Science Sprouts is ALT’s early childhood education outreach program that brings the outdoors to your classroom!  Each lesson is designed specifically for little learners, covers the Pennsylvania State Learning Standards and included hands-on nature activities.  By introducing a sense of wonder and appreciation for nature at an early age, we are ensuring a future generation of earth stewards! Programs run 45 minutes and include activities, a story and a variety of engaging, hands-on experiences.

View our Science Sprouts informational brochure online as a PDF here. Contact Julie to learn more about this programming.

Preschool & Kindergarten

• All Around Me: What do you see? What do you hear? This interactive lesson will help young learners understand how their senses help them perceive the world around them.
• Creepy Crawlers: What exactly is a creepy crawler, and why does nature need them? This lesson will explore the importance of “creepy crawlers” such as fireflies, bees, and even pill bugs!
• Forest Friends: Why are trees important? What can trees tell us about weather conditions? In this hands-on, exploration-based lesson, students will discover just how amazing a tree can be!
• It’s Great to Grow!: What are baby frogs called? Where is a baby dragonfly born? In this lesson, students will explore some of the amazing ways animals, even humans, grow and change over time.
• Mighty Mouths: If you were a bird, what would you eat? What kind of beak would you need to eat your favorite bird treats? Students will explore the relationship between form and function in this hands-on lesson.
• Rocks Rock!: Does it rain rocks? Where do rocks come from? Students will compare different rocks and explore how time and the varying elements of nature affect rock formation.
• Soil Scientists: What makes soil special? How long does it take for nature to make soil? In this messy lesson, students will learn why soil is more than just a worm’s home.
• Things with Wings: What are wings and who has them? Are all wings the same? Students will explore the flight of birds, bats and bugs, and even use dramatic play to recreate the flight patterns of these amazing “things with wings”!
• Wonderful Water: Why is water wonderful? Using stories, puppets, and sensory bins, students will explore the water cycle and learn why water makes the world go ‘round!

1st & 2nd Grade

• Animal Architects: What is an architect? How can animals be architects; do they use blueprints and maps? This STEM-based lesson will explore what and how animals build and create and why they do it. Students will even try their hand at recreating some of these amazing animal structures!
• Animal Athletes: How fast is a deer? How does a bear move? This active, station-based lesson will explore some of the amazing athletic abilities of animals. Students will even “compete” against some of the animals to see how their skills stack up!
• Apex Animals: What does it mean to be an apex animal? Using real artifacts from nature, we will explore how an animal gets to be the “top dog”, or fish, or even insect!
• Cold-Blooded Beasts: What does it mean to be cold-blooded? What animals are cold-blooded? This interactive lesson will explore the fascinating world of reptiles and amphibians!
• Footprint Forensics: Just like humans, animals leave behind unique footprints – or tracks! These tracks can tell us a lot about an animal and its story! Students will learn how to tell different animal tracks apart, and will partake in identifying a mystery animal track!
• Who’s for Lunch?: Can a coyote cook a cheeseburger? In this interactive lesson, students will learn how food chains work, and how creatures must rely on other living things as food and energy sources.
• Wildlife Watchers: What animals can we find all around us, and how do we know they are here? Using real artifacts from nature, we will explore some of the fascinating creatures that also call Pennsylvania home!