At Shining Stars Academy, children have the
opportunity to work and play in these centers by choice. The
centers contain educational toys, materials, and games. They
are used in small groups, with a friend, or individually. The
centers provide practice in making decisions, following
directions, working independently, and learning the care and
use of materials. The classrooms are planned to promote
learning and to develop social skills, while giving each child
space to have individual time. The learning centers will
encourage and promote children to engage in daily activities.
Block Center:
When children play block building, it allows them to think
and solve problems. Children learn about sizes and shapes,
solve problems, and help grasp and develop basic math concepts
as well as use their imagination.
Art Center:
The art area is designed to encourage children to explore
colors, textures and materials and in doing so develop their
visual, motor and social skills. The freedom to create,
explore and experiment with their own work gives them a
positive self-image and a feeling of pride about what they
have accomplished. Children have an opportunity to use art on
the daily basis.
Language Center:
Through use of the Language Center children learn an
appreciation of books, increase their vocabulary, learn
specific concepts through literature as well as the meaning of
written symbols (letters and words). The language centers
consist on four areas of learning:
Library Center:
The Library is a comfortable, restful and inviting place.
Books are placed so children can easily reach and then rotated
to stimulate interest.
Writing Center:
Children experiment with writing through scribble, tracing,
copying, and drawing. This helps strengthening eye-hand
coordination, fine motor skills, recognition of printed
symbols and proper pencil grip.
Computer Center:
This center introduces children to basic computer literacy
which is so important today. The use of computers and software
programs is a fun and exciting way to reinforce basic math,
reading readiness skills as well as eye-hand coordination and
fine motor skills.
Manipulative Game Center:
Children explore materials, experiment, and discover a
variety of ways in which a toy can be used. The manipulative
center promotes and support children in expanding their
curiosity. Children learn about, classification,
sequencing/seriating, size, shape, number, patterns,
similarities and problem solving. These games improve small
muscle coordination, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving
skills, visual discrimination (likeness and differences), and
shape and space concepts. This area encourages children's
growth in fine motor skills, thinking skills, and
social-emotional skills. The child also learns the
fundamentals of number concepts and abstract concepts.
Science Center:
The science center is located close to a low window that
permits sunlight. Children are given a hands-on, real life
activity that teaches cause and effect with open-ended
conclusion and encourages a sense of exploration and
discovery. Children learn about the world around them through
a hands-on approach. In addition, children will be studying
about concepts such as time, space, weight, temperature,
weather, seasons, light, and color. This area promotes the
intellectual growth of children through stimulating curiosity
and develops problem solving abilities. Children are
stimulated to use their five senses (taste, sight, touch,
smell and listen). The child develops the ability to think,
reason, infer, generalize, and classify.
Sand/Water Center:
The sand/water table is very calming activity to children
and it is irresistible fascination for them. The sand play
helps develop the senses, contributes to relaxation and
conversation, builds social, cooperative play and problem
solving skills, and the development of fundamental skills in
quantities, measuring, etc. Water play provides specific
concept development such as water pressure, volume,
conservation, quantities, evaporation, etc. Children develop
their senses through increased sensitivity of how things feel,
smell. Concepts that are reinforced through this activity are
floating, sinking, texture, weight, volume, size, and
evaporation and measuring.
Pretend/Dramatic Play Center:
Children have the opportunity to incorporate what their
learning about the world around them and how they feel about
themselves in the world. They live in a world of pretending in
which they are trying to understand. The children develop
better understanding of themselves and others and it assists
the child in working out ideas of self-identity, family
relationships, identity with various adult roles, and the
child's view of the world. Dramatic play also helps the
children sort out fantasy and reality and it gives the
children an opportunity to experience success and problem
solving.
Music and Movement Centers:
Through participation in musical games, children build a
sense of belonging to and functioning in a group. Creative
movement improves their sense of how to move their body
through space in an ordered, effective manner. Children learn
different sounds, the parts of the body, discover rhythm, and
experience the impact of music on their moods. Language,
memory and vocabulary skills are increased through learning
the songs and movements.
Mathematics Centers:
Mathematics area gives children a hands-on approach to
developing basic math concepts. Mathematics activities
stimulate children's curiosity, a very important factor in the
learning process. Children learn about sorting, counting
materials, measuring, weighing, pattering, and problem
solving.
Foreign Language Centers:
Children will have an opportunity to explore another
language. This experience is part of an emphasis on the
richness of cultural diversity. Children will learn to respect
and develop a sense of cultural awareness.
Social Studies Centers:
Children will have the opportunity to study family,
cultural diversity, history and current events.
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