This year Counselor Keri has inspired me to try out centers.  I’m still getting used to it, especially with flexible seating , but this week my K-1 babies rocked it out.

 Here is a highlight of our centers:

Center 1: Scavenger Hunts

Students used what they had been reading and learning about to write down as many careers they could think from on our A-Z alphabet. Pick it up from Danielle Schultz for FREE on TPT.

I did allow students to walk around if needed and for some students that needed a differentiated version I let them borrow a career A-Z book to use with this activity.

Center 2: A Future…..

In this center I asked 1st grade to use these stickers from college4tn.org to write down their future career. Afterwards they drew a picture of them doing that career. We also took a class picture for a bulletin board.

Kindergarten used this worksheet from The Traveling Teacher. Tip: I have plenty of post it notes ready, so when a student doesn’t know how to spell a word I can write it down and they can copy it.

Center 3: iPads

I borrowed several iPads from our librarian and had them pre set on the Brain Pop Jr.

community helper page. K and 1st grade watched the video and then 1st also took the easy quiz.

Center 4: Read about it!

This center was a perfect way for me to share all my books I don’t often get to use. I put out all of my favorite career books and a bucket of “reading buddies.” Students were able to free read with their buddy. I encouraged students to sound out words and in K look at the pictures to help them understand the story. They were shockingly quiet!

Center 5: Target Dollar Spot puzzles

You know all those cute Target dollar spot finds? Well at this center I simply put them out for students to use. They had a great time.  I used the “how to be a ” magnet set and the Mix and Match career puzzle set.

These are magnet that allow students to dress up a doctor, vet, teacher and chef.

These centers are cheap and easy to put together. What would you use? What would you add?