Wheaton students learn through play

For the students at Jefferson Preschool Center in Wheaton, Wednesday was nothing more than another day playing with new toys.

But parents and teachers knew better.

A visit from one of DuPage Children Museum’s learning laboratories made this day different.

“Children at this age learn best through play so it’s good because it’s a play-based program,” said Judith Zapf, the head of the Wheaton school’s parent-teacher association. “If they have done the job right, they have no idea they have learned anything.”

The visit was funded through a grant secured by the parent-teachers group. Over two days, each of the school’s 250 students will have a chance to attend the hourlong program.

Held in the school’s gymnasium, the program emphasized math learning through games and activities that used household objects.

The museum launched the lab series, which includes “Patterns, Strategies & Number Sense,” in 2006 and the lab covers sorting, patterning, counting and geometry.

Principal Stephanie Farrelly said the open-ended lab was a hit and the school will try to bring it back next year.

“It truly enriches the learning experience,” she said. “They will definitely bring back what they are learning to the classroom and it reinforces the learning we do in the classroom.”

Considering the gymnasium had a constant flow of 4-year-olds marching through, Farrelly said the day went smoothly.

“The students were so mesmerized with the different materials at each station, they were well organized,” she said.