[aegaston]

Hello teachers! Since the weather is cooler and our class is spending less time outside, I need some new ideas for centers. The children really like the centers that we already have, but I need new, interactive, fun ideas to add to our centers since we are spending more time inside. I am open to any ideas--adding to centers or a completely new center--any ideas would be great!! Thanks!!

[Kerri M]

As far as centers go this is what I have:
- play doh - with lots of fun tools that get changed out often to keep it new and exciting
- computers - http://www.kindersite.org/Directory/DirectoryFrame.htm
- puzzles and games - variety of floor puzzles and games such as shoots and ladders, connect 4, memory, etc
- fine motor - stringing beaded necklaces, light bright, moving small objects from one space to another using only a clothespin etc
- science - sound eggs - match the similar sounds and guess what they are, smell bottles - guess the smell in each and check your answer using a color sticker code, sea shells and magnifying glasses, balance to find out what weighs more/less etc, magnets
- blocks - wooden blocks, tinker toys, lincoln logs, dominoes, anything you can build with basically
- lego table
- sand - we have beans in ours so they can use different sized sifters to find out what can go through each
- art - weekly craft prepared by teacher and copied by kids, or free exploration of art tools (pants, colors, stickers, glitter, etc)
- math - using manipulatives copy a pattern, sort by color size etc, tangrams, pattern blocks to make pictures

We also have literacy work stations which my kids seem to love so when we are stuck inside for recess I let them choose those too:
- dry erase boards
- cookie cutter abc play doh
- pocket chart - match student pictures to name cards, match words with pictures, or recreate a poem we have learned
- word study - picture sorts, word sorts, letter sorts etc (I change these all the time so we have a bunch to choose from)
- classroom library
- writing work station - create your own 3 page book or make a copy cat version of one made weekly by the teacher

[aegaston]

wow!! thank you. those are great and simple ideas!!

[VolGirl]

This is a really good website to get center idea from. She has them done by months so it is easy to find things that would work right now.

kellyskindergarten.com