What Can You Learn @ the Exploration Station?:
While visiting Exploration Station’s exhibits you can accomplish:
Illinois Early Learning Standards, Benchmarks
Illinois Learning Standards State Goals for Early Elementary

Exploring the children’s museum meets the following:
5.A.EC    Seek answers to questions through active exploration.
11.A.ECa  Uses senses to explore and observe materials and natural phenomena.
13.B.ECb  Express wonder and ask question about their world.
19.A.ECa  Engage in active play using gross motor skills.
19.A.ECb  Engage in active play using fine motor skills.
31.A.ECb Exhibit eagerness and curiosity as a learner.
31.A.ECc Exhibit persistence and creativity in seeking solutions to problems.
31.A.ECd Show some initiative and independence in actions.
32.A.ECa  Begin to understand and follow rules.
32.A.ECb  Manage transition and begin to adapt to change in routines.
32.B.ECa  Engage in cooperative group play.
32.B.ECb  Begin to share materials and experiences and take turns.
11.A.1b     Develop questions on scientific topics.

Community Area
15.A.EC  Identify community workers and the services they provide.
15.D.EC  Begin to understand the use of trade to obtain goods and services.
18.B.1a   Compare the roles of individuals in group situations. (employee/employer)

Shop-A-Lot Market
6.D.EC    Make comparisons of quantities. 
8.A.EC    Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
10.A.ECa  Represent data using concrete objects, pictures, and graphs.
22.A.EC    Participate in simple practices that promote healthy living and prevent illness.
9B.1b      Sort, classify and compare familiar shapes.
15.D.1a     Demonstrate the benefits of simple voluntary exchanges.
15.D.1b     Know that barter is a type of exchange and that money makes exchange easier.

Post Office
8.A.EC   Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
17.A.ECb  Express beginning geographic thinking.

Lickety Split Soda Shop and Diner
1.A.ECa   Understand that pictures and symbols have meaning and that print carries a message.
5.C.EC     Communicate information with others.
6.A.ECa   Use concepts that include number recognition, counting and one-to-one correspondence.
8.A.EC     Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
15.D.1a    Demonstrate the benefits of simple voluntary exchanges. 
15.D.1b    Know that barter is a type of exchange and that money makes exchange easier.

Invention Center
6.A.ECb    Count with understanding and recognize “how many” in sets of objects.
7.A.ECa    Demonstrate a beginning understanding of measurement using non-standard units and measurement words.
7.C.EC      Incorporate estimating  and measuring activities into play.
10.A.ECb   Make predictions about what will happen next.
7.A.1a       Measure length using rulers.
7.B.1b      Compare estimated measures to actual measures taken with appropriate measuring instruments.
11.B.1c      Build a device using the materials and tools provided.
13.B.1b      Explain how using measuring tools improves the accuracy of estimates.

Safety Place
13.A.EC    Begin to understand basic safety practices.
17.A.ECa  Locate objects and places in familiar environments.
17.A.ECb  Express beginning geographic thinking.
19.C.EC    Follow simple safety rules while participating in activities.
24.C.EC    Participate in activities to learn to avoid dangerous situations.
13.A.1a     Use basic safety practices.
17.D.1       Identify changes in geographic characteristics of a local region (town, community)

Wreck Resort (car care)
15.D.1a    Demonstrate the benefits of simple voluntary exchanges.
15.D.1b   Know that barter is a type of exchange and that money makes exchange easier.

My House (dramatic play)
6.A.ECa   Use concepts that include number recognition, counting an done-to-one correspondence.
6.A.ECb   Count with understanding and recognize “how many” in sets of objects.
7.A.ECb   Construct a sense of time through participation in daily activities.
8.A.EC     Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
12.B.EC   Describe and compare basic needs of living things.
16.A.EC   Recall information about the immediate past.
18.B.EC   Understand that each of us belongs to a family and recognize that families vary.

Explore A Lot (castle area)
1.A.ECa   Understand that pictures and symbols have meaning and that print carries a message.
A.A.ECb  Understand that reading progresses from left to right and top to bottom.
1.B.ECa   Predict what will happen next using pictures and content for guides.
1.C.ECa   Retell information from a story.
1.C.ECb   Respond to simple questions about reading material.
1.C.ECc   Demonstrate understanding of literal meaning of stories by making comments.
19.A.ECa Engage in active play using gross motor skills.
26.A.ECc Music: Participate in music activities.
26.A.1d Relate symbol systems (e.g. icons, syllables, numbers, and letters) to musical sounds.

Lego Area
8.A.EC     Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
8.B.ECa   Recognize, duplicate and extend simple pattern, such as sequences of colors.

Animal Room
12.A.ECa  Investigate and categorize living things in the environment.
12.B.EC    Describe and compare basic needs of living things.
12.lA.1a    Identify and describe the component parts of living things (birds have feathers, people have bones, blood, hair, skin) and their major functions.
12.A.1b    Categorize living organisms, using a variety of observable features) size, color, shape, backbone)

Air Plane
18.B.EC   Recognize similarities and differences in people.

Space Center
5.A.EC    Seek answers to questions through active exploration.
6.A.ECa  Use concepts that include number recognition, counting and one-to-one
correspondence.
6.A.ECb  Count with understanding and recognize “how many” in sets of objects. 6.D.1      Compare the numbers of objects in groups.
10.C.1a    Describe the concept of probability in relationship to likelihood and chance.
10.C.1b    Systematically list all possible outcomes of a simple one-stage experiment (paper airplane flight path)
12.D.1a    Identify examples of motion (moving in a straight line, rotating)
12.D.1b    Identify observable forces in nature (gravity)
12F.1b     Identify and describe characteristics of the sun, Earth and moon as familiar objects in
the solar system.

Illumination
8.A.EC Sort and classify objects by a variety of properties.
8.B.ECa Recognize, duplicate and extend simple patterns, such as sequences of sound, shapes and colors.
8.B.ECb Begin to order objects in series or rows.
8.A.EC Recognize geometric shapes and structures in the environment.
11.A.ECa Uses senses to explore and observe materials and natural phenomena.
9.A.1b Draw two-dimensional shapes.
9.B.1a Identify and describe characteristics, similarities and differences of geometric shapes.
9.B.1b Sort, classify and compare familiar shapes.
9.B.1c Identify lines of symmetry in simple figures and construct symmetrical figures using various concrete materials.

Freedom Hall
14.D.EC  Develop an awareness of roles of leaders in their environment.

Art Table
12.E.ECB Participate in recycling in their environment.
19.A.ECb  Engage in active play using fine motor skills.
25.A.ECd  Visual Arts:  Investigate the elements of visual arts.
26.B.1d  Visual Arts:  Demonstrate knowledge and skills to create visual works of art using manipulation, eye-hand coordination, building and imagination.

Dinosaur Tracks
11.A.ECa  Uses senses to explore and observe materials and natural phenomena.
11B.ECa   Use scientific tools such as magnifying glasses.
19.A.ECb  Engage in active play using fine motor skills.

Move, Groove & Grow Gym
19A.ECa  Engage in active play using gross motor skills.
19.C.EC   Follow simple rules while participation in activities.
20.A.EC   Identify body parts and their functions.
19.C.1      Demonstrate safe movement in physical activities.
20.B.1      Describe immediate effects of physical activity on the body (faster heartbeat, increased pulse rate, increased breathing rate).

For more information on programs or learning standards please contact the Outreach coordinator Tammy Anderson at (815) 933-9905 ext 352 or send an email. Office hours are Tuesday-Friday 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Printable Field Trip Contract (PDF)