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Introducing New Materials and Centers in the Classroom

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When introducing new materials and new centers in your classroom there are many ways to be creative. The success of how materials are used and how smoothly your areas will be accepted will depend on how these are introduced in the classroom.

INTRODUCTION IDEAS:

1. Start simple - introduce a few at a time

2. Have older children take ownership

• Have children open packaging (it's new, it's like a present to the class)

• Have children come up with ideas on where it best goes in the class (block area, housekeeping etc.)

• Have the children help label the shelf (cutting the picture off the box, taping it down etc.)

• Have children come up with ideas on how they would play with it (what's appropriate, what's not) Setting rules or limits.

• After exploring new area (housekeeping, art, music, etc) have children expand on what else could be added to that area.

3. Introduce at Large Group time: peak the children's interest

• As a surprise (in a bag or box, using a curtain, playing a guessing game as to what it is, giving clues)

• Have a hunt for the new materials in the classroom (giving clues-it's round and green, having a few children hunt for that object, then take turns)

• Introduce through a story or music (depending on the materials) you can even make one up!!!!! Use your imagination.

• Write a class letter, have it mailed to the class - Have clues in the letter as to where the new materials can be found in the classroom or talk about a new area in your classroom. Post the letter in the room (language experience, parent connection)

• Write an experience story about the new equipment in the room or the new area after the children have used it. (Ex. At Group time ask the children what they liked best about the new science area or what kind of things they could do in the new cozy area, write everyone's response down on big paper, hang in the new area)
  

4. Introduce as a learning experience:

• Have children explore new area or new materials in a small group while you facilitate.

• Use materials in a more structured group time, then put out as a free choice (ex. Puzzles - pass out one piece of a puzzle to each child in a small group and put the puzzle together as a group - Musical Instruments - using the instruments as a group activity at music time letting the children explore different ways to play them, playing them to music, playing a listening game "what's the name of this instrument" etc. and then putting them out on a shelf as a free choice activity.)
  

5. Make sure that expectations in your new area and the use of materials are clear

• Have children come up with the expectations (with your help). There should be few and they should be stated simple and positively.

• Follow through with consequences if expectations are not met.

• Model how materials should be taken care of and how they should be put away (books in the cozy area, art supplies on the art shelf, etc.)