SUGGESTIONS FOR SETTING UP LEARNING CENTERSPicking the Right Unit 1. What is the purpose of the center? (Support of basic text, enrichment, incentive, whole program.) 2. Will children need to work outside the classroom? (Control policy, other personnel.) 3. Will children be able to work without interfering with others? (Room darkening, noise, movement.) 4. Can I get the materials? (Cost, time, trouble.) 5. Can I always be sure that activities are available? (Living things, useable materials.) 6. Can I teach better science if I teach it as a unit? (Webbing, time data considerations.)Preparing Objectives 1. How can the evaluation program booklet be used? (3 levels, gearing to activities)? 2. What is the connection between available objectives and available activities? (Materials, time.) 3. How can the activities be converted into performance objectives? (1,2,3 criteria, experience obj.)Developing Activity Cards 1. Are the cards interesting? (Thematic design, size, color.) 2. Can the cards be read easily? (Readability, rebus writing, tapes, group leaders.) 3. Are they sequential? (Need for duplicated, materials, sharing.) 4. Are they reasonably childproof? (Laminate, contact paper, sturdy design.) 5. Do they give specific directions, materials, recording needed? 6. Are most activities open-ended and process-rich? (Variations, ESS evaluation booklet.) 7. Can children also contribute activities?Providing Support Items 1. What trade books, subject sets, or other printed materials can I get? 2. What A-V materials are available locally? 3. What people and community resources do I have? (Museum loans, collections, picture resource file.)Arranging for Storage, Use, Resupply 1. What is a good way to package and store the materials? (Shoeboxes, apple box shelves, cement block shelves, tie-in to activity.) 2. How will I know when to resupply? (List, inventory person.)Making Directions for Using the Center (Contains directions you don't want to repeat 1. What will the children do? on every card.) 2. How will they get and return materials? 3. How will they know if they have met the objective? 4. Where will they put the completed work?Arranging the Physical Setup 1. Where is the best spot to locate the center? (Water and sink, outlet, wall space, traffic flow.) 2. What will it look like? (Sketch, materials) 3. How can I make it attractive? (Cartoon characters, color, old furniture, fabrics, you the pupil.)Evaluating and Record Keeping 1. What does the pupil do? (Conference time, questions and completed work, folder.) 2. What do I, the teacher, do? (Observation, view products, check sheet, time and place for conferencing.) 3. Can the child evaluate, too? (Expression of reactions and feelings, acceptance, goal-setting.) 4. Can the child profit from independent study? (Self-selection, plan, contract, sharing, feedback.)Scheduling Use and Introducing the Center 1. Who will use the center, and at what times? (Rotational assignments, need, optional sign-ups.) 2. What do the children need to know? (Schedule, what they do, storage and replacement of materials, where to place finished work, conferencing, work samples, behavior standards, dry run, T. enthusiasm.)Recording Helpful Things to Remember Next Time 1. What mistakes should I avoid? 2. What shortcuts can I use?Inexpensive ESS Units for Learning Centers The following units have been selected because (1) they have worked wellin learning center setups, and (2) they are among the least expensive of theESS units to buy materials for or to get by scrounging.
For detailed information on improvising needed materials and minimizingcost, see A Materials Book for the Elementary Science Study. Order fromPublications Office, Education Development Center, 55 Chapel Street, Newton,Mass. 02160 (Cost: $3.00)*Attribute Games MobilesBatteries & Bulbs I Mystery PowdersBatteries & Bulbs II Peas & ParticlesBehavior of Mealworms PendulumsClay Boats *Pond Water (microscopes)Colored Solutions Primary BalancingCrayfish Sand*Drops, Streams, & Containers *Senior BalancingEarthworms Sink or FloatIce Cubes *Small Things (microscopes)Match & Measure Structures*Mirror Cards *Tangrams (* Commercial activity cards or work sheets are available.) For help on learning centers in general, there are several excellent guides