Classroom
Learning
​Centers

Art
In the art center children learn…

• Creativity
• Pre-reading and pre-math skills
• Social skills
• Multiculturalism
• Emotional expression and exploration
• Strength in hands and fingers
• Self-esteem
• Artists and media

 
Dramatic Play
Through pretend play children learn…

• Practicing situations from the grown-up world in a setting that is safe and secure
• Understanding of the world around them and daily living activities
• Concentration and attention skills
• Sequential acts and story writing/telling
• Flexibility, cooperation and compromise
• Empathy and consideration for the feelings of others
• Abstract thinking

  
Blocks
In the block area children learn…  

• Mathematical concepts (symmetry, shape, geometry)
• Small-muscle skills; hand-eye coordination
• Feelings of competence and self-esteem
• Life skills – concentration, abstract thought
• Social interaction with others
• Creativity and organization of materials

 
 Math
In the math center children learn…

• Counting and number recognition
• Comparing and Measurement (height, weight…) 
• Symmetry 
• Life skills – concentration, abstract thought
• Geometry (shapes) 
• Classifying
• Sequencing
• Patterning
• Problem solving

Writing 
At the writing center children learn…

• They see others writing and realize that they can write/draw (stages: scribble writing, letter-like shapes, letters and then words)
• Letter names and sounds (spelling)
• Writing is used to convey meaning (writing communicates ideas)
• Small muscle development in hands
• Pencil grasp
• Different ways writing is used (letters, books, cards etc…)
• Creativity and expression

   
Library
With books and stories children learn…

• Books tell a story (words and pictures)
• Book orientation (front to back, left to write, top to bottom)
• Pictures support the words (children use pictures before they read words)
• Enjoyment of reading
• Vocabulary and language development
• Creativity and Imagination
• Sounding out words
• Predicting
• Comprehension skills
• Books teach many concepts

 
 Science
Here children learn…

• Life skills – concentration, abstract thought
• Problem solving
• Physical properties (color, size…)
• Life cycles and needs of plants and animals
• Use of senses
• How and why things work in the world around them
• Similarities and differences
• Exploration and Experimentation
• Cause and Effect
• Vocabulary