This fall, Preschool Discovery Hour brought families together for hands-on STEM exploration and activities designed for our youngest learners. Each session is thoughtfully planned by our educators and facilitated by staff who help caregivers and children navigate every station at their own pace. We also partner with local organizations throughout the year to bring additional expertise, community connections, and fresh learning opportunities to each themed event. Read on to find out what we’ve been up to lately.
August – Water Wonders!
We started with a splash! Children experimented with scooping, pouring, floating, and sinking while exploring the many ways water moves and behaves. The activities encouraged observation, early problem-solving, and plenty of excitement as kids discovered what water can do when it’s swished, stirred, or squeezed. It was a lively, hands-on way to ease into fall, and we had loads of fun outside in the new Outdoor Explorium.
Preschoolers discovered:
- Marker Chromatography
- Sticky Ice Science
- Water Striders
- Cork Sailboats… and more water wonders!
Thank you to the ND Department of Environmental Quality for partnering with us!
September – Apples and Leaves
September brought the colors and textures of autumn indoors. Kids sorted apples, compared leaves, explored nature-themed sensory bins, and experimented with patterns and matching. These simple activities introduced early math and science concepts playfully — no formal lessons, just noticing, comparing, and discovering together.
Kids had fun with:
- Apple Stamps
- Leaf Shadow Tracing
- Microscopes
- Leaf Matching… and other fall-themed discoveries!
October – Not So Spooky Science
October’s theme mixed light Halloween fun with hands-on STEM. Pumpkin slime, themed sensory stations, and simple science activities let kids test materials, mix ingredients, and watch reactions unfold. Everything was designed to be approachable and excitement-building — nothing spooky, just the kind of curious exploration that fits perfectly with the season.
Activities included pumpkin slime, foam art, pumpkin patterns and weight, and more!
Thank you to Papa’s Pumpkin Patch for partnering with us!
November – Fall Feelings
In November, we shifted toward social–emotional play. With support from Kids in Motion, children explored activities designed to help them name emotions, try out calming strategies, and connect feelings with physical expression. Cozy sensory materials, gratitude prompts, and imaginative stations helped young learners make sense of big emotions in a gentle, developmentally friendly way.
Thank you to Kids in Motion for partnering with us!
Looking Ahead to Winter Fun
We can’t wait to welcome families back in December for our next session: Germ Detectives, where kids will investigate the world of germs and explore how everyday science keeps us healthy.
To see what’s coming up, visit our Calendar of Events. We can’t wait to see you there!
A special thank-you to Essentia Health for sponsoring Preschool Discovery Hour this year and helping us bring these experiences to families across our community.