Centers
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here to see pictures of us at Centers!
Learning centers are an integral part
of the learning environment. The
following centers give opportunities for various learning experiences in the
classroom.
● Dramatic Play:
The dramatic play center is an area for acting out the roles of family
and community. Possible materials
include: child-sized furniture, baby dolls, telephone, mirror, dishes, play
food, utensils, costumes, props, etc.
● Reading:
This center encourages an interest in reading books.
Possible materials include: theme
related books, story and picture books, big books, class and child-made books.
● Puzzles:
Activities in this center will encourage self-direction to develop fine
motor and problem solving skills. Possible
materials include: puzzles and
life-sized floor puzzles.
● Games:
Activities in this center will encourage social development, fine motor,
and problem solving skills. Possible
materials include: games geared
towards two or more students.
●
Listening:
Listening skills and independence can be developed through the child’s
utilizing headsets and a tape player. Also,
this allows the child to hear a story and follow along to develop one-to-one
correspondence.
●
Math:
Manipulation of concrete materials is necessary in the development of
mathematical concepts. Possible
materials include: shape games,
cards, Cuisenaire rods, unifix cubes, pattern puzzles, counting bears, books,
math puzzles, geo boards, etc.
●
Science:
This center will include objects to be observed, explored, and
experimented with. Possible
materials include: magnets, magnet
wands, magnifying glasses, thermometers, books, binoculars, telescopes, shells,
dinosaurs, models, etc.
●
Art:
This center allows for creative expression in conjunction with the
development of fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and independence in
working. In addition, children are
can make books, draw, illustrate and prepare stories for publication in the
reading center. Children are
encouraged to write letters to their classmates, myself, or their families.
Possible materials may include: paper,
scissors, markers, crayons, glue, stencils, scrap material, glitter, paint,
cotton balls, tape, envelopes, pencils, chalk, and chalk boards.
●
Literacy: This
center has a variety of materials for learning and exploring letters and
creating words. Possible materials
include: dry erase boards, markers,
magnetic letters, metal pans, magnetic pieces of words, magnetic boards, letter,
number, and shape stamps, chalk boards, and chalk.
●
Computer:
Children can do many interactive activities and games related to concepts
in language, mathematics, science, and social studies.
They also have the opportunity to do research and simple word processing.
This also encourages fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
●
Theme/Teacher Project: This
center is used whenever the children need to do an activity that is teacher
assisted. Activities might include:
fact books, cooking activities, or theme related projects.
●
Pocket Chart:
This center will be used to do word sorts to aid children in learning
letter sounds, sounds of letter combinations, pictorial relationships, and basic
sight words.
●
Blocks: Motor
control, visual discrimination, dramatic play, creativity, and social skills are
all developed by building structures with blocks. Possible materials include: large and small wooden blocks,
solid unit blocks, cars, trucks, people, traffic signs, tools, Lego’s, books,
Lincoln Logs, etc.
●
Sand and Water: Measuring,
experimentation, conservation, social interactions, dramatic play, and cause and
effect can all be experienced with sand or water. Possible materials include: sand, water, measuring cups,
shovels, measuring and cooking spoons, small plastic toys, and various sized
containers.
●
Puppets: The
puppet center is an area for acting out the roles of family and community.
Possible puppet characters include:
doctor, police person, teacher, nurse, astronaut, fire fighter, and other
representatives of various cultures and careers.