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 ages 2 to 2nd grade, covers the Pennsylvania STEELS 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.

Contact Julie to learn more about programming, pricing, and scheduling.

  • 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. 
  • 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! 
  • 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! 
  • 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! 
  • Homey Habitats: What is a habitat and who calls it home? Students will explore biomes of the world and how a habitat affects what animals we find there. 
  • 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. 
  • Needs of Seeds: What are seeds and what do they need? Students will explore the growth and movement of seeds from native plants. 
  • Nocturnal Adventures: Nighttime is quiet for humans, but what creatures roam the night? Students will learn how nocturnal animals have adapted to thrive in the dark. 
  • Pennsylvania Pollinators: What is pollination and why is it important? What pollinators live here in Pennsylvania and how can we help them? In this lesson, students will explore the pollinators that call PA home. 
  • 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. 
  • 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”! 
  • 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! 
  • Winter Warriors: Move, change and sleep! Can animals put on a hat and gloves when the weather turns bitter cold? Students will explore the ways in which animals have adapted to survive the harshest of winters. 
  • 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!