KINDERGARTEN CENTERS

Learning through Play

Presenter: Jennifer Trent

Meadows Elementary Spring 2013

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious

learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”Mr. Rogers

Teacher-child conversations play an important role in shaping what children learn. It is through these conversations

that the teacher scaffolds learning.

DOOR PRIZE TRIVIA:HOW MANY MINUTES SHOULD

YOUR CHILDREN SPEND IN BIG CENTERS DAILY?

This session will focus on organizational strategies and tips for creating, setting up and maintaining a highly effective

and motivational center room.

45 minutes of uninterrupted play!

Y O U N G C H I L D R E N L E A R N B Y D O I N G . T E A C H E R S P R E PA R E T H E E N V I R O N M E N T F O R C H I L D R E N T O

L E A R N T H R O U G H A C T I V E E X P L O R A T I O N A N D I N T E R A C T I O N W I T H A D U LT S , O T H E R C H I L D R E N ,

A N D M A T E R I A L S . Y O U N G C H I L D R E N B E N E F I T F R O M H A V I N G A C L A S S R O O M W I T H C L E A R LY D E F I N E D , W E L L E Q U I P P E D L E A R N I N G C E N T E R S T H A T A R E

A R R A N G E D T O P R O M O T E I N D E P E N D E N C E , F O S T E R D E C I S I O N M A K I N G , A N D E N C O U R A G E I N V O LV E M E N T.

Where to start? District Expectations for Kindergarten Learning

Centers

ALIGNING CENTERS WITH CURRICULUMJust as one activity can develop many different skills, the combination of

experiences within centers, joined together, support children’s development and learning. As you begin planning for center set-up consider the units you will

cover in your curriculum and try to align the two. Find as many ways as possible to incorporate the learning expectations from the curriculum with the

developmental play that takes place in centers. This child-centered approach will help children construct their own understanding in meaningful contexts.

Aligning the Units

Unit 1: Families – Home, Cooking, PicnicUnit 2: Friends – Birthday Party, Puppet Show, Movie

TheaterUnit 3: Transportation – Fire Station, Airport, Space

Station, Mechanic ShopUnit 4: Food – Restaurant, Grocery Store, Pizza Parlor,

Bakery, Ice-Cream ShopUnit 5: Animals – Zoo, Vet Clinic, Farm

Unit 6: Neighborhood – Post Office, Dr.’s Office, Beauty Shop/Barber

Unit 7: Weather – Weather/TV Station, BeachUnit 8: Plants – Flower Shop, Garden, JungleUnit 9: Amazing Creatures – Vet Clinic, Zoo,

CampingUnit 10: I Know a Lot! - School, Artist Studio,

Scientific Laboratory

V I S U A L I Z E A N A R E A I N Y O U R C E N T E R S R O O M T H A T I N C L U D E S A L I B R A R Y, A L I S T E N I N G

S T A T I O N , L E T T E R A C T I V I T I E S , P U Z Z L E S A N D G A M E S , B O O K M A K I N G S U P P L I E S , A N D S T O R Y

B O A R D P I E C E S .I N T H E L I T E R A C Y C E N T E R Y O U R S T U D E N T S M A Y

R E A D O R L I S T E N T O B O O K S , C R E A T E C A R D S , L E T T E R S O R M I N I - B O O K S , A N D P L A Y G A M E S T O

R E I N F O R C E L I T E R A C Y S K I L L S .

Literacy Center

I N T H I S A R E A O F Y O U R C E N T E R S R O O M Y O U W I L L I N C LU D E I T E M S S U C H A S

P U Z Z L E S , L E G O S , U N F I X C U B E S , W O O D E N B L O C K S , W O O D E N C A R S , T R U C K S A N D

P L A N E S , A N D M AT H G A M E S .S T U D E N T S W I L L D E V E L O P P E R C E P T U A L

S K I L L S A N D E X P L O R E S PA T I A L R E L A T I O N S H I P S T H R O U G H B L O C K S , P U Z Z L E S

A N D G A M E S W H I L E E X P L O R I N G P R O B L E M S O LV I N G T E C H N I Q U E S A S T H E Y E X P E R I E N C E

A S E N S E O F A C H I E V E M E N T.

Math Center

Y O U R A R T C E N T E R W I L L B E A N A R E A O F T H E R O O M S T O C K E D W I T H A VA R I E T Y O F A R T S U P P L I E S S U C H A S

P A I N T S A N D E A S E L S , C O L O R E D P A P E R , S C I S S O R S , G L U E , M O D E L I N G C L A Y, M A R K E R S , C O T T O N B A L L S , P I P E

C L E A N E R S , S T R A W S , G L I T T E R , T I S S U E P A P E R , W I G G L Y E Y E S , P O M - P O M B A L L S , C O F F E E F I L T E R S , A N D P A P E R

P L A T E S , A S W E L L A S A H O S T O F O T H E R I T E M S T H A T W I L L B E U S E D F O R C R E A T I V E E X P R E S S I O N .

A W E L L P L A N N E D A R T C E N T E R W I L L F O S T E R A C H I L D ’ S C R E A T I V E T H I N K I N G , A S W E L L A S D E V E L O P E Y E - H A N D C O O R D I N A T I O N , F I N E

M U S C L E C O N T R O L , A N D A N A P P R E C I A T I O N F O R A R T I S T I C E X P R E S S I O N . I N T H E A R T C E N T E R S T U D E N T S S H O U L D B E A B L E T O

C H O O S E F R O M W E L L D E S I G N E D A P P R O P R I A T E A C T I V I T I E S W I T H W H I C H T H E Y C A N E X P R E S S T H E M S E L V E S .

Art Center

DRAMATIC PLAYYour dramatic play center should be set up with a common theme in mind and then organized with props, costumes,

furniture, tools, and equipment for the students to role play appropriately according to the theme.

To get the most out of dramatic play, children need a variety of materials, equipment, and props to encourage creative

expression and imagination. Children can play in an interesting environment with freedom to experiment with

roles, conflicts, and problem solving. Dramatic play expands a child's awareness of self in relation to others and the environment. This provides a powerful opportunity for

children to assert themselves which will increase vocabulary and communication skills.

I N K I N D E R G A R T E N, C H I L D R E N L O V E T O T O U C H , M A N I P U L AT E , S T U D Y A N D

“ D I S C O V E R” M AT E R I A L S S U C H A S C L AY, P L AY D O U G H , B E A N S, R I C E , PA S TA , S A N D,

WAT E R , S H AV I N G C R E A M , E T C . I T I S AT T H E D I S C O V E R Y TA B L E T H AT S T U D E N T S

A P P LY T H E S C I E N T I F I C M E T H O D T H R O U G H I N V E S T I G AT I O N A N D E X P L O R AT I O N O F T H E

W O R L D A R O U N D T H E M .

Science/Discovery Table

A well-planned centers room supports children's play. The

teacher’s major role is to plan and create the environment for play, and to interact with

students as they learn. Children learn through active

exploration of a warm, stimulating environment. They

grow and develop as they resolve conflicts, solve

problems, and even make mistakes!

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