Things that I included in this Construction Zone Drama Center:

• Toy tools (hammers, screwdrivers, screws, saws)

• Toy construction hats and vests

• Safety goggles

• Variety of blocks

• Safety cones

• Measuring Tape

• Golf Tees

• Foam pieces or Cardboard boxes

• Printable signs and labels

• ‘I Can Build’ cards

Before opening the center, I modeled how to use the golf tees and the child-sized hammers. I only allowed students to hammer the golf tees into the foam pieces or the cardboard boxes - not the blocks.

Students got to work very quickly and I found them making buildings with the blocks, measuring their structures and working together. They also did a lot of hand-eye coordination practice when they hit the ‘nail’...

Painting at the easel or the table is a core activity that preschoolers love doing.

Painting with paintbrushes is beneficial, but we, as early childhood educators can take painting a step further.

Move beyond the paintbrush and invite children to paint with unusual tools.
When children paint, they are opening a world of creativity by using their senses to create.  

When children are challenged with unusual painting tools, children must make choices on how to use the tools.  They predict how the tool will re-act and plan-out on their project within the constraints of their canvas.

That is a lot of problem-solving!

On top of problem-solving, painting with unusual tools makes those fine motor muscles adjust and adapt to get the desired result.

But, what kinds of unusual tools can we present to children to paint with?

Here are just a few ideas:

Take a look around your house or classroom... you can find lots of great tools!

...

Even though preschool writing may not look like traditional writing, it is an important part of the literacy process.

But, have you ever struggled with getting your preschoolers to go to the writing center?

Yep, me too. When given the choice, my traditional writing center with pencils, pens and paper was not too appealing when up against a sensory tub full of sand or a grocery store in the drama center.

My traditional writing center was just not cuttin' it.

The goals I had for my writing center are for children to get a writing utensil in their hand and make marks that are meaningful to them.  I want children to enjoy this experience and I want to throw a little fine motor in there too.

So, I knew- it's time to start changing it up!

My plan was to draw them into the writing center with new, exciting and different materials.  I knew that if I could draw their attention in, they would come and write- as a...

To create this Spaceship drama center, several different pieces were put into play.  First, the rocketship…the most important part! I took two large boxes and cut the bottom and a door from one box. I then, placed the other box on top of the first box and taped together. I added some tin foil and a countdown graphic to the outside. On the inside I added spaceship control graphics found in the Spaceship Dramatic Play Pack.

The second piece of this pretend play center was the outer space wall. I found a space themed tablecloth at the party store and taped on graphics of the planets, stars, constellations and rocketships to invoke imagination.

The last piece of this center were the helmets (also found at the party store) and the Outer Space Observations form. I placed the form on a small...

I already knew that I had students that would love this area, but I was surprised at some of the students who fell in love with caring for babies! Mu students that love rough and tumble play, also found caring for baby dolls engaging.

Through play children imitate behaviors that they see. So, it was no surprise that children with younger siblings jumped right in and knew what to do. These students became peer models to those who weren’t quite sure what to do with a diaper!

When preparing this center, my goals were to help students practice compassion and selflessness. To learn to care for another in a gentle way. Based on my observations - this is exactly what this Baby Care Center is producing!

Some props that I have provided in this Baby Care Center:

• bottles

• ...

To create this Beach drama center, several different pieces were put into play.  First, the beach.  I bought a child-sized pool and filled the pool with plastic ocean animals and letter fish that I created.  You can see the letter fish in the photo below.  Children used a fishing pole (I just used a large cardboard roll, string and a button magnet) to fish for the letter fishies.

The second piece of this pretend play center were the beach props. I included things like a beach chair, beach towels, empty & clean sunscreen bottle, sunglasses, sand buckets and floaties.

The last piece of this center was the Ice Cream Stand.  Who doesn't love to eat ice cream by the beach?!  We used a plastic ice cream...

To create this Rainforest Tours drama center, several different pieces were put into play.  First, the jeep.  I took our Melissa and Doug Market Stand and added some green paper, cut circle and rectangular lights and added a bumper.  Students used a green foam floral wreath as a steering wheel (it was just what I had on hand!).

The second piece of this pretend play center was the rainforest wall.  I attached green butcher paper to the wall, added photos of rainforest animals and covered them with large and small green leaves.  I bought my leaves, but you could easily make them from construction paper.  You can see part of the wall in...

Here is my new art center storage!  I love the organization of it all!  

My rolling cart has 10 drawers - so I did double up some supplies.  I also love that the drawers pull all the way out so students can take a drawer of supplies to the table if...