Fill a writing center with activities that promote writing in pre-kindergarten children. Paper and writing implements aren't the only tools that should be placed in this center -- include alphabet stamps, stickers and stencils. Create tracing books by writing letters, numbers and sight words on index cards and placing them inside a photo album -- provide children with dry-erase markers to trace the letters and digits in these books. Hang a poster of the alphabet on the wall which children can refer to when practicing writing. For a tactile activity, cover tables with shaving cream and invite children to write in it.
A reading center should be filled with a variety of activities that foster not only an understanding of how to read, but that also promote a lifetime love of reading. In this center, place books on tape that children can listen to while following along in a hard copy book. Photocopy pictures from a familiar story and have students use them to retell the story. Cut out pictures of simple items -- cats, apples, kites and so forth -- and have children match the pictures to the letter that they start with.
Engage children in scientific explorations with a discovery center. Fill this center with a variety of objects that children can manipulate and explore. Place a tray filled with magnets and various magnetic and non-magnetic items and allow them to investigate magnetism. Place a class pet in the discovery center -- a hamster or goldfish, for example. Have children help to take care of the pet and document its behavior in a journal. Set out magnifying glasses and allow students to explore with them. Create different discovery bottles that allow children to see different scientific processes. One discovery bottle idea is a bottle filled with colored water and oil. Another option is to fill a bottle with water and a variety of objects that sink and float -- pennies, Styrofoam pieces, crayons and rocks.
Children not only learn how to express themselves creatively through art, but they also learn about colors and shapes and hone their fine motor skills. Stock an art center with various art materials that children can use to create masterpieces. Paint, watercolors, crayons, markers and paper are the basis of an art center, but expand on their creativity and imagination by stocking the center with other materials. Glitter glue, tissue paper, Styrofoam and scissors that cut different shapes are all options to consider. Children can cut out images from magazines and use them to create a collage.