Longmont's Ed and Ruth Lehman YMCA celebrated the launch of their new preschool program Tuesday when staff opened the doors to a new STEM lab where students will learn about science, technology, engineering and math.
Starting this week, the YMCA's Inspire preschool will incorporate STEM activities into the student's curriculum, said preschool director Lola Hamby.
The preschool's 60 students will participate in hands on activities catered to their age group, Hamby said, including making hover crafts or kaleidoscopes and building with Legos.
Inspire students range from ages 2 ½ to 5.
The curriculum already included lessons in all of the STEM areas, Hamby said, but the new program will increase consistency and make activities more fun for students with the new lab and materials.
"We've done these kinds of lessons forever," Hamby said. "The difference is now it's more intentional learning on our end, so they're not just playing with Legos but learning about engineering while they build."
The materials, including computers and activity kits, and furniture for the new lab was paid for by about $50,000 in donations from private and corporate donors, Hamby said. Remaining donations will support scholarships for Inspire students in need, she said.
Contact Times-Call community reporter Whitney Bryen at 303-684-5274 or firstname.lastname@example.org