Writing Center

A writing center allows preschool aged children to investigate early forms or writing - experience stories through pictures, retelling of stories, scribble writing, and book making. Materials include a wide variety of paper, pre-made blank books, crayons, markers, scissors, tracers, magazines to cut and glue. Also included arre materials to enhance fine motor development such as beads, stamps. lace-ups, and hole puncher.

Magnets

Magnets afford children the opportunity to explore the properties of polarization in a developmentally appropriate, fun, manipulative center. Center materials include magnetic marbles, pattern blocks, letters, numbers, and shapes.

Art Center

Exploring and using art materials allow Pre-Kindergarten children to express original ideas, improve their coordination, develop small muscle skills, and learn to recognize colors, shape design and textures. Materials should include a wide variety of paint, collage materials, fabrics, clay cornstarch, chalk and markers.

Construction Center

Pre-Kindergarten children use blocks to build structures that go up, out or around and in the process deal with the spatial and structural problems of balance and enclosure. They also deal with similarities and differences and create patterns in their structures. The Construction Center provides adults with the opportunity to observe children exploring, building cooperatively, sorting, grouping, comparing and arranging objects and role-playing. A wide variety of materials are included in this area.

Woodworking

Woodworking offers children experiences that promote self-esteem and confidence because it allows them to take part in what in normally perceived as an adult experience. They want to feel big and important. Children love working with wood because it is so different from any other activity in the classroom. It allows them to use their senses—they smell and feel the wood, hear the clacking and hammering, see the colors and grain of the wood, see and touch the wood shapes. Unlike paint-and-paper activities, woodworking allows them to explore in three dimension

Computer Center

The computer is a popular activity and provides some one to one time for children and staff.

Music and Movement Center

In this corner, equipment such as balance beams, tunnels, and musical instruments are provided to encourage exploration and development of large muscle coordination and rhythm. This is a favorite corner as it allows for physically active involvement and a release of energy.

Dramatic Play

The house corner provides opportunities for make-believe and role-play. Pretending to be people in situations they've experienced helps give children a sense of the adult world. It gives them opportunities to work together, express their feelings and ideas and use language to communicate their role and respond to others' needs and requests. Dress up clothes, dolls, stuffed animals, hats, masks, props, and puppets are things that are included here.

Math Center

Exploring activities through manipulatives lay the groundwork for abstract concepts such as comparing, classifying, ordering, pattern blocks, sequence blocks, measuring cups, toy clocks and a wide variety of sorting materials

Cooking Center

Cooking offers a special treat for Pre-Kindergarten children, allowing them to do things adults do. As they measure ingredients, children learn about measurement and volume. While kneading dough, peeling carrots, or stirring pudding, children develop their physical skills and increase their vocabulary. In addition to the excitement of creating nutritional snacks with teacher guidance, the children learn to appreciate other people and cultures by making foods from various cultures.

Sand and Water Center

This center provides opportunities for children to explore the principles of math and science firsthand. By sifting sand and scooping water they improve their physical dexterity. They develop social skills by joining others in making a sand castle. As they test various items in a tub of water they learn scientifically which objects float or sink. A wide variety of materials are included in this center.

Quiet Corner

In this corner, the children have the opportunity to relax and read. This area is equipped with a comfortable reading area and a selection of books. Children who like looking through books and/or need a place to be peaceful will often seek out his corner. A tape recorder, puppets, flannel boards, and a selection of puzzles are also available.