1. Learning centres/learning spaces

2. What are learning centres /spaces? Spaces set up in an indoor or outdoor environment to encourage children to make choices, explore, solve problems and investigate whilst learning

3. How is the learning environment set up? The indoor rooms are divided into learning centres that remain in place at all times These may include: a creative and writing area, a music area, a science and nature area, a manipulative equipment area, a construction area, a dramatic play area and a quiet comfortable book area for the development of language and literacy

4. Outdoor learning environment It should be and have: As natural as possible Have ‘loose parts’ Quiet places and active places Learning experiences and provocations Experiences to encourage learning about the natural world

5. Creative, sensory & writing area

9. Dramatic play area

11. Music area

13. Science and nature area

15. Reading and quiet area

16. Manipulative area

17. Construction area

21. Areas of interest, investigation/project work

22. What about outdoors?

23. Or this?

30. The value of learning centres Children are active learners and learning centres are planned to encourage active involvement Learning centres easily address children’s individual learning styles – visual, kinasthetic, auditory

31. The value of learning centres Learning centres are a symbolic representation of the world that surrounds children

32. Benefits of a learning centre Allows opportunity for free and independent play There are a range of materials to explore and make choices

33. Benefits of a learning centre Caters for a range of developmental levels Children can revisit their play and practice their emerging skills – revisit their interests /investigations

34. Benefits of a learning centre Children can make choices, develop confidence in problem solving skills Develop social skills as they work together

35. Benefits of a learning centre Enhance creativity by determining their direction of play & selection of materials

36. Benefits of a learning centre Understand others as they try out roles & participate in play sequences Develop responsibility as they build and care for materials Learn how to make plans & carry these out to completion, developing persistence in task

37. Benefits of a learning centre Teachers can program and plan for a range of interests, abilities and emerging skills Children can control the amount of time they spend in a area

38. Designing & planning learning centres Select props & materials to meet the range of developmental levels of children Use real objects and open ended materials

39. Designing & planning learning centres Use items such as plants, screens, fabrics There should be opportunities for specific learning by children There must be plenty of time available Follow interests

40. Designing & planning learning centres Consider location and space Materials – self selection Aesthetics-provocations Organisation of materials Display of children’s work Documentation and photographs of children playing Posters of the value of play in learning centre

41. The role of the educator As observers of children As listeners of children As a resource for children As designers & assessors of the learning centre Change, rearrange & add new material to maintain their interest Write a letter to families about learning centres and their value

42. Educators observe and interact with the children and the materials developing the children’s learning.

43. Each day we set out pre planned activities in the learning centres based on our observations of the children from the day before. What the children are interested in and how to extend their learning and development.

44. Courtesy of: Randwick College Playsession Let the children Play blog Northern Nursery School Moverley Child Care Centre