St. Joseph School

Our "Play" is Purposeful and Productive!

In the Art Center, the children are learning. . .
• to express thoughts and feelings through pictures.
• to refine fine motor skills.
• to understand cause and effect by mixing colors, gluing papers, cutting shapes, etc.
• to identify colors, shapes and textures, and to recognize their unique properties.
• to develop an aesthetic sense
• to take pride in accomplishments.
• to experiment with a variety of art media.
• to develop hand-eye coordination.
• to make choices and decisions.

In the Block Center, the children are learning. . .
• an understanding of scientific and physical concepts such as gravity, inclined planes, balance and leverage.
• to predict cause and effect.
• to classify and sort objects by shape, size and functions.
• to solve problems related to construction such as bridging.
• to generalize known solutions to new problems.
• to develop hand/eye coordination.
• to develop visual perception.
• to act independently and make choices.
• to persevere.
• to express feelings in a socially acceptable way.
• to show respect for the work of others.

In the Library Center, the children are learning. . .
• to develop an appreciation for literature.
• to develop language skills through storytelling, dramatic play and puppetry.
• to expand vocabulary and develop listening skills.
• to increase visual acuity, directionality and fine motor skills.
• to deal with emotions and life experiences through storytelling and dramatic play.

In the House Center, the children are learning. . .
• to develop language skills.
• to classify props according to common characteristics.
• to identify and plan play episodes with others, for example "you be the mother. . . "
• to use symbols to represent real objects.
• to identify solutions to problems that arise, for example "we are out of cereal, we better go to the store. . . "
• to develop social skills through interaction with others.
• to improve small muscle control by putting on dress-up clothes (snapping, buckling), dressing dolls, etc.

At the Sensory Table Center, the children are learning. . .
• basic math concepts such as volume, conservation, measuring and comparing.
• to develop the skills of scientific inquiry.
• to play cooperatively.
• to enhance hand/eye coordination.

In the Discovery Center, the children are learning. . .
• to question the natural phenomenon around them.
• to use fine motor skills.
• to understand cause and effect.
• to experiment using a variety of materials.
• to communicate questions about their world.
• to develop hand/eye coordination.
• to make choices and decisions.

At the Table Toys Center, the children are learning. . .
• to sort and match objects such as buttons and shells on the basis of color size, texture and shape.
• to develop concepts of numbers.
• to enhance small muscle coordination.
• to work cooperatively.
• to develop perseverance.
• to develop patterning skills.
• to develop reading readiness skills.
• to show directionality and figure ground discrimination.