Shop by Topic
Shop by Product
ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues
<< Previous Issue
| View Past Issues | | Next Issue >> 
Science Centers that Work
February 13, 2008
May you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire, That disturbs you when you have settled for something safe. May you have the wisdom to enter generously into your own unease, To discover the new direction your longing wants you to take.
-John O’Donohue
-John O’Donohue
"In a typical science center, we might see some sleeping gerbils or hamsters buried in cedar shavings, and perhaps an aquarium with some goldfish in it. On the table might be some dusty pine cones, some shells, a few rocks, a balance scale, a large magnifying glass, and maybe a color paddle. There are only things to look at, but nothing to hold the child there more than a minute or two. Each interest center in the classroom should have some involving activity to hold the child there....
"Give the children some specific challenges using the balance scale [for example]. First of all, let them play with the scale without directions, and then ask them some questions about it. 'What makes this side go down?' 'Why doesn't it go down when I place this rock on the other side?' When they seem to understand how it works, you could pick one object to be used as a standard, an apple, for instance. Let the children guess which objects in a random collection...are heavier than the apple and which are lighter, and put them into two piles in front of the scale. Then let them test their guesses. Children must first use their senses for this activity. To keep the activity interesting, you could select a different object each day to be the standard. Lining things up from the lightest to heaviest is a more complex activity, because children have to compare objects to each other rather than just to one specific object. It takes considerable flexibility in thinking and is quite difficult for pre-operational children...."
Exchange has bundled some of its most popular curriculum resources into a "Curriculum Kit" and has put a highly discounted price tag on the collection. The Curriculum Kit includes:
- Beginnings Workshop Book #5 �" Curriculum: Art, Music, Movement, Drama
- Beginnings Workshop Book #4 �" Curriculum: Brain Research, Math, Science
- Hearing Everyone's Voice: Educating Young Children for Peace and Democratic Community
- Connecting: Friendship in the Lives of Young Children
- The Wonder of It: Exploring How the World Works
- Out of the Box Training Kit: Recognizing the Essentials of Developmentally Appropriate Curriculum
ExchangeEveryDay
Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
What is ExchangeEveryDay?
ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
GOOGLE HIRING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS:
Google has expanded its employee child development program by opening a world-class children's center in Mountain View, California and is now hiring teachers.
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsUniversity at Buffalo Child Care Center
buffalo, ny, United States
As the sleeping gerbils or hamsters sleep, why not have the children secure a safe area in the classroom (using building blocks is a good idea), & then bring the animals out of their cages to run around a little while. This way the children's thoughts could start & questions asked..."How come we have to wake them?" Then you could ask them what do they think. You can start a question & answer session (not to long), on why it is healthy to exercise for people, as well as, animals.
Michigan State University Extension/Macomb County
clinton township, michigan, United States
I shared ideas about teaching science in preschool for several years through a state-wide gathering (MiAEYC-Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children) and our local 4C's (Community Coordinated Child Care), which is only mentioned because I've seen how many teachers struggle with the idea of including science in their classroom. It's exactly like today's article says, "Get them curious. Get them asking questions. Get them thinking." It's NOT about knowing the answers to tell them, it's about getting them to ask the questions.
Even Mae Jemison, the astronaut said that.
One of our most powerful lessons in the classroom grew out of a heavy snow. We brought some in for the children to play in, using gloves, of course. When it got softer it was moldable. When it melted they were surprised. They tested if it would return as snow if frozen. It didn't. That block of ice also had pollutants in it from the air. But when they shaved the top of the ice with plastic scrapers, it looked more like snow again. And there was so much more. Their curiosity lit their brains with a light that asked questions for days.
Thank you for all the good information you share.
Post a Comment