Kindergarten Students At The Preschool Place Learn About Space

Kindergarten students at The Preschool Place and Kindergarten have been immersed in learning about the solar system and space exploration as part of their science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum. The students learned about the solar system and space travel through non-fiction and fiction books, technology, models, crafts, imaginative play, and a visit to the planetarium at The Raritan Valley Community College.

“It’s exciting to encourage our students’ interest in STEAM subjects and expand their learning outside the classroom. Through YouTube we saw astronauts living and working on the International Space Station. We watched a demonstration of an astronaut washing her hair, which was very different from the way we wash our hair on Earth! Astronaut Chris Hadfield demonstrated how and where the astronauts sleep and even how they make a sandwich. Our students saw the launch and landing of one of the rovers currently on Mars and were amazed at how the rover was able to travel without a driver,” said full-day kindergarten teacher Mrs. Giallorenzo.

The culmination of their study was a visit to the planetarium. “The planetarium at The Raritan Valley Community College is a fabulous science resource for our students. When the room is darkened and the students see the night sky, they are engrossed in a unique learning experience. Our students were thrilled to identify constellations, the planets, the sun and the moon that we had studied,” said Mrs. Brainum who teaches Kinder Plus, the school’s half-day kindergarten enrichment program. “It was an interactive time in our classrooms and at the planetarium with all our students excited by their learning and asking many great questions!”

For further information about full-day kindergarten, Kinder Plus, preschool programs, and preschool scholarships contact The Preschool Place and Kindergarten on 908-722-0101, email info@preschoolplace.com or visit www.preschoolplace.com.