Museum Munchkins
Every Wednesday Morning
9:30am – 10:00am | Free
Museum Munchkins is a weekly early-learning program designed especially for our youngest visitors and their caregivers. Each session features a new theme inspired by the Kenosha Public Museum’s exhibits and collections, encouraging curiosity, creativity, and hands-on exploration.
Designed for toddlers and preschoolers, Museum Munchkins includes a mix of stories, simple activities, movement, and art projects in a welcoming museum environment. Caregivers participate alongside their child, making it a fun and engaging experience to enjoy together.
Supported by the Kenosha Community Foundation through the CBK Small Grants Program from The Clark-Barber Family Fund and The Kubasiewicz Family Trust
Weekly Themes
Each week explores a different animal, giving families something new to discover every visit. Current weekly themes are listed below and updated regularly.
April
1–Lyrebirds
8–Koalas
15–Octopus
22–Triceratops
29–Otters
May
6–Quokkas
13–Hoatzins
20–Brachiosaurus
27–Sloths
June
3–Tyrannosaurus rex
Summer Break
Watch Museum Munchkins at home!
Can’t make it to the museum every week? Explore past Museum Munchkins sessions on our YouTube channel! These videos feature stories, activities, and themes from previous programs—perfect for extending the fun at home or previewing what to expect.
Museum Munchkins Live: Elephants
Presenter: Mr. Nick
[Music]
Mr. Nick:
Good morning, everybody, and welcome to Museum Munchkins Live! I’m Mr. Nick, and today we are talking all about elephants.
We’re going to start with a song. If you’re not already on your feet, stand up! We’re going to swing our trunks, stomp our feet, and flap our ears—just like elephants.
Let’s practice:
Swing side to side… stomp your feet… and flap your ears!
[Music – Elephant Song with movement: swinging arms, stomping feet, flapping ears]
Great job dancing, everyone!
Introduction to Elephants
Today we’re learning all about elephants. Have you ever seen one before? Maybe at a zoo, in a book, or even in Africa or Asia?
There are three types of elephants in the world:
- African bush elephants
- African forest elephants
- Asian elephants
Elephants are the largest land animals on Earth. African elephants can grow up to 13 feet tall and weigh as much as 20,000 pounds.
They have:
- Gray skin
- Long white tusks
- Very large ears
Elephants use their ears like natural air conditioners. Flapping them helps cool their bodies.
How Elephants Move and Eat
Elephants walk on four legs, like dogs, cats, and bears.
They are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They spend 12–18 hours a day eating things like:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grass
- Leaves
- Trees and bushes
Elephant Trunks
An elephant’s trunk is very special. It is both their nose and upper lip. They use it to grab and hold things.
Swimming and Sun Protection
Elephants love to swim to cool off. Afterward, they cover themselves in mud and sand, which acts like sunscreen.
Elephant Families
Elephants live in groups called families. These groups can have about 20 elephants.
The leader is called the matriarch, which is the oldest female in the group.
Story Time
Reader: Miss Keaton
Book: Elephant & Piggie series
Summary:
Gerald the elephant tells Piggie how he broke his trunk. He tried lifting heavier and heavier animals—first a hippo, then a rhino, then even more! But in the end, he actually broke his trunk by tripping and falling while running to tell his friend the story.
Craft Activity
Today’s craft is an elephant puppet.
Materials:
- Construction paper
- Drinking straw
You can create a paper elephant with a trunk that moves when you blow into the straw.
If you don’t have those materials, you can also make an elephant drawing using your hand as a template.
Q & A Segment
Q: Are elephants related to mammoths?
A: Yes! Mammoths are most closely related to Asian elephants.
Q: Where do elephants sleep?
A: They sleep in safe, bushy areas, usually at night.
Q: Do elephants eat peanuts?
A: They can eat peanuts, but peanuts don’t naturally grow where elephants live.
Q: Do elephants have animal friends?
A: Yes! Birds often sit on elephants and eat bugs from their skin.
Closing
Mr. Nick:
Thank you so much for joining Museum Munchkins Live today!
If you have more questions about elephants, feel free to leave a comment. Join us next time when we learn about ocelots—we’ll have another fun song and craft.
See you next time!
[Music]
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