Play is a big topic in early childhood education and the level of play allowed in classrooms varies greatly among schools. But play in kindergarten is SO important! These children are 5 and 6 years old and many have never been to preschool. We can’t expect them to sit and do paper and pencil activities all day long. And to a young child, play is learning.
My kindergarten classroom is set up with several play-based centers and we have free play time daily. The key to making play-based learning successful, is to find ways to naturally embed academic skills into things.
Let’s take a look at how the centers in my classroom are set up, and what students can actually learn at each one!
Dramatic Play
My dramatic play center varies throughout the year. It ranges from a kitchen set to a restaurant, to a grocery store or a post office. This center is great for working on social skills, but the academic skills are endless too. So many literacy skills can be practiced as students read labels, write lists, look at menus, mail letters, etc. Students can also learn math skills as they count and sort objects, or work with money.
Block Center
My block center includes a road rug, wood, foam, and cardboard blocks, buildings and signs, people, cars, trains, animals, Lincoln logs, and a marble track. There are so many opportunities for problem solving, engineering, and spatial reasoning at this center. And of course, counting, sorting, and reading signs.
Light Table
A light table was a recent addition to my classroom and it is a very popular center. Every few weeks I change out the activity. Students can practice letters, numbers, counting, sorting, and so much more here.
STEM Bins
STEM bins are something I use often throughout the day. They are great for morning bins when students first come in or for an early finisher activity. But my students also love to play with them during free play time as well. This center includes things like Legos, Magnatiles, K’Nex, and several other building toys.
Writing Center
My writing center is another center that gets used multiple times a day in my classroom. This is a center that my students go to during our daily station rotation time, where the focus is more on writing. But they can also go here during free play time too. At this center, I have word cards, coloring pages, color by code activities, letter and card templates, directed drawings, and blank paper for students to make their own creations. Students can use stencils, stamps, stickers, hole punchers, and so much more.
Science Center
Science is one of my favorite things to teach! But sometimes it can be difficult to give students the opportunity to truly explore something in a whole group setting. The science center allows me to provide more hands-on experiences to reinforce the things we are learning in science. Throughout the year, we learn about so many things such as colors, apples, pumpkins, weather, insects, rocks, magnets, and so much more.
Sensory Bin
The sensory bin is another fun, hands-on center where any academic skills can easily be tied in. In the picture shown, students were practicing numbers and counting, by following the recipes to create apple pies. This center also allows for a lot of fine motor practice, which helps with writing skills.
Play Dough Center
The last play center I have in my classroom is the play dough center. I just keep the play dough on trays, so that students can grab the tray and take it to a table. They just keep the play dough in the tray and then there isn’t a mess on the floor. Play dough is another great tool for developing fine motor skills and hand strength, that will later benefit writing. I also like to add in shapes and play dough mats to practice building letters and numbers and counting.
Play Is Learning
It really is possible for students to play and learn at the same time! Students can still work on kindergarten standards in a play-based environment. You are not taking away from students’ learning time by giving them free play. Because for young children, play is learning!
