2 Year old class needs a science center?

Question

Okay, It was suggested to me to create a "science center" for my 2 year old class. I have a few ideas thus far, such as cutting milk jugs in half and planting things in them , then letting the kids take turns watering them everyday.

Another idea I have is to fill some 2 liter bottles with water with different food colors and oil... AND to make a mock bug jar: letting the kids pick some leaves and twigs for me then tying some palstic bugs to fishing line and hot gluingthe lid shut.

I also am going to have a pouring table with eigther sand, dry pasta or beans it it and letting them go crazy..

ANY MORE IDEAS???

Answer 1

Anything that you use should be something that the children can explore first-hand and that have immediate reactions and changes.  The plants  might work, but the children's attention spans are so short, they will lose interest.  Maybe, dirt with fake plants that they could "plant" into pots, while they are waiting for the plants to grow.  However, you are thinking along the right lines with your activities.  IF you made the bug jar in a way that it would not open (well for the kids) and would stay put on the shelf (Velcro) I think that you should get real bugs- like roly-polys or something else that stays active.  They would generate more interest that the fake ones.  Another idea would be to collect seasonal items during your outside time and put them into clear baggies and put them into a basket.  Then the children can look at the items and how they change- they will be excited to collect items and get to display them in the room- they might need to be put up during free play for safety reasons, w/o direct supervision.  Also, with supervision you could take out the items and let the children feel what you collected.  Another idea is to include flashlights with colored cellophane around the light to make colors.  Last, some boxes with plastic or stuffed animals that are sorted by environment- for example, farm animals or forest animals, and some matching props- like straw or a barn and pine cones and leaves for the forest animals.  This sometimes can work better at the science area than with manipulatives.  You have some great ideas so far!

Answer 2

Magnifying glasses, balance, sand timers, kaleidoscopes, aquarium, manipulatives of insects, insect puzzles with k***s, color paddles, seashells, magnets

Answer 3

hi,

I'm a pre-school teaching but I was also a teacher in a 2 to 3 years olds room both this one.

2 year olds I find are very much into finding out things with their sences. I thing the planting plantes is a great idea but best left untill they are in pre-school so they can fully understand the process.

The filling and pouring idea is fabulous idea! prefect for that age group! Also have different objects like water, sand, rice, material (fleece, cotten etc) seeds etc and get then to feel them and comment on them. Also let them just study them etc.

hope this can help!

cassie

Answer 4

cornstarch and water is one of the funnest things to do with kids..let them help you mix it then they can play with it..and it's very easy to clean up!

Answer 5

growing plants and caring for them or having bugs or class pets are the best at this age.  remember, you will have to remind them to feed and water them plus YOU will have to clean out cages.

Answer 6

I saw something really cute. You know the chia-pets they always advertise on TV?

You can make egg heads. You grow grass out of half an egg shell.