Early Childhood - Connecticut State Department of Education

Curriculum Chapter 2
PLAY-BASED LEARNING CENTERS
This plan reflects the use of the performance indicators by integrating activities within the various learning centers
in the classroom utilizing a theme prompted by a story or field trip about a produce store.
Performance Indicators Demonstrates 1:1 correspondence. Shows curiosity in number-related activities.
Retells information from a story. Uses symbols to express ideas.
Interacts with one or more children. Beginning to play or work cooperatively.
Elects to use the art media. Uses equipment for investigation.
Concepts/Content Being able to count an object once.
Data analysis.
Experience Children will:
Sequence/comprehension concepts of first, next, last.
Engage in discussion following stories. What happened, first, second, last.
Create and collaborate on the development of a produce store.
Engage in counting and organizing fruits and vegetables. Graph paper will be
encouraged as a way to keep track of the numbers/quantity of each fruit and
vegetable.
Provide a verbal retelling for teacher dictation – using their photographs.
Pours and measures rice in response to questions from teacher. Which weighs more?
What would you guess would take more to fill?
Context/Environment Main centers: drama, creative arts, mathematics, literacy, sensory, blocks.
Teacher Behaviors/ Facilitate creation of a produce store.
Strategies
Demonstrate how graph paper can be helpful in recalling quantity.
Scribe children’s thoughts and sequence of events in response to photographs.
Question children at sensory table and during shared reading.
Partner with children in math area as they count and sort objects.
Materials/Changes Drama: items to set up a store (fruits and vegetables).
to Environment
Creative Arts: photographs of children engaged in work in the centers.
Mathematics: items for counting and sorting.
Literacy: graph paper, books on stores and shopping.
Blocks: large blocks for building a produce store.
Sensory: birdseed, cups, measuring scales, spoons and plates.
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