How do I Develop Early Childhood Classroom Learning Centers?

Developing Permanent Early Childhood Learning Centers

• 1

  Choose a curriculum/content area or a specific skill set for each center. Common content areas and skill sets include writing, reading/storytime, blocks, art, science, dress-up/pretend play, housekeeping/pretend play, manipulatives and social studies.

• 2

  Set up the appropriate furniture for the subject area and activity. Furniture may include low secure shelves, a child-sized table and child-sized chairs.

• 3

  Add related materials appropriate to the center's content theme and activity. For example, the art center may contain crayons, paper, glue, pipe cleaners, glitter, markers, paints, an easel and tape. Use clear bins to hold materials in place.

• 4

  Label the centers. Write each center name with a marker on card stock paper. Attach the card to a noticeable space on or near the center with clear tape.

Developing Portable Early Childhood Learning Centers

• 5

  Gather clear plastic bins in a variety of sizes. Choose a theme or content area for each bin or set of bins.

• 6

  Fill the bins with materials appropriate to the center's topic and skill.

• 7

  Create a label for each bin with markers on card stock. Tape a label to the front or top of each bin.