Explain the basic characteristics of learning centers and how to design and organize learning centers in a classroom.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Indoor space is often organized into learning centers (also called interest or activity areas), which combine materials and equipment around common activities. Learning centers can include art, manipulatives, dramatic play, sensory experiences, blocks, music, science, math, computers, books, language arts, woodworking, cooking, and a variety of other areas that fit the unique interests, needs, and characteristics of a group of children and teachers. Available space and materials, ages of the children, and licensing regulations also contribute to decisions about numbers and types of learning centers included in a classroom. Learning centers allow children to make choices from a range of available, developmentally appropriate activities. A curriculum based on learning centers can be considered responsive to the children because it is designed to meet and respond to their specific needs and experiences. Yet, although learning centers and their activities are generally planned, structured, set up, and facilitated by teachers, the children determine how to engage in and carry out the activity. When you arrange learning centers, it is important to take into account the size of the activity area. Researchers have found that smaller, more-defined, and secluded areas encourage children to enter more quickly into play, sustain play for longer periods of time, and engage in more complex play. Thus, using all areas of the room, especially odd-shaped ones such as lofts, the area under lofts, and other sheltered nooks, encourages more intense and involved play. Evaluate your classroom to look for all possible areas that can be creatively used as interest areas. One useful tool in arranging a room into learning centers is to draw a scale model of the classroom, with fixed features such as doors, windows, and built-in furnishings marked. You can then pencil in furniture until you find a workable arrangement. There are also a number of tools available online—for instance, Classroom Architect—and digital options provided by commercial companies that sell early childhood equipment and materials.