Science center materials and equipment
Finding equipment and materials
There are many everyday items as well as commercial science center materials and equipment that are available to teach children about science. Suggestions are listed in the three main science skill categories.
Earth science - investigating features of the Earth and its atmosphere
Geo magnets (plastic connectors and magnetic balls)- Felt covered cookie sheets so children can play quietly with magnets and other items
- magnetic wands, bar magnets, horseshoe magnets
- collection of items to try with magnets
- sorting board (magnet will pick up, magnet won't pick up)
- rock collections
- motorized solar system
Physical science - the study of non-living things
color paddles - Old glasses with a variety of lenses
- "Lite Brite®"
- Glow light twirlers
- Holographic gift bags (dollar store type)
- Black light
- flashlights
- concave plastic lens
- convex plastic lens
- goggles
- binoculars
- strips of colored transparent and opaque plastic
- balance scales and items to weigh
- incline plane, blocks with different surfaces glued to one side (sandpaper, hard plastic, balsa wood, felt)
Life sciences - characteristics of living things
- classifying cards
- life cycle puzzles or stamps
- small lidded plastic bottles for smelling (glue a bit of fabric to the bottom and add a drop of essential oil to each one
- tuning fork and rubber hammer
- a variety of objects to touch (silk, sandpaper, fake fur); 2 of each for matching with closed eyes
- stethoscope
Sand and water tables also offer many opportunities for children to experiment with science phenomena.
Go from science center materials to science magazines for kids...
All science pages:
Science lessons -Read to find out what science skills your kindergarten students need to learn and what topics to teach.
Teaching science - When teaching science to young children, provide them with lots of objects to examine from the natural and physical world.
Science center - Create a child centered kindergarten science center that is easy to change and reflects the skills and knowledge that the children need to learn.
Science center materials & equipment - There are many everyday items as well as commercial science center materials and equipment that are available to teach children about science. Suggestions are listed in the three main science skill categories.
Kindergarten science fair projects - that match the kindergarten science learning outcomes are preferable. A project that represents mostly parent thinking, planning and presentation benefits the parent more than the child.
More kindergarten science fair ideas - Play with friction, air, plants, your dog and more.
Show & Tell - a springboard for science and math education - Use show and tell times to increase science and math concepts.
Light and color - teach science vocabulary such as opaque, transparent, translucent, reflection...
Winter science activities - observe the power of ice and learn about the properties of water
Apple Science - learn how tools help us and practice the skills of observation and data collection
