Centering Around Science is a collection of science centers for students in grades K-3 that provides hands-on experiences with science concepts and skills. These centers focus around the processes of science such as observing, predicting, measuring, sorting, recording data, and making conclusions. Photos and science materials are used to introduce students to real phenomena that builds schema for science concepts.

Each center includes a “Center Overview” that includes a brief summary of the lesson, the corresponding NGSS and/or Common Core standards, a materials list, and helpful hints. The “Task Card” is used to provide directions to the students and can be laminated for durability. Each Task Card has a Student Data Sheet that gives student accountability for completing the center and further reflection on what has been learned.

To assist English Language Learners or emerging readers, teachers are encouraged to use the “Process Cards” in the free start-up kit to communicate to students what skills they will be using at each center. Laminated cards can be used repeatedly and students become familiar with the skills they are developing.

Centers can be purchased as single centers, such as this one or as bundled units. Bundled units, such as “Forests” include six individual centers (Center Overview, Task Card, and Student Data Sheet for each) in addition to unit vocabulary cards and the student data sheets in booklet form.

The six centers included in this bundle involving the forest include:
“Leaf Sort”
“Feather Features”
“Find My Home”
“Bird or Bat”
“Animal Coverings”
“I Live in a Cold Habitat”