The best lesson plans include learning centers with lots of interactives, hands-on activities. Preschool, special needs, gen ed and even homeschool students benefit from learning centers. Here's a simple guide to set up learning centers with inexpensive, recycled, repurposed materials. 1) Set up cross-curricular learning centers based on units being studied. Include math, science, social studies, literature and technology.
2) Each center should include a shelf or basket of books related to unit. Social studies units include books on countries and cultures. DK--Dorling Kindersley makes excellent science reference books and field guides to use in science learning centers.
3) Manipulatives: Fill learning centers with a variety of hands-on games, crafts, Montessori type flashcards and learning sets appropriate to unit. Science centers include STEM diagrams, charts, experiments and activities. Literature units might include paper dolls and dioramas. Fills social studies learning centers with maps, globes and artefacts. Math centers should have measurement, counting, operations and other math lesson plans.
4) Preschool centers: There are 4-6 basic learning centers in a preschool classroom. Dramatic play, practical life (house), building, science and gross motor.
5) Tasks: List tasks to complete in each of the learning centers, according to age. Preschool and young special needs students may just explore with middle school students will have activities to complete. Keep them as open-ended as possible to address HOTS (higher order thinking skills). Also, make lesson plans self-checking for immediate feedback.
