Our curriculum is a hands-on, play-based program designed to spark curiosity about our natural world. Developed by specialists from the University of Kentucky and University of Nebraska–Lincoln, these lessons transform complex concepts into engaging sensory experiences for young learners.
What’s Inside the Curriculum:
The Water Cycle: Children create an indoor "rain" demonstration to see how water moves through our atmosphere.
Physics of Water: Explore "What is a River?" by observing how slope and gravity affect the speed of water.
Nature’s Filters: Conduct "Wetland in a Pan" and "Aquifer" experiments to see how the earth naturally cleans and stores water.
Sensory Habitats: Uncover the diverse plants and animals that call wetlands their home.
Floating Wetlands: Learn to build a classroom display that shows how plants keep our water healthy.
Each lesson is educator-ready and includes:
Clear Lesson Objectives and Standards
Step-by-step "Get Ready, Get Set, Let’s Go!" guides
Family Connection activities to bridge learning between school and home
Curated Book Lists and Vocabulary tailored for preschool development
Original lessons created by Tiffany Messer, Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky — Lessons adapted for preschoolers by Amy Napoli, Assistant Professor University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Nebraska Extension Educators: Jaci Foged, Leanne Manning, Sarah Roberts, Lee Sherry, Jackie Steffen, and LaDonna Werth; and Becky Schuerman, Extension Associate
Designed by: Karen Wedding
Get your copy of the Water Lessons for Preschoolers curriculum!
Research-based resource featuring sensory experiments and STEM activities tailored for young children.
