At an early age, children have the capacity and propensity to observe, explore, and discover the world around them. At the Dr. Sarah K. Jandrucko Academy for Early Learners, children learn to think and create beyond their world. They stretch their imaginations and use new words and numbers to express concepts, dreams and history. Children gain knowledge through play, teaching them to think, remember, and solve problems. The Exploration Pod allows children to develop a vision of the world, by encouraging them to stretch their imaginations, and to use new words and numbers to express concepts, dreams and history. Adventure is around every corner!
THE TROPICS
CAPTURE YOUR SENSES
Children are by nature, curious. They want to touch, taste, and smell everything. Spending time in nature is important for your child’s health and establishes a connection to the world around them. Think back to your first time discovering tadpoles and frogs, the feel of water across your hands, the feel of the bark on your knees as you climbed a tree, or the sound of birds chirping. In the Tropics classroom, children can imagine they are in the forest as they climb through logs in search of interesting insects and then build their new friends a habitat, all while learning all about microclimates. They can bird watch from the tree fort and look over the waterfall. A microscope table allows them to see extremely close-up, discovering the colors, textures, and patterns found in nature. An environment that incites wonder, excitement, and joy!
Spending time in nature is important for your child’s health and establishes a connection to the world around them.
POLAR
THRIVING HABITATS ABOVE AND BELOW THE ICE
From that first ice cream freeze as a kid, to the first slurpee brain freeze, kids have been fascinated by the nuances of the cold. In the Polar experience, children learn the effects of melting ice, and water freezing. They can take shelter in the warmth of an igloo or tent after jumping over ice floes or learn about the march of the penguins while catching fish under the ice wall. Snowflakes come alive while building Inukshuks to learn about balance and scale. The arctic holds many fascinations in an extreme environment. Children can don arctic gear and come face-to-face with the diversity of animals that thrive in the cold. After a day of play with the polar bears, children can cozy up inside the tents for a good read as they dive into the literary world of the polar arctic.
In the Polar experience, children learn the effects of melting ice, and water freezing.
THE OCEAN
UNDERWATER WORLDS CAPTURE THE IMAGINATION
Beneath the ocean’s surface, treasures await to be discovered, hidden within a treasure chest. Children climb aboard the submarine and take a deep dive into the ocean depths where they will discover a giant octopus amongst an array of colorful sea life. Movement in this underwater world will capture their imagination and inspire students to learn as they hold the ocean in their hands at the salt water tank. After dressing up as a scuba diver to explore this wonderland, children get swallowed up in literary adventures as they curl into the fabric whale for a good read. Young children have an inborn sense of the ocean’s immensity and are fascinated by the large and small ocean animals that inhabit the seas. The mysterious and sometimes threatening appearance of animals such as whales, sharks, and dolphins have inspired tales that capture the minds and hearts of children throughout the ages.
There is so much to discover about wildlife, that children exposed to nature develop a sense of wonderment and appreciation for life on Earth.
THE SAVANNA
OASIS OF EXOTIC LANDSCAPES AND ANIMALS
Elephants and Zebras, Camels and Giraffes! A world of exotic animals and surroundings awaken children’s senses as they listen to the chatter and roars surrounding them. Explore the wildlife through binoculars and watch the animals cool off at the watering hole. Listen to the drums beat a rhythm in time with the sway of the grassy savanna. Children can jump inside the jeep for a trip across the sands to an oasis where they rest under a baobab tree and tell friends about their exciting adventures. By observing their behavior, children learn about animal instincts and intelligence. There is so much to discover about wildlife, that children exposed to nature develop a sense of wonderment and appreciation for life on Earth. Go explore!