Teaching with Centers
Modified from a post by Artsy One at Teachers.net: http://teachers.net/mentors/middle_school/topic13013/10.15.08.18.35.40.html
To get started:
· Think about the way a unit is set up, four civilizations to study, sections of a chapter,
· SOCIAL STUDIES: NCSS themes or state social studies standards (history, geography, economics, civics, critical thinking)
· LANGUAGE ARTS: Literary devices, story elements, revising techniques, writing genres
· Design the centers for individual or group work
· Arrange the room to accommodate activities
Discuss how to work successfully in groups and do team building exercises before beginning the centers.
· Provide clear expectations for each group member
· Clarify how to manage conflicts
· Discuss how the process will work and how to manage time in order to accomplish all assigned tasks
Create a tub or envelope for each center
· For each center that include:
o List of objectives based on Bloom’s taxonomy (put in clear page protector
o OPTIONAL free choice activity such as dioramas, plays, songs, stories, etc.)
o Copied pages from a text or reading assignment, other resources or links to online materials
· Keep the materials fairly “straight forward” so that not much is required beyond actually reading it.
· Include ALL materials and supplies to complete the activities and projects in the tub.
Students experience how to organize time and plan ahead for multi-part projects.
· Encourage the groups to go through the entire list of objectives and activities FIRST.
· After reading the list, then they should look through the tub to be sure they have what they need
· Let them know that they will have X number of class periods to complete the lesson.
Check every so often to be sure the tubs are stocked and read to go—provide a sheet for students to report missing items.
Test students at the end of each center.
Rotate to a new center after testing.
