LOWER ELementary
Social Studies and Science centers
When teaching Social Studies and Science in the lower elementary grades, it is important to incorporate group work in order to strengthen cooperation and communication skills. Therefore, many of the center activities below require that students work in a pair or small group, simultaneously learning the content but also developing critical social skills. In a similar vein, Social Studies and Science are perfect subjects through which a teacher can express his or her creativity, designing center activities that appeal to many learning styles, through art, movement, and language.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/9/1/20917724/2903827.jpg)
Social Studies: Focus on Recycling
In this center activity, students must work together to sort types of recyclable materials and then use their information to create a graph. Afterwards, students analyze the graph and apply their practice of sorting to the real-world by sorting recyclables into bins in the classroom based on material. In order to gauge their individual understanding after the group-work component, a cut-and-paste activity is completed, in which the students must sort non-recyclable and recyclable items.
In this center activity, students must work together to sort types of recyclable materials and then use their information to create a graph. Afterwards, students analyze the graph and apply their practice of sorting to the real-world by sorting recyclables into bins in the classroom based on material. In order to gauge their individual understanding after the group-work component, a cut-and-paste activity is completed, in which the students must sort non-recyclable and recyclable items.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/9/1/20917724/471667.jpg)
Social Studies:
Absolute and Relative Location
In this activity, students would have already been introduced to the concept of relative location, perhaps using Google Maps to view the location of their school in their city, state, country, on their continent, and in the world. Using these nesting tubs - click on the picture to view the creator's blog - students would record their relative location while placing each location inside of the next. Giving students a job in their pair is advisable; a scribe and a builder should be sufficient.
Absolute and Relative Location
In this activity, students would have already been introduced to the concept of relative location, perhaps using Google Maps to view the location of their school in their city, state, country, on their continent, and in the world. Using these nesting tubs - click on the picture to view the creator's blog - students would record their relative location while placing each location inside of the next. Giving students a job in their pair is advisable; a scribe and a builder should be sufficient.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/9/1/20917724/7898487.jpg?286)
Science: Understanding Magnetism
Students are fascinated by magnetism. This center will fuel their interest in magnets and will allow them to develop their own understanding of what magnets are attracted to or repel. Let students "go fishing" with their magnets, sorting the objects. Students record their findings, writing three objects that were attracted to the magnet and three objects that repelled the magnet. Lastly, put a discussion question on the recording sheet. Why do the magnets attract some objects and repel others? This center is sure to keep your students engaged - click on the picture to see the blog of the teacher who created this center.
Students are fascinated by magnetism. This center will fuel their interest in magnets and will allow them to develop their own understanding of what magnets are attracted to or repel. Let students "go fishing" with their magnets, sorting the objects. Students record their findings, writing three objects that were attracted to the magnet and three objects that repelled the magnet. Lastly, put a discussion question on the recording sheet. Why do the magnets attract some objects and repel others? This center is sure to keep your students engaged - click on the picture to see the blog of the teacher who created this center.
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/9/1/20917724/6033116.jpg)
Science: Phases of the Moon
Your students will love this guided center activity, which will be the most effective as part of a series of centers focusing on the phases of the moon. The teacher will lead this activity at his or her center, providing each student with a plate that is already labeled. The students follow the instructions of the teacher to create this delicious visual. While the teacher is leading students at this center, students will be working in other centers throughout the room: completing a cut-and-paste activity, watching videos at the technology center, and completing a worksheet with discussion questions in pairs, all related to the phases of the moon.
Your students will love this guided center activity, which will be the most effective as part of a series of centers focusing on the phases of the moon. The teacher will lead this activity at his or her center, providing each student with a plate that is already labeled. The students follow the instructions of the teacher to create this delicious visual. While the teacher is leading students at this center, students will be working in other centers throughout the room: completing a cut-and-paste activity, watching videos at the technology center, and completing a worksheet with discussion questions in pairs, all related to the phases of the moon.