Science Centers

I'd like to focus more on science centers in my classroom. I enjoy science, but I never seem to have time for really cool science excursions, so I'm creating centers to help with this.

My focus is on using the state standards to build my activities. This way they are all on target, and I know that all of my expectations are being met.

I am also really trying to tie in lots of “print” in the form of poems, books, charts, and graphs. These will truly be literacy centers, and not just science centers. This is important to me because we have such a short time with our students and every minute counts when it comes to helping children build a desire to read.

These are some of my science centers that are "works in progress":

Expectations covered: Knows that life occurs on or near the surface of the Earth in land, water and air. Knows that plants and animals are found in different kids of environments and are often hidden.

Using: books, plays, stuffed animals, pictures.

2) Sun/Shade, day/night, light

Expectations covered: Knows the effects of sun and shade on the same object. Knows that light can pass through some objects, but cannot pass through other objects. Knows that the sky looks different during the day than it does at night. Poses questions, seeks answers, draws pictures of observations, and makes decisions using information.

Using: flash lights, books, plays, observation charts, pictures.

Expectations covered: Knows that the position of the Sun in the sky appears to change during the day. Knows some of the objects seen in the night sky. Understands that continuous patterns occur in nature.

Using: seasonal calendars, books, poems, plays, mini-books.

I'm storing the centers in huge 2 1/2 gallon zip top bags in a laundry basket.

I have found that laundry baskets come in so handy in the classroom that I always seem to have an extra one laying around.


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