Lab. These programs are offered on Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:30am and on Sundays at 1:00pm.

Cost is $10 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Cost is per child. Adults do not need to pay. For more information regarding changes to class schedules, or just to learn more about these programs, visit slsc.org/preschool.