PART B:

“Science Learning Centre in My School”

A science learning centre is a specific area that expose the scientific world to the
children in the classroom, it may in the form of discover table or display corner. However, a
science centre is definitely much more than just a place to put science related materials or
information in the classroom.

A real science learning centre is a place that providing an interesting science area,
which is also inviting and offers the children opportunities to explore and discover by using
their senses, and to prompt them to do further research. Therefore, the science learning centre
usually filled with kid friendly materials. The children are allowed to explore what interests
them and to observe or even experiment it without constant adult supervision.

According to Bentham (2017), the science learning centre should be made up if two
zone, which include observation zone and experimental zone. The observation zone allows
children to make observation and inquiry, making collections and communicating their new
knowledge. Meanwhile, the experimental zone allows children to explore the science
equipment and materials, playing and trying the science phenomena. These two zones are
close to one another.

Besides that, a science centre may have either a general theme or a specific
theme depending upon the current season, interests, or lesson plans. For example, the
concepts like colour, nature, weather, water, magnets, animals and much more can be the
specific theme of the science learning centre in classroom. By putting these concepts, the
science learning centre will definitely always a busy and worthy place in the classroom.

For me, a science learning centre also is a place which enable to let the children to
playing around and learning science concepts with fun. All the children are natural-born
scientists. Therefore, it is my job to give them the opportunities to engage in hands-on
scientific exploration and predict and observe outcomes of activities, by creating and
introduce the science learning centre in classroom.
 Firstly, I will introduce my science learning centre in my classroom. My science
learning centre theme will be changed according to the lesson plan of the week. For this
current week, which is also in this report, is about the density and buoyancy. A theme topic
which named “Sink or Float” was given to my science learning centre. This kind of theme
topic definitely will let the children feeling more curious and encourage them to find out the
answer themselves by using the science learning centre.

Here is one of the pictures of my science learning centre in classroom.

Inside my science learning centre, there are numerous materials that I have chosen to
use, which including used bottle, used wooden blocks, used colour papers, used straw, used
plastic boxes, used bottle caps and much more. Besides that, I also used a few can of
multipurpose spray paint, glue gun, scissors, Sellotape and rulers as my tool in helping me to
done my science learning centre.

However, most of them are recycled materials in our daily life. The main reason why
I choose to use the recycle materials is to encourage the people, specially these little kids, the
future of human being, to reduce the environment damage. Nowadays trash that is thrown
away and not recycled will end up either in a landfill, or incinerated, or will hurt the
environment in some other way. Therefore, the more waste that gets recycled, the less
damage is done to the environment.
 Here is one of the pictures of the materials and tools that I used for making my
science learning centre.

Inside my science learning centre, there are two zone: observation zone and
experimental zone. In the observation zone, a few papers as the backdrop, which contain the
information of what materials float and what materials sink in water is being displayed to the
children. The children may observe and read the information themselves without teacher. By
displaying this information will definitely make the children feel more curious to find out the
result of the materials if putting them into water.

On the other hand, I have also printed out few information papers which contain the
ideas of how to build a boat by using the recycle materials. The children can first do some
observation by themselves in the classroom without teachers guides. By doing this, they also
can communicate with each other about their own ideas about what and how is their ideal
boat. This is the combination of the idea of science and art for teaching the density and
buoyancy.
 Here is one of the pictures of the backdrop of my science learning centre.

As teachers, it is my job to nurture their scientific spirit and help them form questions,
investigations, collect data and share their conclusions. Thus, the main purpose of my science
learning centre is giving the children opportunities to explore the nature world around them
and aware of the unique habitats of plants and animals. This will help to nurture children's
interest and concern for our environment now.

Another purpose of my science learning centre is creating a space that which children
can learn to work individually and work with others to build relationships and also their
communication skills. I hope that they can learn to see things through another person's point
of view by working together to create, construct, and experiment, through using the science
learning centre.

On the other hand, study and learn under a stress-free environment is also one of my
science learning centre purpose. The children do not have to worry about the outcome of their
work. This is because the children are allowed to take risk without fear of failure. And me as
the teacher, I will always tell them that focus is on the process, not the product.