Preschool Science Centers and Activities

Students will enjoy hands-on SCIENCE CENTERS all year long. Each unit includes a list of supplies for each topic, learning objectives, lesson ideas, as well as photos and activities that students will want to explore again and again! Encourage young learners to ask questions, make observations, and develop scientific thinking skills.

Unit 1 covers scientific investigation, where they learn about their five senses and how to be good scientists. Unit 2 covers force and motion - physics at an early childhood level! Unit 3 introduces the properties of matter and works on categorization. In Unit 4, learners study life cycles in humans, plants, animals, and insects! Unit 5 blasts off into outer space, while Unit 6 comes back down to Earth to cover recycling and more.  Wrap up the year with Unit 7, all about engineering!

Here's what other teachers have to say about the Science Centers:

• "This is one I am using and will continue to use throughout the year. Great resource and the students just LOVE science! Thank you!"
• "I am using this resource for my science center. Even though we have a required curriculum and some of the topics don't really line up, I am able to use them -- even out of order! The visuals are spectacular and engaging, but what I like most are the materials suggestions and book suggestions that guide me to make the most engaging center in my room! It has even been more popular than the pretend center! The organization of this pack is so helpful for this busy teacher! Thank you!"

Be sure to download the bonus files:

1. Science Unit - overview and directions
2. Student Recording Journal - 45 pages (B&W). The journal includes a corresponding page for each of the science centers.
3. Bulletin Board - vocabulary cards for your science center

Click on the PREVIEW above to take a closer look at the science centers that are included.

Unit 1 Scientific Investigation

1. Sense of Sight

2. Sense of Hearing

3. Sense of Touch

4. Sense of Smell

5. Sense of Taste

6. Rocks and Shells (download this lesson FREE here)

7. Pinecones

Unit 2 Force & Motion

1. Magnetic Attraction

2. Attract and Repel

3. How strong?

4. Can it roll?

5. Can it spin?

6. Can the wind move it?

Unit 3 Properties of Matter

1. Hard and Soft

2. Quiet and Loud

3. Smooth and Bumpy

4. Heavy and Light

5. Long and Short

6. Sorting by Color

Unit 4 Life Processes

1. Who was a Baby?

2. All about Seeds

3. All about Plants

4. All about Birds

5. All about Fish

6. All about Insects

7. All about Spiders

Unit 5 Earth and Space

1. Sun and Moon

2. Shadows

3. Fall Season

4. Winter Season

5. Spring Season

6. Summer Season

Unit 6 Earth's Resources

1. Recycling

2. Soil and Worms

3. Our Oceans

4. Oil and Water

5. Absorption

Unit 7 Engineering

1. Fix it!

2. Light it!

3. Nuts & Bolts

4. Unlock it!

5. Which lid fits?

6. Screwdrivers

7. Wheels and Axles

Enjoy playing and learning with your children!

Jamie White

©Play to Learn Preschool

Created in Cooperation with Karen Cox ©PreKinders

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