Encourage creativity and language development in your children by providing a creative dramatic area in your center. Ensure the classroom has "special materials and play areas geared to encourage children in particular domains while appealing to their interests."
A few dramatic play center arrangements could be puppets, home center, doctor's office, or other real-world play areas. (See photo below)
COSTUME-DRESS UP SUPPLIES
• Adult Clothing -including mens ties and jackets
• Halloween /Theatrical
• Hats/Wigs/Feather Boas
• Jewelry
• Nail Polish and Non-Acetone Remover (With adult supervision)
• Purses/Scarves
• Shoes/High Heels
• Washable Face Paint at bottom of page in "Costume Category"
• Full-Length Mirror
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Click here for Costume Making and Make Up Ideas
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HOUSEKEEPING ITEMS
• Cooking and Serving Utensils
• Dishes
• Flowers (Plastic or Silk)
• Iron and Ironing Board
• Literacy Enrichment in housekeeping:
...Appliance Instructions
...Food Packaging
...Menus
• Play Food
• Pots and Pans
•Table/Chairs, Table Cloth, Stove/Sink/Refrigerator
Don't have a window in your room? Make one! (This Dramatic Play Center is in the room of lilteacher)
Consider changing your dramatic play area every month to reflect a different Theme.
Example: One month set up a doctor's office with real stethoscope, x-rays, doctor's scrubs, dolls for patients, ace bandages, gloves, and play- doctor kits. The following month change the theme. The photo to left is an example of an "Animal Clinic".
Programs should have ITEMS TO PLAY:
• Bank
• Court
• Doctor/Nurse/Hospital/Vetinarian
with...Stethoscope, Gauze, Lab Coats
...Splints and Bandages
• House
• Office
• TV News
• Weather
• Restaurant
• Travel
with...Computer Keyboard
...Plane Tickets
...Travel Brochures
• Play Money/Coins/Check Book
• Puppets
...Puppet Theater and scripts
• Tape Recorder/Microphone
• Tool Carrier and Tools/Workbench
• Flash Light
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MOVEMENT, MUSIC, DANCE, SUPPLIES Music and Dance are Perfoming Arts and are often used with Drama and Dramatic Play.
DANCE
• Conga Line
• Electric Slide/Hustle
• Free Style
• Hip Hop
• Hokey Pokey
• Line Dance
• Macarena
• Square
• Limbo
• Whatever is in Style
• YMCA
Also-Pom Pom, Cheerleading and Ribbon Dancing...
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MUSIC SUPPLIES:
• DVD Player-DVDS
• Finger Play Activities
• Harmonica
• Guitar
• Kazoo
• Karaoke Machine
• Key Board
• Maracas
• Microphones
• Mobile Storage Cabinet
• Radio
• Recorders
• Rhythm Instruments
• Rhythm Sticks
• Ribbons and Streamers
• Shakers
• Song Books
• Tambourine
• Tapes---Blank and Pre-recorded
• Parachute
• Poles
• Pom Poms
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Make Home Made Instruments Many can be made from Recycled Materials...Also see what to do with them once they are made!
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USE MUSIC TO...
• Act out a Song that tells a story
• Aerobics and Yoga
• Jump Rope
• Move to how it makes you feel
• Paint to how it makes you feel
• Play Games
• Throw Bean Bags
• Use Scarves
• Use Streamers and pom poms
• Use at Transitions and as a Signal
• Use to set the“Mood”...Very Important!
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THE 30 TOP FAVORITE SONGS OF CHILDREN IN PRE-SCHOOL!
1. If You're Happy and You Know It
2. Wheels on the Bus
3. Itsy Bitsy Spider
4. Alphabet Song
5.Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
6. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
7. Hokey Pokey
8. 5 little monkeys
9. Bear Hunt
10. Five Little Speckled Frogs
11. The Freeze Dance
12. Old MacDonald Had a Farm
13. Baby Bumble Bee
14. Baby Beluga
15. You Are My Sunshine
16. Bingo
17. Jesus Loves Me
18. Do Your Ears Hang Low
19. I'm a Little Teapot
20. Ring Around the Rosies
21. This Old Man
22. Ants Go Marching
23. Apples and Bananas (vowel song)
24. Down By the Station
25. Row Row Row Your Boat
26. Where is Thumpkin
27.Baa Baa Black Sheep
28. Do Re Mi
29. Farmer in the Dell
30. Frere Jacque
Source: Child Exchange Poll
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Other Centers:
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