The Discovery Room Program has been a valuable supplement to the science education at Mt. Eccles Elementary School, with over 300 children visiting the Discovery Room each month since fall of 1992. Monthly topics, developed by a commitee of local teachers, PWS Science Center, and U.S. Forest Service staff, complement the elementary school's science curriculum. Students' favorite topics include Wetlands, Birds, Marine Science, and Rainforests. The learning themes are introduced by a puppet show, the students then break into small groups to visit each of three stations. Depending on the topic, the stations contain hands-on displays, experiments, and games.
Students also create a take-home project illustrating the monthly theme.
Kids learn about insect adaptations by comparing insect bodies to their own. Probably the most eagerly anticipated part of students' visits to the Discovery Room is the introductory puppet show. Over the years, students have come to know and love Bucky Beaver, Beo Wolf, Rasputin Rat, and Bertha Bear. These puppets have proven to be an effective and entertaining way to introduce each month's topic. The Discovery Room also serves as an educational library specializing in Science and Environmental Education for teachers and students in Cordova, Alaska.