*Learning Centers can be an integral part of the learning environment. The following centers give opportunities for various learning experiences in the classroom.

Home Living: The home living center is an area for dramatic play and acting the roles of family and community. Possible materials include: child-sized furniture, baby dolls, telephone, mirror, dishes and utensils, costumes and props, etc.

Reading and Chants: These centers promote an interest in reading books and chants, and allow children to practice with letters and sounds, blends, sight words, rhyming words, and repetition, etc. Possible materials include: theme related books, storybooks, picture books, class and child made books and chants.

Puzzles and Games: Games and activities in this center will encourage self-direction to develop fine motor skills. Possible materials include puzzles and games.

Listening: Listening skills and independence can be developed through the utilization of headsets with a tape player. Also, this center is good for the child that may be having a hard time showing self-control with others. This allows them to be alone and relax.

Manipulatives: Manipulation of concrete materials is necessary in the development of mathematical concepts. Possible materials include: counting bears, unifix cubes, double-sided counters, attribute blocks, wooden pattern blocks, etc.

Science: This center will change throughout the year and may include objects to be observed and to experiment with. Possible materials include: magnets, magnifying glasses, thermometers, books, binoculars, shells, etc.

Art: This center allows for creative expression in conjunction with the development of fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination and independence in working. Possible materials include: paper, scissors, markers, crayons, glue, scrap materials, glitter, etc.

Block: Motor control, visual discrimination, dramatic play, and creativity are developed by building structures with blocks. Possible materials include: various types of blocks (wooden, cardboard, plastic).

Writing: Children can practice writing, make books, draw or illustrate and prepare stories for publication in the Media Center. Possible materials include: paper, pencils, markers, stapler, chalkboard, chalk, dry erase board and markers.

Computer: Children can do many interactive games related to concepts in language, mathematics, science, and social studies. They also have the opportunity to do research, and do simple word processing.

Theme: Projects and jobs relating to our theme will be done at this table. This is also used whenever children need to do an activity that is teacher assisted. Activities such as fact books, making passports, suitcases for travel, cooking activities, etc. are done here as well.

Play-doh: This center fosters the development of fine motor skills, creativity, experimenting with colors, and representation of objects.

Paint: Children can experiment with color, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, creativity, pictorial representations of thoughts and ideas.

Water: Children become familiar with the concepts of volume, water displacement, floating (buoyancy) and sinking.

Sand: This provides further opportunities for displacement, volume, measurement, and introduces children to a new or different texture.

Make A Word: This center helps in the process of learning how to read in that the children are able to recognize and experiment with letters and numbers and create words. This fosters the development of letter-sound relationships.

Snack: This center is merely intended to keep the snacks in one area of the room and encourages children to clean up after themselves.

*All centers provide ample opportunities for social interaction!