Science Center

Above you can see our Science center as it is set up in the classroom. 

Why should I include a science center in my classroom?

  For preschoolers, daily life IS science. Research indicates that all children can learn science and should have the opportunity to become scientifically literate as early as possible.  Effective science learning requires hands-on contact with materials, time to investigate and manipulate those materials and time to contemplate the results.  In order for scientific learning to happen, we must introduce children to  science in the classroom at an early age.  Many of us remember science as a boring subject in grade school involving lots of memorization, however, we are now beginning to see science as a way of thinking and trying to understand the world.  Researchers now realize that active, hands-on learning provides the most meaningful and relevant learning experiences for children. 

Items on top of shelf

1 & 5 Science Books

Two boxes of non-fiction books are available for students to read.  They also enjoy looking at Zoobooks, Ranger Rick, and other science magazines. 

2.  Magnifying Glasses & Sound Shakers

Magnifying glasses can be purchased individually at most Dollar Stores and can also be found in bulk at US Toy for only $2.95 a dozen.  I made these sound shakers with film canisters and common household items. 

3.  Baby Soda Bottles/Test Tubes

I use these cool baby soda bottles to create some of my discovery bottles. 

4.  Giant Magnifying Glass

From Lakeshore, this magnifying glass is good for looking at large items like shells or even your own hand. 

Middle Shelf

1 & 3 Discovery Bottles

Some discovery bottles can only be made in regular water bottles.  I found the protective goggles at the local Dollar Store, the students love to wear them and pretend they are real scientists.  See the resources section at the bottom of this page for links to discovery bottle recipes.

2.  Magnifying Board

From Lakeshore, this magnifying board is both safe and indestructible.  The wooden board has items in compartments covered with acrylic. The magnifying board gives children an up-close look at even the most delicate objects. Kids just hold the permanently attached magnifier over each object for a detailed view.

4.  Prisms

Students love to look at the world around them through prisms.  You can buy prisms in bulk at US Toy for $2.95 a dozen. 

5.  Magnetic Board

Made from wood and covered with acrylic this magnetic board  is both safe and indestructible.  As you run the attached magnet over this fascinating board, objects like nails and paper clips cling to the magnet…while rocks and buttons stay put.  Kids love predicting the outcome…and exploring magnetism via hands on learning.

6.  Smelly Bottles

Children use their sense of smell to identify different fragrances of potpourri in these unique discovery bottles.  See the resources section at the bottom of this page for discovery bottle recipes.

Bottom Shelf

1.  Magnets & Texture Board

Texture Boards can be made by hot gluing textured items to a cheap wooden cutting board from the Dollar Store.  The items pictured on our Texture Board above are: cotton balls, sand paper, fur, chamois, tin foil, and textured wall paper samples.  The green tub contains magnets and magnet wands to use with the magnetic discovery bottles.  Magnetic wands can be found at most craft stores for less than $2 each.

2. View Masters & Binoculars

Children love to look at pictures in the view master or the world around them with binoculars.  I found all of my View Masters and binoculars at Garage Sales or Thrift Stores for less than $1 each.  You can buy science related View Master reels at stores like Wal Mart and Target. 

3. Build-a-Saurus

This is very popular with the boys, they LOVE to build their own dinosaurs!  This item came from Constructive Playthings.

4. Creepy Crawlies

Another popular item with the boys, these are cheap plastic bugs, snakes, turtles, and sea creatures etc from the dollar store.  They love to examine these under the magnifying glasses and sort them by species.