Science Center
Science Center Displays
Nut Sorting
Children use tongs to pick up each nut and sort the four types of nuts into the four wooden bowls.
Matching Color Hues
I collect the free paint sample cards from the hardware store with a pair of each color. Children find the matching hues of each color.
Gourds
Children sort the gourds into the baskets by texture: bumpy or smooth.
Pumpkins
We had several pumpkins of different sizes and colors for the children to observe, touch, and make observational drawings. After several weeks, these were cut in half for the children to observe the inside. Tweezers were placed in the science center with the pumpkins for children to pick out the seeds.
Things from Trees
This is a display of all kinds of things that come from trees. The jars contain pinecones and different types of tree nuts. The pieces of tree with bark are from our collection of "Tree Blocks". When the children discovered flower buds on the pear tree at school, we brough in two branches for our science center.
Can You Make Sound with Water?
These are glass vases from the craft store ($0.99 each). I put different amounts of colored water in them. The children use a guiro mallet to gently tap them as they listen to the musical notes made.
Things That Make Sound
The tray on the left contains a drum, castanet, keys on a ring, paper to crumple, water in a bottle, retractable pen, egg with rice inside, and a nut inside its shell. The tray on the right has a collection of bells. Children can use these just to hear the different sounds or play a sound guessing game with a friend.
Ramps
After children started building ramps for the trucks in the blocks center, this display was set up to encourage more explorations with ramps. I built the ramp with a few blocks from the block center, and added items to test whether they roll or do not roll. The items were: Cracker Barrell mini syrup bottle, small cylinder block, small toy car, plastic egg, wooden cube, wooden wheel, roll of tape, wooden triangle, and a round craft pom pom. We also have different materials to put on the boards, such as bubble wrap, wax paper, and sandpaper for the children to test which materials help or prevent cars from rolling down.
Things from the Ocean
This is a collection of seashells, coral, sea sponges, starfish, and a seahorse.
Things That Spin
This is a collection of various things that spin: spinning tops, small bottle, wheel, CD, jar lid, plastic egg, and a game die. The children like to see which objects spin the best. The egg and game die were the most popular.
Magnets
A collection of magnet wands, horseshoe magnets, and things that are magnetic, such as paper clips, magnetic marbles, boxes filled with iron filings, and magnet tubes. I made the magnet tubes using coin collector tubes from the hobby store (the ones made for quarters). Inside the tubes are magnetic objects (jingle bells, paper clips, thumb tacks, bingo chips, etc) and non-magnetic objects (piece of wood, eraser, seashells, cotton, etc). Children determine which objects are magnetic and which are not.
Magnifying Board
This magnifying board has a clear top that screws on so that you can remove it and change the items in the board. Its great for collecting small things during a nature walk. This board came from Lakeshore.
Rocks (Kids' Collection)
Children love to add rocks they find to the rock collection box. The box is a plastic craft box with divided sections.
Rocks (Commercial Collection)
I also have a commercial collection since there are many rocks of different colors and textures that cannot be found in one area.
Seed Sorting
The wooden bowl contains four types of seeds. Children pick up the seeds with the tweezers or their fingers and sort them into the four clear bowls.
Seed/Plant Growth
Children plant the seeds themselves and water them as needed. We watch the growth of the plants, which encourages lots of observation and discussion skills. The photo shows the seedlings of four types of seeds we planted: bean, corn, tomato, and watermelon. By planting four different types, children were able to observe which seeds germinate for shorter or longer periods of time. The bean and corn were the fastest to sprout, while the tomato came in third, and the watermelon took the longest to sprout.
Pattern Blocks with Mirrors
Children place pattern blocks in front of the mirrors to make repeated symmetical designs. Two mirrors are taped together.
Bugs
A collection of various items for learning about bugs: real bug specimens, a real cocoon, locust shells, buttefly life cycle set, plastic models of bugs (in the boxes), bug boxes (used to collect found bugs to observe for one day, then set free), a "How Insects See" viewer from Insect Lore.
More Ideas:
- Color Sorting Cups: Children sort small objects into cups by color.
- Locks and Keys
- Flashlights: Take apart and put back together.
- Objects that can/cannot be moved by blowing: Feather, cotton, wood block, paper cup, piece of yarn, rock, etc.
- Wind Chimes, Pinwheel, Prisms
- Various types of seeds in a divided box (include tweezers and magnifying glasses)
- Sand and Water Bottles: Children shake and watch the sand settle.
- Prisms: Use with flashlights or near a window.
- Transparent/ Non-Transparent Objects: paper, rocks, leaves, crystals, plastic wrap, fabric, etc.
- Texture Scraps: sandpaper, lace, velvet, leather, faux fur, plastic (button), cotton, seashell, corrugated paper, plastic canvas, sponge, felt, satin ribbon, grosgrain ribbon, tape, etc.
- Mystery Bag/ Box: Children feel objects and match them to photos of the objects.
- Scent Jars: Add scent to cotton ball and place in container. Examples: lemon juice, olive oil, vinegar, pepper, perfume or body spray, peppermint oil, vanilla extract, coconut oil, spices, tea bags. Tip: "Lapsang Souchong" tea smells like smoke.
- Penny Drop: Fill a gallon jar with water and place a small juice glass upright on the bottom. Give children 10-20 pennies. Children drop them in water, trying to get them in the glass. Try other objects, such as marbles.
Printables
Links
Science Supply Catalogs
Resource Books
