MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

  • Selection of materials should be based on developmental practices of supporting the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive growth of children.
  • Select and purchase similar furniture and materials for each classroom. This gives a refined look at your center.
  • Purchase the following for each child: cot, chair, table space, and cubbie for personal belongings.
  • Selection of furniture and equipment should be based on how often each will be used on a daily basis.
  • Select materials and equipment that are high quality; you will save on replacement and repair costs.
  • Materials and equipment must be durable and safe.
  • Look for furniture that is well-built and has easy-to-clean surfaces.
  • Purchase furniture from an established school supply company.
  • Materials should be open-ended and allow for a wide range of manipulative and creative uses by children.
  • Cultural representation of the program's enrollment should be integrated throughout the classroom with appropriate materials and props.
  • Creative and expressive materials that stimulate thinking, problem solving, and emergent literacy should be selected for all play areas in the classroom.

LEARNING CENTERS

  • Each classroom should have learning centers. These centers provide children with appropriate, stimulating learning environments. Materials used in all learning centers should include items that reflect language, culture, and diversity in the broader world.

Art:

  • Children will create a wide range of artwork: drawing, painting, coloring, clay sculptures, collages, and structures.
  • The art area requires a table and chairs for a group of children to work comfortably.
  • Storage cabinets are needed for containers of materials and tools children will use. SUGGESTED MATERIALS:  paper in a variety of sizes and textures for drawing and coloring, construction paper, painting paper, collage materials, and clays. SUGGESTED TOOLS: crayons, markers, colored pencils, paints, brushes, cups, aprons, clay tools, trays, storage containers, and work trays.
  • The floor covering should make it easy to clean up messes.
  • The area should have a bulletin board to display children's work at their eye level.
  • The area should have easels for painting and a place for drying artwork.
  • The area should have different clays and assorted surfaces.
  • Children should have easy-toclean work surfaces and height-appropriate chairs.
  • The area should feature space for displaying finished work or work in progress.

Blocks:

  • A large, carpeted area is ideal for construction  and building activities. Carpet keeps the noise level down.
  • Each classroom should have several complete sets of blocks.
  • For a center with multiple classrooms, consider purchasing a wide variety of complete block sets that can be rotated.
  • Props may include play figures, transportation toys, play animals, block-size doors, windows, and signs, include containers for appropriate storage.
  • Hollow blocks add dimension and variety to construction.
  • Include adequate space for storage.

Dramatic Play:

  • Each classroom needs child-size house furniture that includes table and chairs, refrigerator, stove, sink, cupboard, doll beds, ironing board, high chairs, sofa, and a rocking chair.
  • Role play props include dolls and doll clothes, variety of dress-up clothes, play food, dish sets, and pots and pans.
  • This area should have an unbreakable mirror and storage for dress-up clothes.
  • Puppets enhance the dramatic play area.
  • Shelving and containers keep role play props organized.

Discovery/Science Area:

  • Include a variety of collections of things like stones and seashells for children to explore, look at, and play with.
  • Make scientific tools available such as magnets, scales and balances.
  • Provide fish or other classroom pets in appropriate habitats.
  • Arrange tables and chairs for children to look at work with the collections or science tools.

Water/Sand Play Area:

  • Provide an appropriately sized water and/or sand table.
  • Include props for both water and sand activities.
  • Shelving and storage areas will be needed for play materials.
  • This area should include aprons for water play.
  • Flooring should be tile or messy mat.

Manipulative Area:

  • Include materials that allow children to classify objects, build structures, and solve problems, such as table toys that fit together for building and designing, and puzzles.
  • Include fine motor materials such as pegs and peg boards, beads and other items to string, and lace.
  • This area should offer manipulatives to be used in creating designs.
  • Provide tables and chairs for children to work at. Children also like to work on the floor; consider carpet for this area.
  • This area will need storage containers for manipulatives and storage racks for puzzles.
  • Include a shelving unit to hold racks and containers.

Literacy Area:

  • Children will come to this area to read and look at books, create and listen to stories, and play with materials. Your book collection should include at least 3-5 books for each child in the classroom.
  • A quality book collection should include picture books, story books, and poetry books, including a wide range of topics: families, humor, word and alphabet, cultural diversity, seasonal/holidays, fantasy and true stories.
  • Centers with several classrooms may consider creating a center library for all classrooms and families to use.
  • Literacy areas need tables and chairs and comfortable places to sit and relax. Consider a carpeted area for some activities.
  • Literacy areas need a variety of age-appropriate literacy games and materials.
  • Include materials for children to create pictures and stories: paper in a variety of sizes, writing tools, and writing boards.
  • Story tapes and flannelboard stories are ideal for both individual and group use.
  • Audio-visual equipment is essential to your literacy area. Include a tape recorder, listening center, and earphones.
  • Place a bulletin board in the literacy area at a child's eye level, and display photo picture collections, children's stories, and art work.

Music and Movement Area:

  • You will need a record player, CD, or casette player/radio for the area.
  • Include a high quality collection of age-appropriate music.
  • Create a classroom collection of musical instrument so each child has an instrument to play.
  • Collect instruments that reflect diversity of sound and culture.
  • Include storage and shelving.

Woodworking Area:

  • This area needs a child-size workbench.
  • Include safety goggles and apron for each child who works in this area.
  • Include a basic carpenter tool set.
  • You'll need a tool box and container for storage of wood, nails, screws, sandpaper and supplies, such as wood glue.

Indoor Large Motor Activities Area:

  • Include climbing structures.
  • Sturdy, movable play sets are essential to this area.
  • Balls, hoops, and jump ropes are needed.

STORAGE

  • Cots and rest mats require a large storage area.
  • Each classroom should have an easily accessible closet or cabinet that can be closed, and is available on a daily basis.
  • Storage areas should have adjustable shelving for flexibility as needed.
  • There should be a main storage area for the entire center for large items, shared items, and bulk purchases such as art supplies and other materials.
  • A locking closet should serve as a storage area for cleaning and maintenance supplies and equipment.
  • Audio-visual equipment should have adequate storage. If the center has multiple classrooms, consider dedicating an areas as the main storage area.