Junior Elementary
Our Junior Elementary Homeschool Program is an introductory experience for children ages 6-8. With the guidance of experienced naturalists, we begin to work in groups to discover nature at the Center. Students form connections with the creatures and habitats that make-up Southeastern Wisconsin.
2020/21 Curriculum
Fall
Sessions are currently full. Join our waitlist.
September 8 or 10, 2020 | Ponding: Small Invertebrates
Who’s swimming beneath the pond’s surface? Students will use special equipment to find the invertebrates living under the water and visit with one of the Center’s education animals.
October 8 or 13, 2020 | The Water Cycle
How does the water that a dinosaur drank millions of years ago end up in your cup today? With a visit to our Great Lake Michigan, along with other experiments, we will flow through the cycle!
November 10 or 12, 2020 | Owls – Flying Mouse Traps
Whoooo silently flies looking for mice and other prey? It’s a hoot to meet our resident raptors, plus students will get to test their senses to see if they could live like an owl.
Winter
*Winter programming is weather dependent and monthly subjects may vary according to weather*
December 8 or 10, 2020 | The Basics of Tracks & Traces
What stories do animals leave behind? Your child will search for these clues hiking on the trails and use them as inspiration to create their own story!
January 12 or 14, 2021 | Oh, Deer!
Did you know that the White Tailed Deer is Wisconsin’s fastest land mammal? Together, we will use what we learned in the previous month to search the trails for signs of this animal, and potentially spot this active creature.
February 9 or 11, 2021 | Survival of the Fittest
What makes some animals better adapted to surviving the harsh Wisconsin winters? Through meeting a few of the Center’s educational ambassadors, as well as searching for animals on the trails, students will learn how a variety of native animals survive winter’s frigid temperatures.
Spring
March 9 or 11, 2021 | Maple Sugar Time
What parts of the maple tree make sap? Together, we will discover what’s underneath the bark of this tree species and learn about the process that results in a sweet treat that we’ll be able to sample!
April 8 or 13, 2021 | Spring Migration
With the weather warming up, which birds are migrating back to Wisconsin? Students will meet one of our birds of prey and practice using binoculars outside to find our feathered friends!
May 11 or 13, 2021 | Rockin’ Good Time
How are rocks formed? What forces of nature can move rocks from place to place? How can we classify rocks? We will visit Lake Michigan to discover three groups of rocks and so much more!
Pricing & Registration
A completed student profile, which includes a health history and emergency care plan, is required for each participant prior to registration. We require a new Student Profile annually.
We offer a discounted rate for year-long participation.
Fall (September – November)
Member: $60 | Non-Member: $80
Winter (December – February)
Member: $60 | Non-Member: $80
Spring (March – May)
Member: $60 | Non-Member: $80
Full Year (September – May)
Member: $160 | Non-Member: $220
Registration for the 2020/2021 school year is now open! Junior Elementary sessions are available on the second Tuesday or second Thursday of the month from 9:30am-12:00pm, September – May.