Learning Centers
Here are some ideas for learning centers.  This page is a work in progress, so check back often to see updated ideas.

Computer Center	Writing Center	Language Arts Center
Math Center	File Folder Games	Reading Center
Listening Center	Pictures of Learning Centers	Learning Center Links

For more ideas on learning centers, go to the THEME section. Each lesson will have learning center activities that correlate with the theme/subject.

Please check out our Packets section for file folder games, literacy centers, and more!!!

 Computer Center

    Students can play educational games, surf the internet, or do writing projects at the Computer Center.  Train at least three students to be Computer Captains.  They should be taught how to put in CD-Rom disks into the computer, open up games on the computer, and get to the Internet.  For example, my captains (and most of the students) were able to access Netscape, go to Bookmarks, and go to our second grade website.  From there, the students explored the sections they were interested in.
 
 

Educational Games: Students who need extra help in certain subject areas are usually assigned to do specific games, such as Math Blaster, Reading Comprehension, etc.

Internet Activities: The Internet is a wonderful resource for educational material and a great online learning tool. Many schools cannot afford to buy the latest educational software. The World Wide Web provides free resources that teachers and students can use. There are many ways that teachers can create internet activities for the computer center.

1. If your class has its own website, then create a page for Internet Activities, just like this one on Mrs. Gomez's Second Grade website.

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2. Create bookmarks of sites for the students. Teach the Captains what each bookmark stands for.

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3. Teachers can create their own quick webpage by going to www.quia.com. It only takes a few minutes to sign up and set up your own webpage.  Here's an example of a webpage I made when I first started implementing Internet Activities.  It's simple and it's free!

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4. For older students, have a chart or display of internet addresses that the students can type in. 

There should be a folder/binder/basket of assignments, worksheets, etc. that correlate with Internet Activities.  For example, students may be directed to a website that has an online story.  The students read the story and then answer comprehension questions that the teacher has created.  It's that simple!

Writing Projects: Using any word programmer, students can write/create stories, poems, letters, and more. 

Drawing: Using any drawing program, students can illustrate books, poems, pictures, etc. on the computer. The pictures can be posted, emailed, or printed out.

Updated July 2005