What are activity corners in schools? How can these corners help to
enhance student learning?

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Request for Question Clarification by crabcakes-ga on 12 Nov 2003 10:23 PST

Hi dellydread,
The term "Activity Centers" is rather broad. Are you interested in
elementary education or high school? Knowing exactly what you want
will help us answer your question properly.
Thank you, crabcakes-ga

hi, dellydread ~ i hope that you are an aspiring teacher, teacher's
aide or perhaps a concerned parent or volunteer.  i am not a
professional teacher, but i have volunteered in my son's schools and
he's been the fortunate recipient of many terrific teachers over the
years.  here's the information i have on "activity corners" from the
perspective of a parent/volunteer:

"activity corners" in good daycare settings, preschool & elementary
classrooms are separate spaces designated for a single learning area. 
they don't have to be very big or elaborate, and they don't even have
to be in an actual corner...!  in my son's preschool & kindergarten,
there were "activity corners" for reading, science, "cooking", math &
fractions, spatial concepts, music, and art.

an activity corner offers a separate place where students can work
individually or in small groups, usually with a teacher, an aide or
volunteer who directs and supervises, as well as teaches.  usually
students will spend 15-20 minutes in an activity corner.

for preschool, toddler & kindergarten students, activity corners offer
a chance to begin mastry of control and coordination of mind and body.
 through sensory experiences, the activities offered help children
distinguish, categorize and relate new information to what they
already know, and build on those skills.

for teachers, it offers a chance to give individualized attention in a
quiet setting, and to focus on a specific subject.

for students, it offers a chance to receive individual attention; or,
for older students, some "alone time" to just revel in a subject they
may particularly love.  for any student, it gives a chance to focus on
just one subject for a while, without the distraction of other
students or activities going on.

the school or classrooms activity corners may change periodically,
offering new materials, surroundings, subjects, maybe even "guest
appearances" by artists, musicians, poets, etc.

some examples of activity corners might include:

>> math - working with objects & materials to learn math concepts

>>  language - construct words with a movable alphabet, or poems with
word magnets or tiles

>>  Geography 
>>
History 
 Cultural Awareness 
Cooking and Nutrition 
Music and Creative Movement 
Science and Nature