Help students observe the world around them in the science center. Include mirrors and magnifying glasses of different sizes. Add binoculars for gazing out the window or visually exploring the classroom and flashlights to help students learn about light. Include tools for measurement, such as rulers, measuring tapes and scales. Hang a thermometer in the science center for measuring the classroom temperature.
Include plenty of toys and models in your science center. Toy animals and animal puppets encourage dramatic play. Include model and plastic animals as well. Children are fascinated by models of human anatomy, such as a model of a human heart, skeleton or brain. Provide craft dough in a variety of colors, and encourage students to create their own models.
Stimulate students' interest with real samples, such as a bird nests, some honeycomb, feathers, shells, rocks, fossils, leaves or pine cones. Let students visually examine jars of small items, such as beans, rice and sand. Keep a plate of prepared fruits and vegetables in the center for students to observe and taste. Take students outside to collect interesting tidbits to add to the center.
Create a sensory table in your preschool classroom. Buy a sensory table or make one, using a large tub or other container. You can fill the tub with different items for preschoolers to feel, smell and manipulate; these might include sand, water, rice, noodles, rocks, leaves, grass, snow, ice or dirt. Depending on the sensory item in the tub, provide shovels, buckets, spoons and other items as needed.
Reference materials are an important part of a preschool science center. Include books with plenty of pictures and diagrams for students to study. Scientific magazines and magazines that feature pictures of animals, plants or landscapes are especially interesting to young children. A set of encyclopedias designed for young children is also a good investment, as are maps and globes.