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Helpful Hints: Creating Interest Areas
Setting up interest areas with in the classroom is important for
the making of a classroom that promotes the growth and development for a child.
Here are areas that are typically in an early childhood classroom:
• Blocks (unit blocks, people and transportation)
• Dramatic Play (kitchen set, dress-up clothes & dolls)
• Fine Motor or Manipulative (tables, puzzles, pegs & beads)
• Art (easels, paint, crayons & paper)
• Sand & Water (sand and water table, funnels, measuring cups & sponges)
• Library (book display, books & soft cushions)
• Music and Movement (dance/prop storage, musical instruments/players)
• Storage for Personal Belongings (lockers, storage bins, etc.)
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Helpful Hints: Why Sand and Water are Important
Because children are naturally attracted to these materials, sand and water are perfect for exploring.
Water cam be splashed, poured or even frozen. Sand can be sifted, raked and shoveled.
Mixing the two together forms a third type of play. When these materials are near one another,
children can use them separately or together.
These explorations help build various skills such as physical dexterity, social skills and cognitive skills as they explore.
Wet sand play can encourage the principles of math and science.
___________________ Objectives for Children's Learning ___________________
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Socio-emotional Development
• Play cooperatively with others
• Explore social roles
• Develop pride in achievement
• Following through with a task
Cognitive Development
• Comparing materials
• Understanding cause and effect relationships
• Comparing volume
• Develop problem solving skills
• Develop creativity (molding wet sand into a variety of shapes)
Motor Development
• Strengthen fine motor control
• Developing eye-hand coordination
• Improving coordination
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___________________ Evaluating Sand and Water Play Areas ___________________
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• How often is the area used?
• Do the same children play here?
• Do boys play here as frequently as girls?
• Do more boys than girls play there?
• Are additional props added during play by the children?
• Are there conflicts over props and play time in the area?
• Is the area messy?
• Do children clean up after themselves?
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When the area is arranged well, children can concentrate on play and there will be less mess and confusion.
___________________ Songs, Poems and Finger Plays ___________________
In the Sand (a poem)
I dig holes in the sand with my fingers (wiggle fingers)
I dig holes in the sand with my toes (wiggle toes)
Then I pour some water in the holes (pretend to pour water)
I wonder where it goes (move hands out to side, palms up)
Sand is Gritty (To the tune of Frere Jacques)
Sand is gritty, Sand is gritty
I like sand, I like sand
Sand is tiny broken rocks,
Broken down from bigger rocks. I like sand. I like sand.
Sandbox Song (To the tune of: Frere Jacques)
Make a sand cake, make a castle, in the sand, in the sand.
Pouring, measuring, digging
Pouring, measuring, digging
Just feels grand, Just feels grand.
I Like Sand (To the tune of Twinkle, Tinkle Little Star)
Sand can be wet, sand can be dry, I like both, I'll tell you way.
I make san castles with wet sand. And pouring dry sand feels just grand.
Sand Can be wet, sand can be dry, I like both, I'll tell you why.
In Your Hands (To the tune of Skip to My Lou)
Mold, mold the sand (repeat twice)
Mold it in your hands.
Pat, pat, pat the sand (repeat twice)
Pat it with your hands.
Sift, sift, sift the sand (repeat twice)
Sift it with your hands.
Water Song (To the tune of The Wheel On The Bus)
Water is wet and it pours like this, pours like, pours like this.
Water is wet, and it pours like this,
See how it goes.
The Water Goes Drip-Drip (To the tune of The Farmer In The Dell)
The water goes drip- drop, the water goes drip-drop.
Drip drop, how it does plop, the water goes drip drop.
The water goes splash splash. The water goes splash splash.
Source: http://www.childfun.com/themes/sndater.shtml
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The aforementioned are professional opinions. All of these are the sole property of WDM, Inc.
Any use of the contents, above statements, or ideas requires the written permission of WDM, Inc. Violators will be prosecuted.
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Helpful Hint of the Month...
Step Up and Wash™
Wood Designs' Step Up and Wash™ (WD21200)
is a great tool that assists children with self help skills.
When not in use, the Step Up and Wash™
can be turned in the opposite direction to encourage proper use.
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WD21200
Step Up and Wash™
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Teacher Resources: Helpful Hints Archive
Our past Helpful Hints articles, organized & archived
for your convenience in setting-up your own classroom.
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Enhance interest areas by providing enough shelving & storage bins
for the amount of materials provided in the classroom.
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