Engaging Learning Stations (Pre-Primary & Primary Grades)

Learn about

-> the difference between Classroom learning centres and Rotational learning stations.

-> setting up the stations and various resources which can be included while creating these spaces

-> different types of learning stations in a classroom

Learning stations are used as a tool in differentiated learning in the classrooms. The educator creates meaningful learning stations for activities in groups for the students, to do independent work.

These stations are set up for the students to do a particular task in various subjects like Literacy, Numeracy, Unit of Inquiry, Music & Physical Education etc. Literacy learning station can be set up using teaching resources like Picture reading cards, Sequence Story cards, opposite flash cards, bingo game worksheets etc.

For setting up Numeracy station resources like timer, dice, Spin the wheel, Weighing scale, beads, seeds, manipulative etc. can be used in the classroom

Get an understanding of

-> the art curriculum for pre-primary, Kindergarten and Grade 1 in brief

-> different material children explore while doing activities involving cutting, pasting, drawing and       painting

-> art integration with subjects like Literacy, Numeracy and Unit of Inquiry

Explore

-> different material children use while doing hands-on activities involving cutting, pasting, drawing and       painting

-> art integration with subjects like Literacy, Numeracy and Unit of Inquiry

-> Student's Worksheet Samples

Learn about Paper Craft activities and how to integrate these activities with subjects like Numeracy, Unit of Inquiry and Literacy

The educator sets up an art station with the pine cones, acrylic paints, brush, foam shapes, glue etc.

She gives an open-ended task to the children & they choose the paint colour, foam shapes, beads etc. for decorating the pine cones.

Children show their creativity while decorating the pine cones & acorns. They are so happy to hear that they can carry their artwork home.

See how the storytelling picture sequencing cards can be used in a group activity in the classroom.

The educator sets up 4 learning stations with 4 children in each group.

1. How to set up a Numeracy Station for concepts- Addition & Subtraction

    Resources used in this hands on activity are:

-> Kidney beans (app 30)

-> 2 Dice

-> White construction paper

-> Number ( 0- 9 ) Display Board

-> Sketch Colours, Pencil, Scale, Glue

-> Worksheets for writing Word Problems

2. Observe a demo which explains this hands-on activity 

Get an understanding of the term, "length" and non standard units of measurement and

How to introduce this concept to young children.

The learning station can be arranged with measuring tools like ruler, measuring tape, stencils etc.

Learn to:

--> educate young children about volume and weight concepts in simpler terms.

--> some hands on activities for measuring volume using different sizes of jars.

--> measure weight using a Weighing scale and cups (generally used in baking)

--> teach concept- heavy & light in simpler ways using different resources

Students in Grade 1 love to play this Beach game in Numeracy learning station. The educator has already explained the working of an analog clock ( Hour & minute hand )and how to read analog time to the whole class. She has explained the difference between Analog & Digital time.

Children then move to the learning station to play this interesting game in rotation.

While playing it, their knowledge of hour and minute hand and analog clock is enhanced.

1. Learn  how to set up a Literacy Station for

-> Picture Reading ( Pre Primary)

-> Story Sequencing ( Kindergarten & Primary Grades)

-> Identifying Nouns, Adjectives & Verbs ( Primary Grades)

-> Bingo Game for learning concepts like sight words, nouns, verbs etc.

2. Observe a demo for these hands on activities

Assessment Learning Stations - Children sit in 4/5 groups with 4 children in each group

Unit Of Inquiry : Animals

The educator discusses about the different types of animals in the class. She/he creates this worksheet for assessing children's learning.

Children have a great time playing Bingo Game & at the same- learning about the different types of animals.

Bingo game is an interesting way to keep children engaged in the classroom. This can be one of the Literacy station when students are learning various concepts like nouns, verbs, adjectives and sight words. They can visit this station many times and have fun with their friends.

The educator divides the whole class into groups of 4-5 before starting the game and the students play this game in rotation.

This game helps in building the english vocabulary as children enjoy writing new words with their friends.

The educator has to keep in mind the level of that particular grade. For example, students in Grade 1 can write words consisting of 6-10 letters, like apple, piano, laptop, classroom etc etc.

The game board can also be modified accordingly.

They love playing  this game. For them, throwing a dice on the Hopscotch board & then thinking about a word is more playful than just writing new words in their notebooks.

The educator can make 4 such learning stations in the Literacy class with 4 students in each station. Students can practise writing more words at home too. Its very easy to make a hopscotch board.

Children play bingo game for learning action verbs which has already been taught in the classroom.

Here I have included a spinning wheel in the game, just to make the game more interesting for them.

Learning Station- Numeracy

Children learn a new concept, "Counting & keeping scores using tally marks" and after that draw a graph for counters landed on four coloured circles- White,Green,Yellow & Red which means

-> How many counters/coins/blocks/dice landed on the White coloured circle ?

-> How many counters/coins/blocks/dice landed on the Green coloured circle ?

-> How many counters/coins/blocks/dice landed on the Yellow coloured circle ?

-> How many counters/coins/blocks/dice landed on the Red coloured circle ?

-> How many counters/coins/blocks/dice landed on the border of two circles ?

So there will be two axis in the Graph :

X Axis - White / Green / Yellow / Red Circles

Y Axis - Number of Counters landed on any of the circles

Children will use the tally marks worksheet to draw a bar graph from the collected data.

Playing the Tossing in the Circle Game & keeping the total count, the concept - counting is taught in the class.  This way learning becomes engaging & more interesting for the children.