Pre-School Learning Centers

Construction & Design Center

Children have space to engage in construction activities and let their imaginations soar. In addition to the theme related curriculum activities, some typical items in this center include: Complete set of unit blocks, Several large vehicles and several smaller vehicles Animals, people and traffic signs, Recyclables such as cardboard boxes of different sizes, paper towel tubes and oatmeal containers.

What children do...
Practice designing, building, organizing and implementing projects.

What children learn...
Cognitive skills such as classification, spatial relationships, balance and cause and effect.

How children grow...
Children gain a great deal of personal satisfaction and pleasure as they work in groups and build relationships with their peers.

Dramatic Play Center

A creatively decorated, warm and inviting center enhances the children’s interest and involvement. Decorations and props reinforce the changing themes and keep the children excited about pretending and playing in the Dramatic Play center. Some typical items in this center include: Dramatic play furniture, a small table and chairs (other materials should rotate depending upon the theme and the children’s own ideas and interests) Dishes, utensils, place mats, pots, pans, food sets, telephones, computer keyboards, old typewriters, dress up clothes, purses, wallets, shoes, menus, a cash register, paper, pencils, etc..

What children do...
Role-play real life situations within a theme-related context.

What children learn...
Invaluable language, communication and social skills that lead to future academic success.

How children grow...
Children learn how to creatively express ideas and feelings in a group setting.

Writing Center

Writing begins at a very early age and needs to be encouraged daily, some typical items in this center include: Children’s journals, pens, pencils, colored pencils, crayons, markers, Various paper supplies, index cards, clipboards and notebooks, magnetic letters Examples of print, including sentence strips with the children’s names on them, properly label items, alphabet strips

What children do... Experience writing through a variety of writing materials, including their own personal journal.

What children learn...
Communicate ideas and messages through letters, words and drawings.

How children grow...
They explore their ideas naturally, creatively and in a way that enables them to make decisions that enrich their continued writing experiences.

Creativity & Art Center

Fostering creativity in young children is key to helping them express their inner feelings, some typical items in this center include: Various paper supplies, painting supplies (paints, brushes and smocks), pencils, crayons and markers, Recyclables such as wallpaper samples, fabric pieces and collage materials, glue and scissors, glitter, play dough and cookie cutters.

What children do...
Paint, draw, sculpt and create their own open-ended art using a variety of mediums and materials.

What children learn...
Express creativity and imagination; discover line, color, shape and texture.

How children grow...
Children develop their memory and artistic expression skills.

Reading & Listening Center

We provide cozy spaces for the reading that promotes a calming, welcoming atmosphere for children to experience the benefits of reading and enjoying stories. Some typical items in this center will include: Children’s literature, including the current theme related literature, children’s picture Bibles, song and poem charts. An audiocassette or CD player, headphones, stories recorded on tape and/or other tape-recorded songs, stories and poems We also provide soft elements such as rugs, pillows and beanbags.

What children do...
Read, listen and respond to many genres of literature from poetry to non-fiction.

What children learn...
Develop reading skills including vocabulary, reading comprehension, letter and paint knowledge, and sound recognition.

How children grow...
Children develop a love for reading and lay the foundation for future learning.

Math & Manipulatives Center

This center requires a table and chairs for the children. This often works well near the Science & Sensorial Center. Some typical items in this center include: Small calendar, weather and number charts, magnetic numbers and shapes, puzzles, lacing cards, safe manipulatives for sorting (large buttons, counting bears, colored blocks, etc.) Paper, pencils, notebooks, index cards, measuring cups and spoons, cookie cutters in varying shapes and other materials used to weigh and measure

What children do...
Count, group, weigh, measure, make patterns, explore shapes and make comparisons between sets.

What children learn...
Cognitive skills such as patterning, number recognition, counting and graphing.

How children grow...
Children build small motor skills, problem solving and social skills as they work together in small groups.

Science & Sensorial Center

This center changes with the seasons of the year. Some typical items in this center include: Sand and/or water table, small shells, rocks, class animal or plants, magnets and magnetic items, feathers, leaves, pinecones and other items from nature, magnifying glasses and mirrors.

What children do...
Experiment with various sensory materials through theme-related activities.

What children learn...
Explore the senses, solve problems and make predictions related to various science and nature concepts.

How children grow...
Children extend their curiosity about the world around them and their interests in natural phenomena.

Each of our Learning Centers is designed to allow the children to direct themselves during their play. The centers encourage the children to experience learning through play and teach them to socialize and lead each other in their small group activities. Teachers join the children in play as they observe, supervise and assess the children. Assessments of the children’s progress will be sent home in their monthly folders.