Overview of Young Explorers

The Academy Art Museum recognizes the importance of the first years of life for building a foundation for future learning through rich and varied sensory experiences.  Learning that is sensory in nature promotes optimal growth and development while at the same time engaging children actively in the process of knowing. The Young Explorers program puts art and museum objects at the center of a child’s day, encouraging exploration and discovery

Young Explorers introduces young children to new ideas through a thematic approach to learning that emphasizes the ability to make meaningful connections. The focus is on the process of learning through inquiry and sensory exploration of objects. Through this process children learn to make ideas their own.

• For example, the study of shapes is a skill that is part of almost any early childhood classroom.  Taught in isolation, it means little.
• However, a unit on transportation offers a wonderful opportunity to study not only shapes but also visual sequence, patterns, color and language classification. Almost any idea can be explored more effectively through direct interaction with the real world.

Lessons within the thematic areas are grouped as classroom, community or museum activities. Children’s literature, objects and visual images are key elements of almost every experience. Activities throughout the day are planned to encourage discussion and increase vocabulary and concept building around ideas related to the curriculum units. Children learn to express their ideas and feelings as they talk about objects and works of art in the museum, the community and the classroom.

The curriculum units for  2008 – 2009 are:

Me, Myself and I
Real and Pretend,
Things That Change and Long, Long Ago.   

Throughout the year, children will develop their own museum collections.  Children will develop skills to sort, classify, observe and analyze as they create collections of objects that are special to them. Families and friends will visit the classroom throughout the year to view the collections while the children act as curators and guides. Not only can children learn through the exploration of objects in the collections, but language skills can be nurtured as children tell stories about special things and name and label the objects in their collections.

Throughout the year, children will have ongoing opportunities to interact with professional musicians and artists who perform, teach, or exhibit at the museum. Through these interactions, children will develop their creative skills and aesthetic sense. They will learn about the creative process through active participation with these visiting artists.

Classes held Tuesdays and Thursdays Sept 2008 through May 2009

Morning Session 9:00 – 11:30   2 and 3 year olds