When I taught pre-school, I often used large fridge and stove boxes to make dramatic play centers. The children became involved in painting, deciding where windows should go, deciding the items we needed, etc. This strategy created a sense of ownership, accomplishment, and a high level of interest in the centers. The following activities provide suggestions for use of social dramatic play centers as a means to strengthen oral language while providing opportunities for reading and writing. Other reading materials related to the focus such as newspapers, magazines, menus, maps, forms, or charts Writing materials of all kinds selected for their relationship to the focus.
Procedures Plan a focus for a social dramatic play center.
A House Center is often a good place to start because it incorporates activities common to most children. Other centers in which a range of similar types of literacy materials could be added include a grocery store, post office, fire or police station, school, or library 31 . Ideas for new centers can come from the social studies, science, or health education curricula, a current event, or a book that captured the imagination of several children. Encourage children to suggest ideas for a new center as well. You want your focus and the play that results from it to create community and strengthen self-esteem in relation to gender, culture, and family background.