Creating a Toddler-Friendly Science Center in Your Classroom
- cleonard261
- Dec 15, 2025
- 3 min read
By: Melissa Johnson, Ph.D. Candidate, Dr. Cynthia DiCarlo, Louisiana State University
This article is part of a four-part series on integrating STEM—Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—into toddler classrooms. Grounded in the Louisiana Birth to Five Standards and the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework, each post offers practical guidance, materials suggestions, and facilitation strategies tailored to two-year-olds. Whether you’re setting up new centers or enhancing daily routines, this series supports playful, purposeful learning with big impact for little learners.
When we think of science in early childhood classrooms, we often imagine preschoolers in lab coats conducting experiments. But science starts much earlier. For toddlers, science is in the feel of a smooth rock, the thrill of a pop-up toy, and the gentle touch of a fuzzy leaf. Creating a science center that supports this natural curiosity doesn’t require fancy equipment—it requires thoughtful organization and intentional facilitation.
Why Science for Toddlers?
Two-year-olds are natural scientists. Every day, they explore their environment using their senses. According to the Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework and the Louisiana Birth to Five Standards, scientific learning at this age is grounded in observation, sensory engagement, and cause-and-effect experiences.
What to Include in a Science Center for Toddlers
Here are key subcomponents of science learning for toddlers and what to include in your science center to support each one:
Observation & Exploration
Materials: Mirrors, sensory bottles, textured fabrics, natural items like shells or leaves.
Teacher Tips: Set up a rotating sensory tray. During small groups or transitions, encourage children to describe what they see, touch, or hear. Use open-ended questions like, “What does that feel like?”
Cause & Effect
Materials: Push-button toys, water play bins with floating and sinking objects, ramps, and pop-up toys.
Teacher Tips: Support trial and error. Say, “You pushed the button and it lit up! What happens if you push the other one?” Use language that links actions to results.
Properties & Classification
Materials: Sorting trays, blocks in different textures and colors, nature collections (like smooth vs. rough rocks).
Teacher Tips: Invite children to sort items by one attribute (like all red blocks). Model sorting, name attributes out loud, and guide children in making comparisons.
Living Things & Environment
Materials: Live plants, child-safe pets like fish or snails, magnifying glasses, and animal picture books.
Teacher Tips: Embed science into your routines. Let children water plants, observe changes, and describe what they see. Use real vocabulary: “This is a sprout—look how tiny it is!”
How to Set Up the Space
Location: Choose a well-lit area near a window, if possible. Toddlers benefit from natural light and outdoor observation opportunities.
Display: Use low, open shelves with clearly labeled bins. Include real objects when possible—pinecones, feathers, and leaves collected during nature walks.
Safety First: Ensure all items are non-toxic and developmentally appropriate. Avoid small pieces that pose choking hazards.
Facilitation Makes the Difference
Providing materials is only the beginning. What transforms a shelf of rocks into a science experience is the way you interact with children as they explore. Here are strategies that enhance learning:
Use scientific vocabulary: “You’re observing the plant. See how the leaf is curled?”
Encourage predictions: “What do you think will happen if we put this in water?”
Support curiosity: “That’s a great question—let’s find out together.”
Connecting to Standards
Your science center aligns with:
Louisiana Birth to Five Standards:
Scientific Inquiry and Application: Use of senses to explore the world.
Life Science: Observing living things.
Head Start ELOF:
Scientific Reasoning: Cause-and-effect, classification, and observation.
Closing Thoughts
A well-organized science center gives toddlers the opportunity to wonder, experiment, and discover every day. You don’t need to turn your classroom into a laboratory—just make room for curiosity, and science will bloom.
Melissa Johnson is an educational consultant, coach, and administrator with over a decade of experience in early childhood education. She has served in multiple roles throughout her career, including teacher, coach, and consultant, and currently works as a Director at a lead agency in the New Orleans region. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree, and an Educational Specialist degree in Early Childhood Education. She is also a doctoral candidate in Early Childhood Education.
Email: melissadjohnson7@gmail.com
Social Media (Instragram): theecedoc
Dr. Cynthia DiCarlo is a Professor and Program Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education at Louisiana State University and the Executive Director of the Early Childhood Education Institute www.lsu.edu/ecei
Want to get connected? Join one of our online LAAEYC groups to network with other professionals who teach the same age group you do!!
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