“We have a bunch of curious kindergarten and first graders, and they love science,” shared Sheila El-Amin, dean of lower elementary. “When they do science experiments, they just light up. So, we wanted to give them a museum experience without having to say, ‘Don’t touch this, don’t do that,’ so they could touch everything in there.”
The museum, which is filled with four floors of interactive exhibits, covers everything from light and motion to simple machines. Students were able to get hands-on experience with some of the concepts they’ve been learning about in class. One of the most popular exhibits was the water play area, where they could measure, pour, and build pipe systems to learn how water moves.
“The kids got to explore anything they wanted,” El-Amin added. “Most of the kids mentioned the water play when they got back. Kids like to play in water, so it was really exciting for them.”
Another favorite was the bubble activity. “They stood in a soap-and-water area, pulled a harness, and put themselves inside a bubble,” explained Nicole Watson, a first-grade teacher. “They also liked the old store. One of the kids was fascinated with all the antiques and couldn’t stop talking about the old candy.”
While the trip was lots of fun, it was also packed with learning. Students worked together, problem-solved, and got creative with the various activities. “It really sparked their creativity,” Watson shared. “They learned how everyday things work and saw how they could do similar activities at home.”
The kids weren’t the only ones having fun. Parent volunteers joined in and helped make the day a success. “The parents had a wonderful time,” El-Amin added. “Some of them didn’t even know about the museum and were excited to explore it with the kids. It’s always fun to see parents learning too.”
A special thanks to Nicole Watson and the Detroit Premier Academy team for giving young scientists such a fun day of learning!
Check out a school near you!
About Detroit Premier Academy
Detroit Premier Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Detroit, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.