Early Education

Preschool-Kindergarden

Believing that children in early childhood have a strong curiosity in, and unique way of engaging with, the natural world, we have designed a range of age appropriate programs. Our programs use a variety of methods to teach the topics, including songs, interactive activities, mounts, puzzles, puppets, hands-on materials, and movement.

Program Listing

Amphibians

1/2 Hour Program
Offered Spring & Summer
With the arrival of spring, the chorus of amphibians begins. This program is a great introduction to what makes an animal an amphibian. There is a variety of guest appearances from live frogs and salamanders, we’ll hear their calls, and learn about their life cycles.

Animals in Winter

1/2 Hour Program
Discover how animals survive throughout our long New England winters. Which animals hibernate? Which animals remain active all winter long? Through interactive activities, pictures, a puppet show and mounts we will delve deep into animal life in the snow.

Bats

1/2 Hour Program
Explore the mysterious world of our only flying mammals. We will explore the main types of bats throughout the world plus learn which bats we have in New England. This program uses pictures, puppets, puzzles, mounts, and song to learn about these amazing creatures.

Beavers

1/2 Hour Program (an outdoor field trip can be added to this program)
Beavers are familiar animals to many people, but be prepared to learn some new amazing facts about these crafty engineers. A beaver mount, hands-on materials, and a puppet show illustrate how beavers are adapted to their watery environment and how their ponds serve as centers for wildlife activities.

Creepy Crawlies

1/2 Hour Program (an additional outdoor field trip can be added to this program - field trip offered in Spring, Summer & Fall)
What is more exciting to children than examining all things that creep and crawl? This program highlights insects and their relatives by using museum specimens, dressing up as an insect, and songs.

Dinosaurs

1/2 Hour Program (4 adults minimum needed to assist with this program)
The world of dinosaurs comes to life in this highly interactive program. With a puppet show, activity stations, and all group interactives, this program is sure to delight budding paleontologists.

Forest Explorers

1 Hour program (outdoor program)
Offered in Spring Summer or Fall
Take a walk in the woods with a museum naturalist. Discover the forest habitat through sensory explorations and activities. Experience the mystery of the trees and the animals that call the forest home.

Owls

1/2 Hour Program
These silent flyers of the night are fascinating for young children. Explore the world of these nocturnal birds and learn about their adaptations through pictures, calls, feathers, mounts, and more. Learn to hoot like an owl!

Pond Life

1 Hour Program (outdoor program)
Offered in Spring, Summer, & Fall
Explore life in and around a pond first hand. We will muck around a pond’s edge with nets and buckets looking at and learning about the fascinating creatures that live there.

Turkeys

1/2 Hour Program
There’s more to a turkey than gobbling! Wild turkeys are spectacular and very cautious birds with a long history in our culture. Pictures, songs, activities, and a mount give students a close-up look at this unusual bird.

Museum in a Box Rental Kits

The Museum has created rental kits that can help you extend or enhance your classroom study. Each kit is packed with everything you will need for a curriculum unit, such as a teacher’s manual with great classroom ideas and activities, costumes, hands-on science items, books, audiovisual materials, and more. The kits are designed with a preschool classroom in mind.

Available Kits

• Beavers
• Bats
• Owls
• Insects
• Amphibians

Kits can be rented for a two week period for $30.00. Kits are to be picked up and dropped off at The Nature Museum unless other arrangements are agreed upon.

Thank you so much for providing the units. It’s a great way for us to expand our curriculum without spending a lot of money.
West River Montessori School