Inquiry Based Learning at the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut

NIANTIC, CT – Christy Hammond, the executive director of the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, completed a series of workshops at the GE Institute of Inquiry Based Learning provided by the Connecticut Science Center in Hartford.

Inquiry based learning helps children develop critical thinking, language, literacy, and social skills. The process includes exploration, questioning, discovery, testing, and understanding. The Institute workshops provided teaching techniques, opportunities to practice the techniques, and information on how to incorporate the strategies into lesson plans and school curricula. Since completing the workshops, Hammond and other qualified museum staff have trained more than 50 local educators in these techniques.

Inquiry based learning strategies, directly related to the new Connecticut Science Framework standards, are currently implemented in the museum’s programs, including Preschool Science and Science for ’Schoolers.

Preschool Science, for children ages 4-6 years old, meets on Tuesdays, from Sept. 22 through Dec. 22, at 1:30 pm. Topics include microscopes, binoculars, launching rockets, and volcanoes.

Science for ’Schoolers, for children 5-8 years old, is a 5-week series, Sept. 30-Oct. 28, that meets Wednesdays at 1:30 pm. Parents and children meet with staff of Sept. 23 to determine class content. Cost for the series is $55 for museum members, $80 for nonmembers.

There is also a 6-week Science for ’Schoolers series, Nov. 4-Dec. 16, at 1:30. The cost is $66 for museum members, $96 for nonmembers.

The Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut is located at 409 Main St., Niantic. Hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 9:30 am-5 pm; Sundays, noon-5 pm. Starting Oct. 2, the museum is open the first Friday every month until 8 pm. For information or to register for a program, contact the Children’s Museum of Southeastern Connecticut at (860) 691-1111.