"Wings of Discovery" Takes Flight in Waterloo

What dissolves and what doesn't? Children find out for themselves in "Dissolve or Not", a Wings of Discovery activity.

The Butterfly Learning Centre in Waterloo is harnessing children's natural curiosity about the world around them to teach basic science through play.

Let's Talk Science, a national organization working to improve science literacy through innovative educational programs, is collaborating with the Butterfly Learning Centre to develop Wings of Discovery, a unique science-based early childhood learning program focused on infants and children, aged two to five.

As part of Wings of Discovery, young children are encouraged to explore and investigate science and technology in their world. It will include a full year of hands-on programming, organized into eight thematic units. For example, as part of the unit, "Trip to the Grocery Store", they investigate the technology of packaging and why potato chip bags contain so much air. In another unit, "Trip to my Home", children learn how toilets and showers work.

The grant partners are combining their expertise to create a program that will have national appeal and national impact. Let's Talk Science, originally a small volunteer outreach project started by Dr. Bonnie Schmidt at the University of Western Ontario in 1991, has grown into an award-winning organization that delivers innovative educational programs and research across the country. In Ontario, 2000-01 programs reached 73,500 youth and educators across 23 municipalities and involved approximately 700 volunteers.

The Butterfly Learning Centre raised over $1,000,000 with thousands of volunteer hours to build a child-centred building that provides care for up to 108 children daily. In September 2003, a publicly funded senior kindergarten class provided by the Waterloo Region District School Board will also be placed at the Centre. This innovative partnership, which will allow young children to experience a 'seamless' day between school and their child care, will also incorporate the Wings of Discovery program.

"Early-years learning is fundamental to the development of our children," says Schmidt. "Our program is designed to encourage children to explore, learn and apply basic mathematics, science and technology concepts to daily activities. The program also helps children develop critical life skills and positive attitudes towards Science."