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
September 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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
Junior Elementary sessions are offered on the second Tuesday, second Thursday, or third Thursday of the month from 9:30am-12:00pm. Click the Register button below to register for our new third Thursday offering, starting in November and offered at a pro-rated full-year rate. The second Tuesday and second Thursday sessions are currently full – click here to join our waitlist.