Blocks/Building 

This station should be filled with wooden blocks for building. Place an area rug under this area to minimize sound. Children’s large motor skills will be used in this center. Strengthening of these muscles will promote healthy growth.

What should be in this station?

• large wooden blocks of various shapes
• tiles, small wooden cubes, connecting cubes, water bottle tops, milk jug tops

Housekeeping/Dramatic Play

Through pretend play, children are able to use language that they would not use in their daily conversations with friends. This station develops a child’s social/emotional skills through sharing and role playing. Problem solving skills can be fostered in this center while children create their own worlds.

What should be in this station?

• Kitchen set, small table, plastic utensils, empty food containers, dolls of various nationalities
• Dress-up clothes, themed books, hats to reflect various professions, scarves, full length mirror
• Pretend school items such as a chalkboard, journals, books, a small desk, a calendar, writing tools, paper, a backpack, a lunch sack, play food, and teacher dress-up clothes
• Stage a garden

Art

Children will like to retell story events at this station through their drawings.

What should be in this station?

• pencils, colored pencils, crayons, paper, paint
• journals for continued writing
• artifacts such as plastic flowers, yellow shiny paper (for a sun), pretend grass, silver glitter (for stars)

Sensory Exploration

Sand and water play permits children to make and test hypotheses; stretches the imagination; provides a potentially soothing sensory experience; and it is an excellent avenue for children to learn physical, cognitive, and social skills. 

What you need...

• A sand and\or water table can fill this station with many educational moments.
• To help keep this station organized, place small manipulatives in clear containers for easy availability. 
• Here are a few items to keep in this center: play dough, sand, rice, pasta, measuring cups, colander, various sizes of spoons and scoops, paper for the children to record their work, pom poms, cotton balls, small balls, straws, magnifying glasses, beads, and sponges.
• The children are learning about lines in writing. Place various lines of painter's tape on the floor. Have the children walk on the tape without falling off the tape.

Book Nook

The Book Nook should be an inviting place where children want to go. This should be an organized place where children can freely choose books to “read”. Some children may want to sit in a chair, lay on the floor or relax in a soft beanbag. Just as the children vary in personality, they differ too in where they like to read best. Give them options. 

Provide a way for the children to return books when they are finished. Labeled tubs or crates is a wonderful way for the children to do their own cleanup. 

Choose a spot in the room that is away from the stations that tend to be loud. Book Nook and blocks should not be side by side. 

What should be in this station?

• trade books, student made books, pillows, cozy chairs