Centers are my favorite thing to work with with kiddos cuz you can be creative and come up with just about anything.
There are basic center stations that classrooms usually have, but just like any toy in your house, it wont last long. The kids will get bored of it at some point, so you have to change them out every once in a while to make it new again.
Now for this blog I am going to use the theme of Camping to give examples for each one. To show you how it works with the theme of the week.
The basic enters are:
- Dramatic Play: Now I already made a post about this center all on its own. So go check that out. However I just want to say that dramatic play is one of the key elements when it comes to doing lesson plan themes. Consider it your center piece of your entire room. If its camping, set up and entire indoor campground. Get a tent ( or get creative and make a tent out of sheet like when you were a kid) and set up a tissue paper fire. Add flashlights and blankets.
2. Arts and Crafts: Arts and crafts are essential to a preschooler every single day. They like getting messy and doing art. I know my kids do. So with the theme of the week, there are at least 5 days worth of crafts for every single theme out there. Now in an actual preschool facility ( like the one i use to teach at) printables and coloring pages were forbidden to use. You had to get more creative than that. Well, we aren’t a legit preschool, we are parents, and we need to make it as simple as possible for ourselves and not stress over art. So go and find coloring books, or print off coloring pages and learning pages all you want. Don’t make it hard for yourself. Now the lesson plans i am using are provided for me, and gives me a detailed list of what we need, but still, if you don’t have the supplies, don’t go crazy and go out and buy it all. Now I plan to do a post that is all about arts and craft supplies soon. To help you get a basic batch together. NOTE: I am not starting my lesson plans until August 3rd. So between here and then, you have time to stock up on what you need CHEAP. Okay. To continue with camping, here is a paper plate, tissue paper fire pit. You can even let the kids make this first and then use it in your pretend play.
3. Creative Play/ Creative Construction: Now this center is pretty fun, but its a lot of work. So if you don’t use it in your week lesson plan, the kids wont miss it. Its a combo of the pretend play and regular construction. You take the theme of the week and make a mini play area. Its easier to just show you in picture form. For Camping, Take a little mini storage tub and put in it rocks, pebbles, sticks, leaves, and mini figures. They can create a mini camp zone.
4. Construction Play: Now regular construction is all about building. It doesn’t have to do anything with the theme of the week, or you can add a challenge for them that has to do with the theme. Basically all they do is build with the toys they already have. EVERYONE HAS LEGOS. I hope. Other examples of construction play are; buildings magnets, Lincoln logs, bristle blocks, and even normal little wood blocks, or giant blocks, etc. You can even get creative and save all those Costco or Sam’s Club boxes and have a card board box building challenge. Couldn’t find anything to post picture wise for this, so you have to go and google search Construction preschool ideas to see.
5. Fine Motor Center: Fine motor is a very important part of a toddlers-preschoolers education. This doesn’t have to be an actual center, but something you do with your kiddos that week to challenge their fine motor skills. For those who dont know what fine motor is, its when your child uses small movements that challenge the brain to achieve a tasks. Such as grabbing, scooping, digging, etc. For Camping its going on a scavenger hunt to find the things you need for your pretend play center. So they pick up rocks, leaves, sticks, etc and put them in the buckets.
6. Gross Motor Center: Gross motor is just as important for kids as fine motor is. This is the big physical activities that help the brain learn. Now this can also be theme related or it doesn’t have to be. I know its summer, it might be hot and gross but do some sort of physical activity A DAY. Swimming, exploring, indoor yoga, dance, sports, etc. Just keep those kids active. Now if you want to stick to the theme thing, you can go actual camping for your gross motor lesson. Have them pack their suitcases, backpacks, and help unload things at the campsite.
7. Science Center: Science is usually a part of the STEM LESSON. Course with preschool, just a simple science table with things to look at and explore can be so simple. Just go to the dollar tree, or dollar store and pick up some magnifying glasses for the center and print off pictures of things and animals that have to do with the theme. For camping, put out those sticks, rocks, etc that you got from the scavenger hunt and have them look them over and talk about them. What they see, what they feel, what they smell. Great science and great learning.
Those are the basic centers that I will be using in my house for this year. It might change, and I might take away some and add some, but if I do, Ill let you all know. Just use what you have. Be creative, separate things into groups, and don’t be afraid to change it up.
Good Luck!!!!!!
The TAWL Mom 