STATE
STANDARDS

EXHIBIT/
PROGRAM

ACTIVITY

SUGGESTED TOPIC

1. The Nature of Science and Technology

 K.1.1 Raise questions about the natural world 

K.1.2 Everyone can do science

 *Kids Central Exhibit Packet

All exhibits raise questions

 Packet contains a chart with: exhibit list, questions to start conversations about each exhibit, sample activities, and the science content behind each exhibit. 

 Science Process Skills:

Observation

Questions

2. Scientific Thinking

K.2.1 Counting, sorting, describing objects

K.2.2 Communicating experiences

 Fort Discovery: Abacus, large TIC TAC TOE 

Puppet Show

Children can sort beads and count with the Abacus.

Children can turn dials to match the X’s and O’s.

 Children can create their own shows and characters with the puppets and see themselves on television.

Counting

Sorting

Process Skill:

Communication

Drama

3. Physical Setting

K.3.1 Describe objects and the materials they are made of

K.3.2 Investigate that things move in different ways such as fast, slow, etc.

The Sewer (lower level)

Minds Eye Exhibit (lower level)

 Water Table: Kids Central

 Wind Turbine: viewed from windows

Students crawl through the tunnel and climb on the outside feeling the different textures.

Students put their hands inside the compartments to feel different objects and guess what they are.

Students can change the speed and direction of the flow of water with the inserts provided at the table.

Students can view the speed of the wind turbine.

 Using the sense of touch.

Physics: velocity

4. The Living Environment

K.4.2 Describe how plants and animals are different

 Tidal Pool

Swap Shop

Students observe Tidal Pool, ask staff questions about the animals and plants.

Students see differences in tree bark & rings, hives, pinecones.

Invertebrate animals

Plant Products

    5. The Mathematical World

K.5.1 Use shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles

 Kids Central

Students can identify all the shapes on the Kids Central exhibits and have chaperones list them or kids draw them highlighting the shapes.

 Mathematical Shapes

6. Common Themes

K.6.1 Describe how objects are similar and different

 Swap Shop: Shells, Rocks, Minerals

 Students can find shells, rocks, minerals that look similar and those that look different and draw them.

 Observation