September 1, 2000

Preschool gets early dose of science

The Whelan Children's Center was selected to participate in the Discovery Science Preschool Project sponsored by Chevron, Texaco, Mobil and Exxon. The project is a staff development program designed to assist the Whelan staff in transforming the center into a "state-of-the-art" Discovery Science center. The purpose is to incorporate more science, mainly biology and physics, into the classrooms, says Whelan Director Kim Hebert.

Hebert and two preschool teachers participated in a two-day seminar this summer. The seminar was conducted by a team of experts from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville who have co-authored many preschool science resources including: Mudpies to Magnets, Everybody has a Body, Hug a Tree, and Discovery Science.

In addition to the seminar the center received a follow-up session conducted by a local science specialist, two technical visits to the center by a local science specialist, consultation services, and a Discovery Science Project Kit valued at $1,000. The kit contains a preschool science curriculum library, multi-media materials, and equipment for implementation of Discovery Science.

According to Hebert, the children simply love this new facet of education and "have viewed the cycle of a tadpole and started a butterfly garden in the breezeway."