Hands-on exploration and interactive stories engage children as they learn about science, language, engineering, art, mathematics, and social skills. Class topics repeat throughout the same week at different times.
Cost per child per class: $12 public; $10 members
Advance registration required; payment must accompany registration. Please call 815-963-6769 or click to register below.
Cancellation Policy: Refunds are available through the close of registration, minus 10%. Discovery Center reserves the right to cancel events; in which case, a full refund will be issued.
In our classes for 2-year-olds, children must be accompanied by an adult.
At this time, we are limiting the number of people in the room for Tot Spot classes (ages 3 – 6) so parents are requested to wait outside and not accompany their child in to the Tot Spot classroom.
Tot Spot Classes Winter Spring 2023
Superheroes in Training
Calling all superheroes-to-be, we’ve got a training class for you! Fly in to create your own mask, make mini explosions, and create a shield to help you save the day.
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., Jan. 10; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., Jan. 11; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., Jan. 11; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., Jan. 11; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., Jan. 12; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., Jan. 13; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., Jan. 14; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., Jan. 10; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., Jan. 12; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., Jan. 13; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Exploring Shapes
Shapes are all around us! Join us as we learn about what makes shapes different from each other as we read a shape-filled story, find hidden shapes around the room, and make messy art using shapes.
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., Jan. 24; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., Jan. 25; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., Jan. 25; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., Jan. 25; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., Jan. 26; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., Jan. 27; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., Jan. 28; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., Jan. 24; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., Jan. 26; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., Jan. 27; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Blast Off!
3, 2, 1, BLAST OFF! Soar in as we explore some of the wonders of space. Launch a rocket, build and test your own space rover, and paint a nebula to take home.
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., Feb. 7; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., Feb. 8; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., Feb. 8; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., Feb. 8; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., Feb. 9; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., Feb. 10; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., Feb. 11; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., Feb. 7; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., Feb. 9; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., Feb. 10; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Experience Engineering
Budding builders, this class is for you! Come build with large (like really, really large) cardboard pieces, engineer with playdough, and construct something out of recycled materials to take home. What will you make?
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., Feb. 21; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., Feb. 22; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., Feb. 22; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., Feb. 22; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., Feb. 23; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., Feb. 24; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., Feb. 25; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., Feb. 21; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., Feb. 23; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., Feb. 24; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
All About Animals
Roar, slither, and hop into class as we explore the world of animals! Discover new things about some of our favorite animals as we construct a giant bird’s nest, make a snake out of paper chains, and roll around paint to make a tiger!
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., March 7; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., March 8; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., March 8; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., March 8; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., March 9; 11:00 - Noon
Session 6 Fri., March 10; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., March 11; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., March 7; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., March 9; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., March 10; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
The Process of Art
This week, the experience of making art is more important than what we actually take home. Explore making process art with us as we paint with fly swatters, make shapes and patterns with colorful sand, and roll paint down a ramp. This class will be as messy as it is fun!
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., April 4; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., April 5; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., April 5; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., April 5; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., April 6; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., April 7; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., April 8; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., April 4; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., April 6; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., April 7; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Nature Tots
Explore different plants and flowers in this botanic class. Go on a nature “hunt,” get messy in mud, and plant seeds to grow at home!
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., April 18; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., April 19; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., April 19; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., April 19; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., April 20; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., April 21; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., April 22; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., April 18; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., April 20; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., April 21; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Rainbows Everywhere
This week is all about rainbows! Learn how rainbows are made, make rainbows with flashlights, create colorful mini explosions, and design rainbow colored art to take home.
Sessions for 3- to 6-year-olds: Click here to register
Session 1 Tues., May 2; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 2 Wed., May 3; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 3 Wed., May 3; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 4 Wed., May 3; 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Session 5 Thurs., May 4; 11:00 – Noon
Session 6 Fri., May 5; 11:00 a.m. – Noon
Session 7 Sat., May 6; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Sessions for 2-year-olds: Click here to register
(With an adult, NO siblings, please.)
Session 8 Tues., May 2; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 9 Thurs., May 4; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Session 10 Fri., May 5; 9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Toddler Time
Being one is FUN! Take advantage of this playgroup designed for children ages 12 months to 24 months as we sing songs, read stories and explore interesting materials while meeting new friends! Toddler Time is held from 9:30 – 10:30 am this winter/spring on one Tuesday and Thursday each month.
Choose from these dates: January 17, January 19, February 14, February 16, March 14, March 16, April 11, April 13, May 9, and May 11.
Enrollment is limited to 6 families. The class costs $6.00 per child for members and $8.00 child for the public, and advance registration is required.
Click to Register or call 815-963-6769. Toddler Time meets in the Tot Spot classroom (main floor, east end of the building).
What's Happening?
Check out our calendar of special events.