advantage of moments of readiness; keen interest; and desire.

Children are gently enticed into the mainstream of learning.  With time and encouragement; every child soon comes to enjoy all of the available centers and activities.  The shy child may choose a quiet corner; while another child may join a group in dramatic play or a learning game that requires several participants.  A child with an interest in art may choose to start her day in that area; whereas another child might enjoy quietly working with play dough.

The focus of the learning centers and their materials change throughout the month; depending on the unit of study; the age level; and the individual needs of the class.  The following list is the minimum type of centers in each classroom.

Art

Art activities vary on a daily or weekly basis; and are often topic related.  Some projects are teacher directed; but there is ample opportunity for creativity and experimentation. The Art Center includes the easel and free art area with crayons; markers; pencils; glue; scissors; scrap paper and collage materials. By experimenting with a variety of media and techniques; a child develops imaginative thinking; creative expression; fine motor and discriminatory skills.  

Manipulative Toys

Working with puzzles; lotto games; peg boards; stringing beads; magnets; sorting toys and legos; a child develops the eye-hard coordination; manipulative; fine motor; and visual discrimination skills that are critical for reading; writing and math readiness. By manipulating materials in this center; a child increases their reasoning and decision making skills.

Block Play

Included in this center may be wooden; bristle; magnetic; foam or cardboard blocks.  Block Play is an important part of all rooms; where the child learns mathematical concepts of size; weight; symmetry; cause and effect as well as the social skills in the give and take of cooperative play.  Putting blocks away provides experience with visual discrimination; sorting; organizing and taking responsibility for our classroom.

Dramatic Play

Dramatic Play includes dress-up clothes; furniture; household equipment and appliances. Materials reflect our cultural diversity.  The "housekeeping" center can easily be changed into a grocery store; office; space station; cave; tropical rainforest; or Physician's office where the child can enact familiar or fantasy situations.  Dramatic Play fosters role-playing; use of language; cooperation; imagination; self-expression and problem solving among peers.

Reading Corner and Listening Centers

Cozy; quiet settings with pillows; carpet or child-sized rocking chairs are provided where the child experiences not only daily story time; but may choose to spend individual; small group or 1:1 time with a Teacher quietly "reading" or listening to records or tapes. The Reading Center encourages an interest in; and respect for; literature; strengthens visual perception and reinforces reading readiness skills. Flannel boards and puppets are often included for creative story telling.  The children increase language skills; gain appreciation for books; build vocabulary; develop listening skills and increase their attention span.

Science Area

The Science table provides an opportunity to observe nature (plants; insects; rocks; shells; bird nests; etc.); and work with scientific tools such as magnifying glasses; prisms; magnets; scales and weights. With these materials; the child begins to form scientific and mathematical concepts and may engage in simple experimentation. Activities provided in the Science Area develop sensory awareness; enhance a child's natural curiosity; and encourage observation and discriminatory skills. Most classrooms also have a classroom "pet" (hamster; fish; or bird) and live plants which foster care-taking skills; respect for nature and caring for our environment.   

Music Center

This area allows children to develop creative expression; sound discrimination and an appreciation for different kinds of music.  A variety of musical and rhythm instruments are available; as well as a CD or tape recorder. Children can experiment with rhythms; beats; musical tones and singing. The Music Center strengthens auditory discrimination; fosters creative expression through music and movement; encourages large and small muscle coordination; and taps into a child's innate love of music; rhythm; movement and song.

Woodworking

In the Woodworking Center; children have a chance to work with some of the real tools that they may see being used in their homes.  The Center may include child-sized safety goggles; hammers; screwdrivers; wrenches; a pounding block for nails; nuts and bolts; tool belt; level and measuring tape. The use of tools helps them develop problem solving and design skills; hone their fine and gross motor skills; increase eye/hand coordination; and explore mathematical and scientific concepts while learning about their proper use and safety guidelines.