ScienceStart! maps easily onto the typical preschool day, with large group activities, center-based play, outdoor play and so forth.

Large group occurs once all the children have arrived and is the time when the teacher introduces the day's science activity and reads a related piece of children's literature. Center-based play follows, and all centers are supplemented with materials relevant to the science topic being studied. At one of the centers, an adult supports children in replicating or extending the science activity that was introduced during the large group meeting.

The ScienceStart! Planning Guide offers suggestions for outdoor play and early literacy activities that are related to the day's science activity.