A learning center is an area in a classroom or homeschool where kids learn by playing and engaging in activities. A learning center provides an active form of learning and encourages exploration and discovery. A learning center has materials that enhance the learning of concepts, skills, themes, or topics. A learning center teaches kids to be self-disciplined, self-motivated, and independent by exploring in their own way and concentrating on things that interest them. Learning center can also help keep a child busy while you need to do housework, cook, or help other children. A learning center can be arranged on a table, shelf, box, bin, basket, or storage container. You can make a subject learning center or a play based learning center. As a parent/teacher your job during learning center time is to observe, listen, ask questions, give help with needed, participate in activities, help with discoveries and connections, share your knowledge, and talk and have discussions with your child. You can set up 1 or multiple learning centers at a time in your home. Introduce what the learning center has to the child and then let them choose what they want to do. Give guidance and support with what they choose. You can have a child rotate to another learning center after a a certain amount of time or when they lose interest. You can pack away a learning center after it has been used and then take it out again weeks or months later so it will have interest again at another time. A learning center can be changed daily or weekly depending on the topic, activity, or interest.

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Subject learning centers:

1. Language arts

Use letter tiles, magnetic ABC letters and a magnet board to practice spelling words, dry erase markers and white board to practice writing words and sentences, synonyms cards to play matching, paper to practice handwriting, vocabulary words flashcards, dictionary, Madlibs, and word board games like Scrabble, Upwords, or Boggle. Include books to read and listen to audiobooks.

2. Math

Do sorting, patterns, and counting with objects like beads, buttons, or candy (gummy bears, jelly beans, Skittles, or M&Ms), dry erase markers and white board or chalk and chalkboard to practice math problems, abacus, dice, placing beads, learning clock, play money, place center sheets, graph paper, number line, fraction pie pieces, fraction bars, pattern sheets, math flashcards, multiplication table, and shapes. Include math books and worksheets.

3. Science

Use a magnifying glass, microscope, prism, weighing balance, and nature objects like rocks, shells, leaves, feathers, pine cones, and twigs. Include science books.

4. Social studies

Use a compass, globe, maps, and atlas. Include books about culture, geography, places around the world, and history. 

5. Art

Use paper, coloring books, crayons, markers, colored pencils, paint, glue, scissors, tape, glitter, stickers, stamps, clay, and craft items such as pom poms, googly eyes, artificial flowers, buttons, pipe cleaners, scraps of cloth, ribbon, and yarn. Include art books and arts and crafts idea books.

6. Music

Use a keyboard, drums, tambourine, maracas, guitar, xylophone, bells, and other instruments (can be DIY like a container of beans, macaroni, or rice). Use a CD player and CD or find music online. Include books about music.

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Play-based learning centers:

1. play dough

Use cookie cutters, rolling pin, potato masher, spatula, kid scissors, and plastic knife.

2. games

Use classic board games like Candyland, checkers, Chutes and Ladders, Connect 4, dominos, Chinese checkers, Life, Battleship, Othello, and Monopoly. Use card games.

3. puzzles

Use wooden peg puzzles, jigaw puzzles, word search puzzles, crossword puzzles, mazes, and brain teaser puzzles.

4. building

Use legos, wooden blocks, tinkertoy, or K'nex.

5. puppets

Make a puppet stand or use a table with a cover. Buy hand puppets or make your own.

6. water

Use a tub, dishpan, bucket, water, cups, spoons, and towels.

7. sand

Use a tub for sand, cups, and sand toys. 

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