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.
Sessions run the second Thursday of the month from 9:30am-12:00pm, September – May.
2022/23 Curriculum
Fall
September 2022 | Ponding: The Big Picture
Frogs, turtles, ducks, oh my! Learners focus on larger animals easily found in our ponds and conduct animal surveys for reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, and the smaller creatures they eat. We also get an up-close encounter with an animal ambassador native to our ponds!
October 2022 | Great Lake Michigan
How great is Lake Michigan? Learners start by getting a big look of our very own Great Lake on top of our 60-foot tower. We then travel to the lake where we discover the gifts of the glacier!
November 2022 | Fall Migration
Temperatures are changing, and creatures are starting to move to their winter homes. We will focus on where animals migrate to and why they are migrating in the first place. Learners will find out about the many kinds of animals that migrate, including a special visit with our raptor ambassadors!
Winter
*Winter programming is weather dependent and monthly subjects may vary according to weather*
December 2022 | The Big Sleep
Do bears really hibernate? How about groundhogs? Learners will participate in several activities that will teach them the differences between true hibernation and dormancy. We will also get a chance to meet one of our animal ambassadors that hibernates all winter long.
January 2023 | Warm Blooded on Cold Days
How do some mammals make it through our freezing winters? We will learn how creatures use fur, habitat, and food during the coldest parts of the year. Through experiments and activities, learners will discover how these animals are able to survive.
February 2023 | Activity Under the Snow
The snow can act like a giant blanket! The subnivean zone is a world that exists only in winter, and learners will discover what is underneath the snow. We will read a story and search for the residents and the evidence that they leave behind.
Spring
March 2023 | Maple Sugar Time
Learners will participate in our popular Maple Sugar Time program. We figure out how to identify a maple tree, including the different species of maple, and visit a sugar farmer at the evaporator. Then we end with a sweet treat!
April 2023 | Muddy Buddies
Spring thaw and thunderstorms bring lots of mud! Learn about soil, including the different types, and all of the cool microscopic things living under our feet. We will meet one of our animal ambassadors that depend on the soil.
May 2023 | Spring Flowers & Pollinators
What’s the buzz about pollination? We will focus on how pollinators and flowers depend on one another. With games and field experience, learners will find some common Wisconsin flowers and their pollinator pals!
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 prior to each school year.
We offer a discounted rate for year-long participation.
Fall (September – November)
Member: $75 | Non-Member: $105
Winter (December – February)
Member: $75 | Non-Member: $105
Spring (March – May)
Member: $75 | Non-Member: $105
Full Year (September – May)
Member: $198 | Non-Member: $288
Registration for the 2022-2023 school year is now open!