Interest Learning Centers in the Preschool Environment
Interest Learning Centers are areas set up within the classroom that have a specific focus that encourage children to participate in the focus of that area. The purpose or goal of an Interest Center is to allow children to learn in the ways they learn best: through play!
Think about your car's clock. No, not as an Interest Learning Center but as an example of hands-on learning! If the time is wrong (due to daylight savings time changes or recent work being done on your car that reset the clock), do you know how to fix it? I did not know how to change the time setting in my car's clock.
A friend of mine would did and he showed me how while saying "You press this, then use this to change the hour and this to change the minutes and then set it by pressing this twice." Now, although I watched him do this and listened to his instruction, the next time I needed to fix the car, I could not do it!
What helped me was when I contacted him and asked him to give me the instructions again but this time, to let me do each step. Now, I can do it on my own. It sometimes takes a one or two attempts to get it right, but I remember.
Multiple goals or concepts can be learned through the various interest learning centers.
Preschoolers' language and literacy skills improve not only in the Library Area by reading or being read to and using flannel boards to retell stories, but also in the Dramatic Play Center where they draw and read menus at their restaurant or read recipes to cook for their children!
Materials available in each Interest Learning Center should be changed occasionally so that children have access to a variety of materials over time. Often, the materials are changed to reflect the current theme being used in the classroom.
It is important to clean and sanitize the materials after they have been out for use to kill any germs or bacteria. Soak the materials in warm soapy water, rinse, spray with a solution of 1 tbsp. bleach to 1 quart of water, let air dry and then store away until next time. (Also, prior to putting new materials out, check the CPSC website to be sure that item has not been recalled for safety issues).
Which interest learning centers should you set up in your classroom? Great question!
Interest centers in your classroom should include:
Art Center, Blocks Center, Cooking Center, Dramatic Play Center, Library Area, Math/Manipulative Area, Music Center, Sand and Water Table (also called Sensory Table), Science/Discovery Center and a Writing Center.
Providing these interest learning centers in your classroom will help your preschool children's growth, development and learning!
More: https://www.himama.com/blog/what_is_emergent_curriculum
Think about your car's clock. No, not as an Interest Learning Center but as an example of hands-on learning! If the time is wrong (due to daylight savings time changes or recent work being done on your car that reset the clock), do you know how to fix it? I did not know how to change the time setting in my car's clock.
A friend of mine would did and he showed me how while saying "You press this, then use this to change the hour and this to change the minutes and then set it by pressing this twice." Now, although I watched him do this and listened to his instruction, the next time I needed to fix the car, I could not do it!
What helped me was when I contacted him and asked him to give me the instructions again but this time, to let me do each step. Now, I can do it on my own. It sometimes takes a one or two attempts to get it right, but I remember.
Multiple goals or concepts can be learned through the various interest learning centers.
Preschoolers' language and literacy skills improve not only in the Library Area by reading or being read to and using flannel boards to retell stories, but also in the Dramatic Play Center where they draw and read menus at their restaurant or read recipes to cook for their children!
Materials available in each Interest Learning Center should be changed occasionally so that children have access to a variety of materials over time. Often, the materials are changed to reflect the current theme being used in the classroom.
It is important to clean and sanitize the materials after they have been out for use to kill any germs or bacteria. Soak the materials in warm soapy water, rinse, spray with a solution of 1 tbsp. bleach to 1 quart of water, let air dry and then store away until next time. (Also, prior to putting new materials out, check the CPSC website to be sure that item has not been recalled for safety issues).
Which interest learning centers should you set up in your classroom? Great question!
Interest centers in your classroom should include:
Art Center, Blocks Center, Cooking Center, Dramatic Play Center, Library Area, Math/Manipulative Area, Music Center, Sand and Water Table (also called Sensory Table), Science/Discovery Center and a Writing Center.
Providing these interest learning centers in your classroom will help your preschool children's growth, development and learning!
More: https://www.himama.com/blog/what_is_emergent_curriculum
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