Is your child fascinated by unique objects? Are they constantly asking “why” or “how”? Do they love to make new things? Museum learning fosters curiosity and creativity — and at Bright Horizons, we’re bringing it right into our centers through a collaboration with the Smithsonian®. Launched last year, this program incorporates project challenges — or Discoveries — that encourage hands-on exploration.

What are Discoveries?

Bright Horizons educators worked with the Smithsonian to develop four Discoveries — Collections, Music and Sound, Buildings and Construction, and Self-Identity. These project challenges are designed to help children connect their own world, history, and the world around them — all while exploring images of artifacts from the Smithsonian’s renowned collections.

What do children learn from Discoveries?

Each project challenge focuses on something different.

Collections, for example, is all about collecting and categorizing. These two activities are naturally kid-friendly, and can help your child build important math and science skills. Children examine images of the Smithsonian’s collections of natural artifacts, beautiful things, and favorite treasures and get inspired to learn, create, and wonder.

Buildings and Construction explores the world of design through STEM-based learning. Children look at images of different historic and modern structures and learn about blueprints, construction machines, and local buildings.

Why are project challenges important?

Children love to dive deeper, and projects give them the chance to do so. Projects integrate language, math, science, and art into meaningful, fun activities; plus, they help build cognitive, physical, and social-emotional skills. The benefits are endless!

Learn more about our collaboration with the Smithsonian here.