Sponsored by The Children's School: Early Childhood Education Lab School and the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, our littlest learners got to experience two summer activities that highlighted how fun learning can be.
The Children's School buzzed with excitement for the first event that featured Professor Bugman Entomology Adventures. This engaging session opened the children's eyes to the fascinating and incredibly diverse world of arthropods.
The children learned about the arthropod classification - animals with exoskeletons and jointed, segmented bodies and the main groups of arthropods: crustaceans, insects, myriapods and arachnids. They were amazed to discover there are over a million types of insects, including more than 400,000 species of beetles, each with a unique role in nature.
The children got to see, touch and even smell various arthropods. From armored stink beetles and pill bugs, to the impressive Sonoran desert whip scorpion and the expert camouflager the giant prickly Australian leaf bug, each creature sparked wonder and curiosity. The children were particularly amused by the Madagascar hissing cockroaches, learning how these insects live in large families and communicate through different hissing noises.
The session concluded with an important message about biodiversity.
"We need all these creatures. So we have to care for them all, even things like mosquitos and snails. They are the foundation of the food chain," said Bugman.
Later in the month, the children embarked on an exciting journey through the college campus, experiencing firsthand the vibrant world of higher education. This tour wasn't just about showing off QCC's facilities; it was an opportunity to plant seeds of possibility in young minds. Research has shown that early experiences affect how people understand themselves and interact with systems and institutions later in life. By inviting children into college spaces, QCC is helping them envision themselves as future students and lifelong learners.
The tour was filled with wonder and discovery at every turn. The young explorers visited the Dental Clinic, peeked into the President's office (where they even got to hold the college mace!), and explored the cafeteria, Counseling Center and the HomePlate Food Pantry & Resource Center. They marveled at the creations in the Fab Lab, got a peek at microscopes in the biology lab, and browsed books in the library. Along the way, they met a professor and spent time in the Fuller Student Center. The day concluded with a sweet treat - ice cream for everyone! This immersive experience allowed the children to see themselves represented in a college environment, nurturing their aspirations and broadening their understanding of what's possible for their futures.