Nature Play On Vancouver Island

Nature Kindergarten On Vancouver Island

Science Exploration Tubs






Since I have a student teacher for the next few weeks I have a little bit of free time. Most of it will be used for assessment, planning and working with small groups, but I am hoping to set aside a little bit of time for developing classroom resources. I will be adding to my science exploration tubs and would love ideas from my blogging friends.
Here's my vision:

I would like the Kinders to access the tubs during morning play centres and afternoon quiet centres. The centres will be exploratory, independent and hands on.

I purchased some science resources last year when I was fundraising but this year we have not fundraised, so nothing has been added. I have about twenty dollars leftover from my hollow block purchase and will be spending that on these centres. I would like to have a couple of books in each tub and so will look for used one at the thrift stores.
So far I have purchased goggles, magnifying glasses and bug jars.

These are the existing centres:
Magnet Centre- children sort the objects into magnetic/non-magnetic using a variety of magnets which have different strengths.

Light Centre- children explore light using colour paddles and assorted kaladeiscopes
Rock Centre- there are mini-magnifying glasses, assorted rocks and rock books

Bug Centre with bug boxes, bug eye viewer, preserved bugs and mini-habitats to keep found bugs in for a day dollar store bugs, bug picture cards and a couple of bug non-fiction books.

Shell Centre-there are shells from our local seashore



On my wish list is a Take Apart Centre where the children can take apart small objects like computer speakers, clocks and flashlights; Things That Roll Centre with miniature cars, blocks, a board and a children's measuring tape; Bug Centre with bug boxes, bugs and bug books or cards; Things That Float Centre with scoops, nets, small plastic graph and a variety of objects. Finally I would like a couple of small clipboards and a few emergent science books and/or cards on these topics. I'm pretty confident that I can create these centres using found objects, thrift store shopping, garage sales and donations.






 
Liz

6 comments

  1. These are great ideas. I love how simple but important these investigation centers are.

    Kimberley
    First in Maine

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you, what centres do you have in your
    room?

    Liz

    ReplyDelete
  3. Honestly, I don't really have centers. This is my first year and I have been taking things slowly. When I do small group work, I just tell them to go to a certain table or floor area and hand them a tub or game. So it's usually a game we have already played for math or some typical word work activity. I know, boring. I'm working on that. Thank you for being such an inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Having a student teacher can be a wonderful opportunity to get some projects done (I always have great plans, but the time seems to disappear quickly). Your centres look great. You already have some of the "teacher store" items and I bet that a lot of what you want can be found at thrift shops or letting friends know what you are looking for in case they have it sitting in a corner of the basement. Right now I have magnets in my sand table. The kids are loving burying things in the sand and pulling them out with the magnets. I plan to post about it later in the week.
    enjoy your non-stressed testing time (do you want to send your student teacher my way for a couple of days so that I can get some of mine done!)

    sandi
    rubber boots and elf shoes

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh that's a great idea. I am going to add the magnets to my sand table on Tuesday. Can't wait to read your post.

    Yes I love, love, love having a student teacher.I get to have time to observe other teachers, provide some support and work on lots of other fun projects. Last year I worked on my alphabet literacy stations.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Liz,

    Thanks again for your kindness and donation to JDRF AND for for your nice comments at my blog.

    As far as science tubs go I don't really have organized tubs. In the Fall, we go on a nature walk and collect leaves and items. I find things like chestnuts and acorns on my bike rides and bring them in. We examine apples and pumpkins, inside and out.

    Around Thanksgiving we do an experiment with vegetables that sink and float.

    In the Winter we observe snow melting in the classroom. We have magnets during our space unit.

    We bring in stuffed animals and classify them.

    This is an area I could use some work in as well.

    Sue
    theverybusykindergarten

    ReplyDelete

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