Center time is an amazing time to foster learning in a classroom.
It is a great time to dedicate towards skill building and mastery of a standard.
I aim to make this time fun, engaging, and exciting for my little learners.
Since we were learning about the Letter Mm, so let’s dive into getting centered on learning for the letter Mm.
Yellow Table
This center was home to our muffin ten frame activity. There were two different versions of these muffins. one version is shown in the picture with the number given and asks the student to fill in the ten frame to create that number. The other version was the opposite because the muffins are filled in and the learner has to count the ten frame and write in the correct number. I printed two copies of each type of muffin, which gave me 4 sets of muffins. After laminating them and cutting them out, I have an easy center to pull out year after year. I love using the thin, black dry erase markers the best.
Orange Table
We used this table for a fun number writing and number matching activity that was monster themed for the letter Mm of course. There were 4 different monster which allowed for easy differentiation. My student took the mat and wrote their numbers 1-30 on it. You can see how some of numbers are given but not all of them are. My students have to fill in all the numbers. Once they are done, they take their baggie and use the numbers in it to create their monster on top of the numbers they wrote. This is a fun way to get them to really look into the numbers and see the patterns in numbers. My students struggle with 12 and 21, 13 and 30. I do not focus on creating all their numbers correctly yet. I am looking for effort and attempt. Another great thing about this activity is how you can use it. You can just use the writing mats or the puzzle. You do not have to do both.
Red Table
We focused on the book, If You Give a Moose a Muffin this week. To tie in this book, we took these “muffin tin” numbers. My students worked on counting their number and put it in the tin it matches. (When I check them, I flip over the ones that are correct.) If they make a mistake I give them a chance to fit it. I also attached the muffin tins to colorful file folders. You can choose to attach these sheets to large construction paper pieces, folded in half.
Purple Table
This activity is a fun way to practice letters and their sounds using the mailman delivering the mail. Since we focus on one letter each week and review the letters we have already covered, I feel it is vital to include ALL the letters and sounds for a weekly practice as well. This allows my students to work on all the letters and sounds. Since each student knows different letters and sounds, this is just a great way to keep their prior knowledge in their minds and build on more letter sounds.
Blue Table
Your little learners will have a blast when they work to find the missing number which is on a banana between the two monkeys. This activity allows my students to practice counting and number recognition. Many students have to start counting at 1 an continue on until they see the number on the monkey to find the number in the blank space. I am working with others on starting on the number given and counting on from that number. Others like to take the banana card and count forward or backward from it to find the monkey on either side. There is no right or wrong way to do it and I love seeing how their brains work.
Green Table
This table is such a fun game using monkey and barrel cut outs. This activity has a sorting game using monkey and barrels. Students had to put all the numbers in one side and letter in other. Once they finish sorting, I ask them to tell me all the letter or numbers as well. It is just an extra way to practice number and letter recognition.
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