September 20, 2019 Engaging Indoor Classrooms: Natural Materials & Loose Parts Join Cindy Gennarelli, M.Ed., Director of Early Childhood Education Innovation at William Patterson University, for her upcoming webinar exploring opportunities to engage indoor classrooms using natural materials and loose parts. About This free webinar was designed to support the use of nature-based materials and loose parts in indoor classrooms. Common questions and concerns include: How will these materials change the indoor environment? Where do they go and how do I introduce the materials to the children? How will these materials support children’s learning? How do we integrate these materials without compromising the integrity of our curriculum and/or physical classroom space? These questions and others will be discussed and answered. Photos of classroom environments, children’s engagement in inquiry-based, hands-on, STEAM-related explorations and discoveries will be used as examples. Examples will highlight the use of combining indoor classroom tools, materials, and equipment with outdoor materials to create richer learning experiences. Learning outcomes will be relevant and aligned with approved developmentally appropriate curricula, pedagogy, children’s learning styles, and 21st-century skills. This webinar will be of particular benefit to pre-k teachers. Time for questions will be provided. Registration To sign-up, register via the event webpage. More Information To learn more, visit the edWeb website. *Information provided via EdWeb
April 11, 2019 Sensory Friendly Saturday: Museum of Natural History The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is celebrating National Autism Awareness month by hosting four Sensory Friendly Saturdays throughout the year. About the Event During Sensory Friendly Saturdays, the museum will open 90 minutes before it opens to the public to allow families with members of the autism spectrum or those who experience sensory overload to visit the museum in a more controlled environment. Museum experts will give tours of the exhibitions and be on hand to answer questions throughout the morning. Designated quiet zones will allow visitors to decompress and experience the museum at their own pace. Sensory Friendly Saturday hours are 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Available Dates April 27, 2019 July 13, 2019 October 5, 2019 December 28, 2019 Registration Advance registration is required for each person attending. Register online to save your spot! Ticket Costs Sensory Friendly Saturday includes specialized pricing: Children Under 2: Free Children 3 – 18: $5.95 per ticket Adults: $9.95 per ticket Adults 65+: $7.50 per ticket Discounted Pricing Access Card Holder – Adult: $1.00 Access Card Holder’s Child: $1.00 Access Card Holder – Senior: $1.00 To learn more about the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, visit their website.
March 19, 2019 Young Sprouts: Garden Art Join the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to explore natural and repurposed materials to decorate their garden by bringing your art outdoors. This program is drop-in, so guests may come and go as they please! This program is designed for our youngest learners (0-5) but is suitable for all ages. Program location is weather dependent: it will be in the Garden if the weather allows; find them in the Nursery if weather is less than ideal.
