A casual classroom chat about shoes has sparked a wave of hands-on discovery at Excelsior Springs Early Childhood Center, where curiosity is driving students to explore, question and create – an approach the district hopes to expand through its upcoming summer school program.Preschoolers at the Early Childhood Center (ECC) have been exploring the real-world topic of footwear, culminating in a live survey presented to the school board by second-year preschooler, Bella. Equipped with a clipboard and a question, Bella tallied which board members had letters on their shoes, proudly reporting, “Five board members did not have letters on their shoes, and six board members did.”This project is part of a broader effort to make learning meaningful and connected to everyday life. ECC Director Dr.Katie Andreasen highlighted this and other efforts to prepare students for kindergarten and beyond. Enrollment at the ECC has more than tri...