Inquiry Centers

As you noticed in our daily schedule, we have a set up time everyday called "Inquiry Centers".

Our center time is 45 minutes long (leaving 15 minutes for clean up) students get to go to three 15-minute centers each day. Since they have to stay at each center for 15 minutes (which feels like forever to a Junior kindergartener) I make sure that most centers have at least 2 activities for them to choose from so it holds their attention the whole time.

Here is a list of the centers that will take place in our classroom:

 -     Literacy: promotes daily reading for pleasure and information.

-       Writing: develops creative writing, letter formation and fine motor skills.

-       Dramatic: permits children to fit the reality of the world into their own interests and knowledge. Promotes self expression.

-        Block/Building: promotes fine motor skills, language, math and problem solving skills.

-       Arts and Crafts: promotes language skills, art skills, problem solving, fine motor development and creativity.

-       Math/Games/puzzles: math skills such as sorting and classifying, patterning, number concepts, one-to-one correspondence, problem solving skills and risk – taking.

-       Science: promotes use of senses, make observations, describe, compare, sort, classify, gather data and work cooperatively with others.

 Students will be assessed on the following transdisciplinary skills:

Social Skills

Level	1	2	3	4
Accepting responsibility
Respecting others
Cooperating
Resolving conflicts
Group decision make
Adopting a variety of roles

Research Skills

Level	1	2	3	4
Formulating questions
Observing
Collecting data
Interpreting data

Self Management Skills

Level	1	2	3	4
Gross motor skills
Fine motor skills
Spatial awareness
Organization
Time management
Codes of behavior

Thinking Skills

Level	1	2	3	4
Acquisition of knowledge
Comprehension
Application

Communication Skills

Level	1	2	3	4
Listening
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Presenting