Exchanging Ideas with the Bing Nursery School

December 6, 2022

Hello Friends,

I’m happy to share that the American Flamingo, African Spoonbill, Hamerkop, and Red and Green Macaw have been moved back to the zoo! Visitors can, once again, feed a flamingo alongside animal care staff in the Wildlife Circle. For the safety of the birds during the ongoing avian flu outbreak, the JMZ has provided booties and foot washing stations for visitors to use in the zoo. If we all do our part to keep the birds safe when visiting the zoo, the JMZ may be able to bring back the rest of the bird collection and the “Loose in the Zoo” experience!

This month, we feature a recent tour of the JMZ by 30 plus educators from Bing Nursery School. The Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo and Bing have long histories of facilitating childhood learning. The goals for the tour were for staff from both the JMZ and Bing to learn from each other, and to be inspired by how both institutions encourage children to learn through their own curiosity. We spoke with former educator and current Friends board member Kelly Bavor about the unique opportunity this tour presented both Bing and the JMZ.

I hope to see you at the JMZ soon. Best wishes for the holidays and a very happy and healthy New Year!

Lauren Angelo

President, Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

Flamingos are back! Photo courtesy of Artem Nazarov.

Questions for Kelly Bavor, Friends Board Member

What were the goals of the tour?

The Junior Museum & Zoo and Bing have long histories of facilitating childhood learning. Knowing that both institutions have a wealth of knowledge to offer about early childhood education, this tour was meant to be collaborative and dialogue-focused. The goals for the tour were for staff from both the JMZ and Bing to learn from each other, and to be inspired by how both institutions encourage children to learn through play and to be guided by their own curiosity.

John Aikin and Kelly Bavor spoke to the Bing group before the tour.

How was the tour of the Junior Museum & Zoo tailored to Bing’s learning objectives?

Bing educators were invited to walk around the JMZ with questions to ponder, such as what accessibility features they observed throughout the museum and zoo and what kind of exhibit they would design if given the opportunity. JMZ staff also provided in-depth looks at the various components of the museum and zoo. For example, Tina Keegan, JMZ Exhibits Director, spoke to Bing educators about her process in designing an accessible exhibits hall and highlighted some of the most popular exhibits. JMZ Education Director Alex Hamilton let educators explore the Education Hub, where JMZ teachers store materials for lessons. Looking through the shelves and cabinets, visitors were asked to think about what lessons they could create with supplies in the hub.

Alex Hamilton shows one of the groups the Education Hub and invites them to explore its contents.

How are the JMZ and Bing similar in their approaches to childhood education?

Central to both Bing and the JMZ’s philosophy, is the concept of learning through play. Not only are the JMZ and Bing sites for learning, but for research as well. The JMZ, for example, collaborates with the Stanford Department of Psychology’s Social Learning Lab to support research into how children think, learn, and interact with others.

Were there features about the JMZ that Bing educators found particularly engaging for children?

Bing teachers were quick to note the dynamism of the exhibits at the JMZ and the myriad ways children of different ages, interests, and abilities could engage with them.  JMZ Exhibits Director Tina Keegan discussed her approach to exhibit design and invited Bing teachers to imagine what they might adjust or add to further enrich the experience of children and their caregivers. 

Animals and the design of the zoo were also a discussion point. In his tour of the zoo, JMZ Executive Director John Aikin, highlighted the many vantage points children had to view the animals up close—from above in a canopy, or a tunnel amidst the roots of a tree.  Allowing children to observe wildlife up close in this way, he said, sparks curiosity and engenders respect for the natural world.

"We were all excited to see how the new JMZ would look, and it exceeded our expectations. Everything was so thoughtfully and intentionally designed for children to experience, learn, and enjoy! Truly such an exceptional place for children and families!"

--Rinna Sanchez-Baluyut, Bing Head Teacher

Friends of the Palo Alto Junior Museum & Zoo

[email protected] | www.friendsjmz.org

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