CENTERS
Independent Reading -“Hooked on Reading”
Mini-Lesson: How to Choose a “Just Right” Book.
Students read a story or stories of their choice. There will be cut-outs of fish so that the
student can write a book that they recommend to a buddy. The fish will then be posted on
a fishing pole on the wall or bulletin board.
Writing-“Silly Sentences”
The student will be given phrases that contain nouns, verbs, and adjectives. They will
shuffle the cards and arrange them in order to make a complete “silly” sentence. Student
shuffle the cards so that they’re mixed up and ready for the next student.
EX: The green frog - was cooking chicken - in the big blue house.
Word Work-“Lost and Found”
Prior to Center Time, the teacher will choose 2 to 4 vocabulary words from that week’s
lesson. Cut out the letters and place them in a bag. Write each word on an index card.
Include a picture with the word.
Students will take turns choosing one letter at a time from the bag. When they take the
letter out they have to say what the letter is aloud. They have to listen to see if the letter is
part of their word. If it is, they get the letter. They continue until all words are complete.
Math-“Busy Math Butterflies”
Prior to Center Time, the teacher will make a mobile out of a wire, fishing line, and
paper butterflies. Each butterfly will contain three number words. You will also need
math symbols to place in the middle of the table.
First, the student picks a symbol. Next, they will create a number sentence using the
numbers on the butterfly and the symbols. They can all write the number sentence on
their white boards.
Vocabulary-“4-Square”
The teacher may create the chart or upper grade students may create their own charts.
Students need to fold a paper into fourths. In the first square students will write a
vocabulary word. In the second square, students will write the definition. In square three,
they will write the word in a sentence. In the last square, they will illustrate the word.
Vocabulary Word Definition
Sentence Illustration