UA Museum Offers Fun, Educational Opportunities for Young Minds

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — From the outskirts of space to the deepest trenches of Earth, West Alabama youth are invited to explore the world around them through varied children’s programs offered at the Alabama Museum of Natural History on The University of Alabama’s campus.

The programs are designed to bring natural history programming to scientists of all ages, said Allie Sorlie, the museum’s education outreach coordinator.

“These programs are a way for parents and their children to get in touch with nature, discover some of the natural wonder and beauty found in their communities and state, and maybe discover something they had never known before,” she said.

Growing Up Wild Preschool Morning is the first Friday of every month. At this event, caregivers and their preschooler explore the museum and learn about nature through activities, crafts and stories. The program is offered from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 3, March 3, April 7 and May 5. The cost is $2 per participant and caregiver.

Museum Monday is an after-school program for kindergarten through second-graders and is held the first Monday of every month. Stomp around with dinosaurs, unearth rocks and minerals and discover a host of other natural wonders. The program runs from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Feb. 6, March 6, April 3 and May 1. The cost is $8 per participant.

The subjects for the spring programs include “Physics is Phun” where students will be doing physics experiments and learning about concepts such as kinetic energy, ramps, velocity and more; “Fun with the Sun” where participants will learn about our closest star and the relationship we share with it; “Animal Babies” where participants will learn about the life cycles of many of the animals they find in their own backyard, with a keen focus on the early stages; and “Gone Buggin’” where participants will learn to identify and know some of the more common insects found around Tuscaloosa and central Alabama.

The Junior Naturalist Program aims to get participants out and exploring the natural world and gives them the tools to interact with and better understand it. Open to third- through sixth-grade explorers, this semester will focus on identifying insects and discovering the important roles they play in nature. Students will also delve into geography and learn how to read and make maps. The program runs from 10 a.m. to noon March 4 and May 13. The cost is $10 per session. Space is limited.

The fee covers all programming and supplies, as well as a snack. To register for any of the above programs, parents may phone the museum at 205/348-7550 or visit www.almnh.ua.edu.

UA’s Alabama Museum of Natural History is located in Smith Hall near the Quad at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Capstone Drive.

Contact

Kim Eaton, UA media relations, 205/348-8325 or kkeaton@ur.ua.edu

Source

Allie Sorlie, Alabama Museum of Natural History Education Outreach Coordinator, 205/348-6383, acsorlie@bama.ua.edu