What Are Standard Centers?

Standard centers are centers that will be used each week in some way. They are semi-permanent areas of the room where different activities reinforce the focus of the lesson. The lesson focus can usually be reinforced by each of these centers. If a center does not accomplish this with a particular lesson, you can substitute a similar but more suitable activity in that area for that lesson.

• A housekeeping center helps associate the classroom with home. It provides an venue to observe children and guide their behavior in a familiar setting.

• A vehicle and block center provides for children who like to build and work with moving things.

• A table, book and puzzle center provides for children who want to do quiet sit-down activities.

• A lesson-focused center should provide activities specifically related to the focus of the lesson, but the center may have a variety of presentations.

How to Organize

They can be used simultaneously with children rotating from one to another in groups. Or children may move freely as they desire when there is adequate space in the area they want to visit.

Topic Sections 

Introduction
Beginning
Verse - Objective
Verse - When
Large Muscle
Guided Center - What
Guided Center - Larger
Ending