Exploring Early Learning at WA Museum Boola Bardip
Looking for an educational adventure that’s hands-on, engaging and toddler-approved? WA Museum Boola Bardip’s early years programs are designed to spark curiosity and make learning fun! With interactive sessions and guided activities, children under five can explore the museum in exciting and meaningful ways.
Early Years Programs at WA Museum Boola Bardip
- Story Time (Wednesdays, Fridays & Sundays, 10:30 am – 11:00 am): A moving storytelling session set among the museum’s colourful galleries, where little ones can immerse themselves in captivating tales inspired by Western Australia’s rich history and culture.
- Discovery Time (Mondays & Saturdays, 10:30 am – 11:00 am): A drop-in session where children can handle museum objects and engage in hands-on activities designed to spark their imagination.
- Little Learners (Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9:45 am – 10:45 am): An educator-led program tailored for children aged 2-5, focusing on an overarching theme each term, with a new topic explored weekly. Sessions consist of 45 minutes of educator-led activities, followed by a 15-minute visit to a relevant museum exhibit, bringing learning to life within the galleries.
With something on every day, it’s easy to find a session that suits your family’s schedule.
Little Learners: Dino Discoverers – A Roaring Good Time!
Each term, the Little Learners program introduces a fresh theme. This term, children are embarking on a prehistoric journey with Dino Discoverers, bringing the fascinating world of dinosaurs to life through engaging, hands-on activities.
Our Experience at Little Learners: Dino Discoverers
We recently attended Weeks 4 and 5 of the Little Learners: Dino Discoverers program at WA Museum Boola Bardip. Held on Level 3, these structured, educator-led sessions engaged toddlers and preschoolers through play, art and interactive discovery. The museum educator, Felicity, and the volunteers created a warm and welcoming atmosphere, ensuring every child felt encouraged and involved.
Week 4: Coverings & Camouflage
The session kicked off with a fun colour-recognition activity, introducing the concept of ‘coverings’ by identifying the colours the children were wearing.
Session Highlights:
- Mini Dinosaur Hunt – Children searched for colourful miniature dinosaurs, sorted them by colour, and practised counting, reinforcing early maths skills.
- Interactive Storytime – Families sang and joined in on the actions to The Dinos on the Bus by Peter Millett.
- Hands-on Exploration – Real snake and lizard skins were available for touching, linking textures to dinosaur coverings.
- Creative Art Activity – Little ones decorated their own stegosaurus using stamps, sponges, coloured paper and paint. Smocks were provided for mess-free fun.
- Dinosaur Hide-and-Seek – Caregivers camouflaged paper dinosaurs around the room, reinforcing how coverings help animals blend into their environment. Kai particularly loved the dinosaur hide-and-seek game—he was so determined to find them all!
- Gallery Visit – We explored the Wildlife gallery, spotting real-life examples of camouflage like bobtails, spiny-tailed geckos and snakes.
Week 5: Size Matters
This session helped little learners grasp the vast differences in dinosaur sizes—some bigger than a bus, others smaller than a chicken. Through hands-on comparisons and movement-based learning, children explored measurement in a fun and interactive way.
Session Highlights:
- Dinosaur Size Discussion – Felicity sparked curiosity by asking if dinosaurs were big or small, leading to a chat about the tallest herbivores.
- Storytime: Ten Terrible Dinosaurs by Paul Stickland – Before reading, children helped count how many were in attendance, tying into the book’s counting theme.
- Dinosaur Sorting – Each child received three toy dinosaurs to order from biggest to smallest. Kai chose to sort his by length, while others focused on height!
- Measuring & Comparing Height – Children used a tape measure to see if they were taller or shorter than a microraptor (80cm tall).
- T-Rex Stride Challenge – Felicity measured out a T-Rex stride and children counted how many of their steps fit inside just one. Kai was fascinated by how many of his tiny steps fit inside the T-Rex stride—he couldn’t stop counting!
- T-Rex Footprint Comparison – Kids traced their hands and feet, then placed them inside a giant T-Rex footprint. Despite nine children adding their prints, they couldn’t fill it!
- Measuring Dinosaurs with Blocks – A fun, open-ended maths activity that encouraged measurement and comparison.
- Museum Visit – The Blue Whale – Tying into the size theme, the group visited Hackett Hall to see the museum’s 24-metre blue whale skeleton, using both tape measures and strides to reinforce mathematical concepts.
Why We Love Little Learners
From a teacher’s perspective, Little Learners is an exceptional program. Each session is:
Aligned to the Early Years Learning Framework, supporting key developmental milestones in literacy, numeracy and inquiry-based learning.
Highly interactive and sensory-rich, catering to various learning styles and keeping even the busiest toddlers and pre-schoolers engaged.
Beautifully structured, with a balance of educator-led activities, hands-on exploration, creative expression and museum discovery.
A fantastic social opportunity, where children interact with peers, fostering communication and teamwork.
Caregiver Tips for Attending
- Arrive early to allow time for parking, bus or train delays, and settling in.
- Book multiple sessions to take advantage of the discounted rate.
- Dress for mess! While smocks are provided, little hands love to explore, so don’t dress them in their best clothes.
- Make time to explore the museum after the session—Boola Bardip’s galleries are a treasure trove of discovery.
- Younger siblings are welcome but may not be able to participate in all activities.
Final Thoughts
WA Museum Boola Bardip’s Little Learners program is a must for families with young children. It offers a rich, hands-on learning experience in a relaxed and engaging environment, making it a wonderful way to introduce toddlers and preschoolers to the wonders of science, history and discovery.
With each term bringing a fresh theme, there’s always something new to explore—whether it’s dinosaurs, STEM adventures or cultural stories. If you’re looking for an educational outing that nurtures curiosity and creativity, this program is well worth booking.
Ready to explore? Book your Little Learners session now via the WA Museum Boola Bardip website. We can’t wait to see what the next term brings!
- About the Author
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Adriana Turk is a Melbourne-born mum raising her adventurous two-year-old in Perth, her new home. A teacher with a passion for play-based learning, Adriana shares her journey through Perth Toddler Adventures, an Instagram account dedicated to budget-friendly outings, natural playgrounds, and hands-on activities for little ones. With a focus on creating magical everyday moments and connecting with Perth parents, Adriana blends her teaching expertise and love for adventure to inspire families to embrace learning through play and discovery.
