Science Centers for Preschoolers

Preschoolers learn best through play and investigation. Instead of performing structured science experiments, preschoolers need time and materials to try out ideas on their own. The key to setting up educational science centers for preschoolers is to choose materials that allow for a variety of activities.

Preschool Science Centers - It's about "DOING"

When choosing materials for a science center, it helps to know a little about what preschoolers like to do. Preschoolers like to sort, dig, cut, roll, dump, pour, stir, shake, pile, scoop, build and basically see how they can cause change in their world. This helps preschoolers learn how the world works. Preschool science centers should inspire children to "do something" with their hands.

Preschool Science Centers - It's about "CHOICE"

Two children can be using a science center at the same time and experimenting in completely different ways. The teacher's job is to set the stage for investigation and the child's job is to use the materials to investigate. Preschoolers working with self selected supplies from a science center engages children more than sitting down a group of preschoolers together to all do the same science activity at the same time. Besides, with a science center, there are many possibilities of activities to do with the materials.

Examples of Play Based Science Centers for Preschoolers

Exploring Ramps:Adults set out toy cars and items for preschoolers to create ramps: cookie sheets, cutting boards, etc. and blocks or other items which can be stacked to elevate one end of the flat surface (cookie sheet, cutting board, large book).

Nature Investigations:Adults choose a nature item or nature items for children to investigate and set out tools and supplies for exploring the nature item. Two sunflowers in a vase and one sunflower out of the vase can keep children busy with the right science tools. Large plastic tweezers can be used for children to pull out the seeds in the middle of the sunflower. (Adults need to make it clear that the flower on the table is for pulling seeds). A magnifying glass, magazine or calendar pictures of sunflowers, paint chips to match the colors in the sunflower and small bowls, ice cube trays or egg cartons for sorting offer several ways to learn about sunflowers. The same tools can be used to investigate apples, pumpkins. corn and other fall items for a science center.

Outdoor Dirt Exploration: Adults fill tubs with different types of earth: sand, black garden soil and pea gravel and add cups or scoops to each tub. Plastic tubs, sieves, funnels, cars, a sand wheel and other sand box type toys along with paint chips in earth colors will inspire preschoolers to explore the earth in different ways.