Our Classroom Play-Based Centres

In our classroom you will find many different well-planned centres created around the room which children have a wide range of learning materials. Children have the choice to explore activities or centres that interest them. All of our activities are open ended and change over time as the children’s skills and interests develop. Below are a couple of the centres we will be exploring first.

 The sand and water centre- Children will have the opportunity to explore the properties of these materials. Such questions may arise, “How does sand change when water is added? How does water flow through a thin tube or a fat tube?” Keep in mind when the props are added or removed the focus of learning changes. For example when the water wheel is put away and sea creatures are added to the water centre, the focus can change from science to an imaginative narrative creating a vocabulary shift while they are at play.

 The home centre- This centre provides the children with the opportunity to act out using their imagination what they know about family life. Participating in this centre the children will learn to create narratives, to understand role perspectives, and to develop empathy for characters in their play.

 The block centre- At this centre children learn proportional reasoning, spatial perspectives, develop their vocabulary/grammar skills as they use oral language to share; friendship and social skills as they work together and share materials, and foundational skills for mathematics development as they construct.  

 Creativity centre- This centre is usually focused around a book or two that we have read. Here you will find lots of construction paper, regular blank paper, markers, crayons, paint, scissors, glue, sticker’s etc. ready to create something that is important to them from the books. Example) After reading the popular book “Rainbow Fish” by Marcus Pfister a centre is created with the book displayed as well as with lots of materials which the students could turn into creatures from under the sea.

 Physical Development Centre- “Fun with tweezers, scales and chopsticks” At this centre you will find tweezers, scales, chopsticks, little pots of small interesting goodies such as beads, buttons, stones, corks etc. Taking part in this centre helps the children with their fine motor skills which is very important. Also, note this can be interdisciplinary as this centre relates to numeracy as well.

Sources: http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au, http://www.etfo.ca/Publications/Voice/Voice%20Back%20Issues/Documents/February%202008/child%27s%20play.pdf