Center/Choice Time
Centers are an integral part of our classroom program. Working in centers allows each child to work at their own rate, explore their interests, and reinforce important learning skills and strategies.
Listed below are some of the centers we have in our classroom:
Library Center- In the library center, children practice early reading skills and develop concepts of print. The children may read our class big books, books they have brought in or any book from our classroom literature library.
Computers- When the children use one of our classroom computers, they are able to work at their own rate and practice their computer skills. Each child has the opportunity to practice reading readiness and math skills.
Art Center- The art center gives children an opportunity to develop their creativity and express themselves. They also develop small muscles and fine motor skills. The children explore a wide variety of art media, including paint and working with different textures.
Dramatic Play- When children pretend and play dress-up, they foster their language and social skills. Throughout the year, the dramatic play area changes from a kitchen, to a store, fire station, vet's office and restaurant. In doing this, the children integrate their writing skills and practice counting money.
Science- In the science center, children observe, experiment, predict, and discover new things. These are the same things that real scientists do. This year, the children will experiment with magnets, sinking and floating, and explore with and magnifying glasses.
Math- The math center helps children develop their problem solving skills and provides hands on experience in counting, comparing, patterning, measuring, addition and subtraction. The children use a wide variety of manipulatives, including geoboards, pattern blocks, unifix cubes, links, balance scales, and non-standard units of measure.
Writing- The writing center is full of many interesting writing materials so the children can practice writing stories, letters, or make their own books. The children may use the white boards to write their own sentences.
The ABC Center- In the ABC Center, children use games, letter stamps and letter magnets to reinforce letter recognition and identification.
Blocks- In the block center, children develop math concepts, spatial development, and motor skills. Here, the children also learn to share and work with their peers.
Clipboard Cruising- When the children go "clipboard cruising", they are writing the things that they see in the room. They may copy their friend's names or take a census of how many people are in a given center. In doing this, they are practicing their penmanship and early writing skills.
Playdough Center- The children work with play dough to make shapes, cut out letters, form letters and spell words. These activities reinforce kindergarten concepts and build fine motor skills.
Sensory Table- A great place to build those fine motor skills! We have a sand table.....but sometimes we fill it with sand, gravel, colored rice, beans and water.
Games and Table Toys- A variety of board games and toys that promote cooperation, fine motor growth and oral language. Some of our favorite things in this center include: Mr. Potato Head, Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Lincoln Logs and the dollhouse.
Puzzles- Puzzles are wonderful tools to promote spatial sense, cooperative learning and fine motor skills. We have floor puzzles and board puzzles for the children to work with. Many of the puzzles also reinforce skills we practice in class. For example, we have a piggy bank puzzle that helps us learn the faces on our coins.