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The Wonder Cabinet
The Wonder Cabinet: A FIRST 5 Early Learning Laboratory is a 3,100 square foot exhibition dedicated to children ages 4 and under and the adults who accompany them.
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The exhibit invites hands-on exploration upon walking through the doors and into a remarkable environment rich in materials and textures to inspire curiosity and imagination. Snuggle with a puppet and a good book, experiment in the Sand Laboratory, touch natural wonders, and step inside a child-sized kaleidoscope. Be sure to climb the stairs to relax in a carousel of light and music.
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The Wonder Cabinet was designed in partnership with local teachers, cultural groups, and children’s organizations. In the Travel Exhibit, dioramas highlight the diverse cultures of Silicon Valley. The boxes present an opportunity to identify both the similarities among people and their differences, fostering pride in self and respect for others.
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Currently, the exhibit features dioramas designed in partnership with Vietnamese teachers from the Santa Clara Country Office of Education Head Start program.
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The Wonder Cabinet was created as a learning environment – where children learn about their world, parents learn about their children, and the community learns how to best serve the needs of families and children.
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“Wonder Wisdom” sheets located around the exhibit provide parents with hints to get the most out of the exhibit, and the “Wonder File” near the front of the exhibit houses many First 5 Resources and Wonder Cabinet handouts for parents, teachers and caregivers.
In the Wonder Cabinet, young children expand their imaginations as they use all of their senses to explore the environment. Rich, fine, high-quality sand in the sand laboratory provides a pleasurable, highly tactile learning experience.
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Children learn the joy of reading, singing, and playing with language as they listen to storytimes with trained staff. At the natural history hexagon, children classify and categorize various natural objects by smells, colors, and textures. And children can dance amidst colorful light and shadows.
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Schedule
Creations in the Art Studio
Tuesday - Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Open for members only Sunday 11:00 a.m. - noon
In our Art Studio, all art activities are designed to be open ended allowing for the personal creativity of each child. We encourage a wide variety of exploration through the Paint Wall, art/sensory activities and Wonder Baskets. These early art experiences emphasize the exciting process of experimenting rather than creating an end product.
Experiences in the Art Studio are designed for children ages 4 and under. Families with older children are welcome in the Art Studio and the Wonder Cabinet. However, we encourage families with older children seeking more directed activities to visit the Art Loft in the main Museum.
January: Watercolors with Special Effects
February: Homemade Moon Sand
Infant Activities in the Crawl Space
Tuesday - Sunday, 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Join museum staff for fingerplays and open ended activities designed to delight your baby. Take off your shoes and join in the fun!
All Day Long
The Crawl Space environment provides different levels of stimulation and challenge to accommodate infants, crawlers and beginning walkers. Your child will feel, listen, look, and learn as he or she discovers textures, colors, and sounds.
Storytime in the Forest
Tuesday - Sunday, 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Join Museum staff for a lively story followed by engaging activities designed for toddlers and preschoolers and the adults that accompany them.
All Day Long
The Forest environment is a magical space filled with early literacy activities, including the ABC Wall, puppets, books, and space for pretend play to make thinking, reading, and learning a positive experience for young children.
Wonder Cabinet sponsor FIRST 5 offers a free kit for new parents, as well as information on kindergarten readiness and a variety of valuable parenting resources on www.first5kids.org.
Junior League San Jose (www.jlsj.org) facilitates programs in the Wonder Cabinet each Saturday from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Just look for the red aprons!
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The Wonder Cabinet Wisdom -
Parent Resource Sheets
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Wonder Cabinet Tip: Process vs. Product
In the Art Studio, we offer activities that will encourage young children to focus on the process of making art, rather than the finished product. In January, for example, we will provide watercolor paints, brushes and paper so children can explore painting with watercolors. The desired outcome of this activity is not that children walk away with a watercolor masterpiece, but that they have the opportunity to experiment with different brushstrokes, investigate the ways that colors mix, and make confidence-boosting decisions. You can support your child through this process of discovery by asking open-ended questions, such as “Do you like doing this? Why?” or “Tell me about your painting.” Point out your observations, such as “I see that you mixed many colors together. What color did you make?” or “I see that you have made three green lines.” By simply allowing your child to explore the materials at hand, you can help build their confidence and encourage them to enjoy the process of making art!
Wonder Cabinet Tip: Beneath the Surface of Play
Children love to play – whether it’s pretending, making up new games, or running around the local park. However, playtime is not just a time for fun; it is also a time for learning. Beneath the surface of play lies the opportunity for children to learn how to maneuver through the world around them. As they play, children are learning how to express and work through their emotions, how to communicate, and how to cooperate with others. It gives them a chance to use their imaginations and find creative uses for the everyday things around them. It encourages children to solve problems, create their own ideas, and to be curious.
You have an opportunity to help guide your child through this process by channeling your inner child and playing with them. Follow your child’s lead. Allowing them to make decisions and to create scenarios helps your child develop a sense of control. By taking a serious (and enthusiastic) interest in their play, you will help your child develop foundations for problem-solving, self-confidence, relationship-building, and more.
Wonder Cabinet Tip: Visiting the Paint Wall
While some may view a painted wall in an “Art Studio” as “messy,” CDM sees it as a colorful communal canvas. The “Paint Wall” allows children to explore the process of making art — choosing paints, experimenting with mixing colors, and using different brushstrokes. It also encourages social interactions, such as sharing and patience.
You can support your child by allowing him to make his own choices. Try not to offer her direction in what to paint or how to paint. It may be tempting, but allowing your child to explore these areas on his own will help build his self esteem. Rather than asking about the horse she painted (which to her may have been a boat), ask her to tell you about what she is painting. Ask questions, acknowledge your child’s choices, and encourage him every step of the way!
Wonder Cabinet sponsor FIRST 5 offers a free kit for new parents, as well as information on Kindergarten readiness and a variety of valuable parenting resources, on www.first5kids.org.
Wonder Cabinet Health Procedures
Children explore by putting things in their mouths. To help to keep our children healthy, sanitation procedures are ongoing in the Wonder Cabinet (and throughout the Museum). You can assist by putting any objects that have been in your child’s mouth into the specially marked bins for immediate attention!
Chicks Born in the Wonder Cabinet!
Take a look at the video of our first chicks!
(requires Windows Media Player)
Witness the miracle of life as eggs hatch and baby birds begin to grow. Our first chicks hatched on April 6, 2007. They have moved to their permanent home, but take a look at the video clip of two of the chicks: Urkel and Tweetie. They are 5 days old in the video. Check back for updates, we will be hatching quail eggs later this Spring.
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The Wonder Cabinet was made possible through the support of FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, which developed a $1 million partnership with the Museum in 2003 to impact the learning and lives of the county's youngest citizens.
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With this funding, the Museum has developed a number of innovative projects that focus on the cognitive, social and emotional development of children 0 – 5 as well as provide information and resources for the adults who live and work with them. The Wonder Cabinet is the most significant project from the partnership.
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Children
Games & activities
The ABC Case Online
Resources
Picture books for preschoolers and toddlers:
I Went Walking, by Sue Williams
We're Going on a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen
Listen to the Desert (Oye al Disierto), by Pat Mora
The Water Hole, by Graeme Base
Board books for babies and toddlers:
Little Green, by Keith Baker
Hush Little Baby, by Sylvia Long
Barnyard Banter, by Denise Fleming
Alphabet Books:
Alphabet Under Construction, by Denise Fleming
The Turn-Around, Upside-Down Alphabet Book, by Lisa Campbell Ernst
Chicka, Chicka, Boom, Boom, by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault
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