How to Set Up Learning Centers in Preschool Classrooms and Homeschool

Early childhood education, or preschool classroom, whether special needs or general education have been shown to function most effectively when designed on a learning center format. High/Scope, Montessori, Voyagers, Head Start and other similarly recognized preschool education programs utilize learning centers.

Here is a classroom template to help you set up your center-based early childhood preschool classroom environment. You can use centers in a home school as well as traditional classroom setting. Depending upon your classroom space, class size and preschool program you can set up from four to six centers. You may combine and adapt centers according to your own needs. Each center should also have a basket, crate or bin with books relating to that particular center.

Dramatic Play Center: (Dress up Center) In a preschool classroom, the Dramatic Play center includes many kinds of clothing types, pants, dresses, shirts, coats and blouses. Children enjoy accessories like hats, shoes, ties, coats, feather boas, crowns, gloves and jewelry. Musical instruments belong in the dramatic play center also. Store instruments on a shelf. Attach hooks or racks to the wall to organize clothing in the dress up center.Place a full length mirror, vanity, non electric microphone, small stage or theater and puppet theater in the Dramatic Play center also. Clothing in the Dramatic Play center should change to reflect your theme. For example, during our Careers Unit, the dramatic play center has uniforms, accessories, shoes and hats that represent different jobs. Book themes for the Dramatic Play center: theater, dance, drama, plays, fairy tales, music, folklore and myths.

Art/ Collage Center: In the Art center, children have access to all kinds of art supplies. Set up bins of recycled paper, plastic and cardboard. Provide egg cartons, boxes, pill bottles, paper tubes, packing peanuts, wrapping paper, greeting cards, magazines, lids and other recycled items. For decoration and design, set up bins of feathers, clay, faux gems, pipe cleaners, fabric scraps, buttons, ribbon and lace. Place bins with tools like scissors, glue, paint, markers and crayons in your center. You may want to set out only certain materials on a given day. The art center requires a drying/display area for students' artwork. Set out a rack with old shirts to cover childrens' clothing. Books themes for the Art center: how to draw, works of art, art history, design ideas, art technique books.

Practical Life Center (House): This center should have baby dolls, baby furniture, small table and chairs, kitchen appliances and a washer and dryer set. Place accessories where they would be kept in a normal house. Accessories include: an iron, ironing board, broom, play food, dishes, pans and table linens. Change some items depending upon season, holiday or class theme. Book themes for the Practical Life center: diy books, cook books, baby care, how-to books, crafts and relevant stories.

Block Center (Building): In this center, place bins with various building materials, blocks and Legos. Set up a child-sized tool bench with tools, apron, tool belt, hard hat and safety glasses. The tool bench may have wood and nails. You can set out pieces of Styrofoam and golf tees for children to use like wood and nails. or other materials. Block Center book themes: architecture, building and construction, how-to books, tools, manuals.

Books (Library or Reading) Center: In the Book Center, arrange over-sized body pillows, back pillows, slouch chairs and cushion. Place a blanket or soft rug on the floor. Use a book rack that displays the cover of the book. Book choices reflect the current theme or unit in class. This center should be cozy and private. If possible hanging a bed canopy to create a quiet area. Set up a tent with flashlights and pillows for a book center. Natural lighting works best for reading. Add a floor lamp or other area lamp.

Exploration Center (Sand table): Most preschool classrooms have a deep, covered sand table. If your classroom does not have a sand table, use a plastic covered sand box. This can be filled with other tactile materials besides sand. Fill your exploration table with dry sand, wet sand, clay, dried rice, popcorn, beans or colored aquarium rocks. You can even fill the table with shaving cream, bubbles, 'silly putty', baking soda and water, finger paint, water or snow. Depending upon your unit, add shovels, pails, cups, small muffin tin, sieves, trowel, gardening rake, sand molds, measuring cups, shakers, plastic animals, fish, insects, small fishing poles, boats, trucks and any appropriate toys. You will to place this table on a tile surface or cover the floor with an old tablecloth. Set out old shirts in this center to protect clothing. Exploration center book themes: science, ocean life, beach, digging, earth science.

Set up a chart with colored stickers at each center, to show how many friends may play in a center at a time. Write each child's name on a pinch clothespin. Children clip clothespins on the chart at the center where they wish to work. This keeps traffic under control. For popular centers, you can set a time limit. Teach children how to reassemble the center when they have finished working there. This basic outline should give you enough guidance to set up your own interactive learning centers in your preschool or early childhood classroom.