At the NASA Goddard Child Development Center (GCDC), we keep your child’s needs as the central motivation for our lessons. We know that children enter school with varied experiences and expectations. Children are discovering the world around them and are anxious to explore it. The development of a child’s strong self-image, as well as his or her positive feelings about school, is paramount.

Our environment nurtures the child and encourages exploration and learning. The NASA GCDC curriculum provides the building blocks to help young children develop into lifelong learners. Through a balance of play and academics, children develop the skills necessary to become constructive members of the school community. The primary function of our program is to provide your child with a positive and fruitful learning experience.

Preschool 2

We know that two-year olds are discovering their independence and are fascinated with discoveries. Building upon this, our two-year-old program seeks to create daily experiences for children that help them explore their world through their five senses. Access the daily schedule for the  Comets or  Little Discoveries .  

Preschool 3 and Preschool 4

This program is open to children ages three to four years of age. It is ideal for children who are new to a preschool setting. Using a balance of large-group, small-group, and individualized instruction, we offer a preschool program that creates self-directed learners and problem solvers. Access the schedule for  Little Dippers ,  The Milky Way and  Shooting Stars .

Pre-Kindergarten

This program is open to children ages four to five years of age. Using a balance of large-group, small-group, and individualized instruction, our teachers create meaningful lessons that support student learning in math, science, social studies, and language arts. Access the schedule for   Constellations and  Satellites.

Summer Program

To learn more about our summer program, please visit our summer program  information page.