Workstations

What are workstations?
These are activities I have created for the kiddos to work at in the morning on Fridays. The work stations are a review of what we have been working on all month long. They create independence and foster different learning styles. The kids are allowed to choose where they can go next and also are in charge of their learning. Many of the kiddos need some support in learning their letters and letter sounds. Workstations provides time for me to work one on one with the kids as they go to each station instead of teaching to a whole class. They do take a lot of time, energy, and thought to put together but they are so worth it! The learning experience these little kinders get from it makes it ALL worth it! If you come into my classroom at workstation time it is quite and every kid is on task. IT'S AMAZING! Check out the blog again soon for more postings of the weekly workstations we are doing! 

Workstation #1: The kids were asked to lift the flap and look under the numbers. There, they would find a picture. They needed to figure out what the beginning sound was of that picture. Then they wrote it down on they paper and went to the next number flap. There were 12 pictures to identify. This was a review of the letter sounds we have learned so far (Aa Mm Ss Tt Ii Ff).

 

Workstation #2: At this station the kids were ask to grab a baggie and count the dots in the bag. Once they did that they needed to recored the amount by drawing the same number of dots on their paper and writing the number on the line. They repeated this 6 times. The bags had different amounts in them ranging from 4-10 dots per bag. It was fun and they loved using the markers, instead of pencil.

Workstation #3: The beginning letter sounds Tree Map.
Our school is learning all about Thinking Maps. Here is an example of a Thinking Map that I created for the kiddos to use. This type is called a Tree Map. It is a way to classify things. So The kids were asked to get to sheets of paper. One is for cutting out pictures and the other paper was the Tree Map where they were going to glue the pictures on to. I love this workstation because it helps them work on so many different skills.
For example: cutting, glueing, identify pictures, organization, following 3 step directions, practicing self-directed learning, and the ability to sort based on letter sounds.
Phew, that's a lot going on at one station.
They ALL did grrrrrreat!
 

  

Workstation #4: Caterpillar Names. At this station the kids were able to use their artistic skills however they wanted to as long as they made a caterpillar with their name on it. I provided them with  a tub of paper dots and explained that they'll need one dot for each letter of their name plus one extra one for the head of the caterpillar. The kids looooooooved this.
Again, it was helping them with more than just name practice and art. They were having to follow multiple step directions, use their fine motor skills for glueing and writing, as well as count the amount of letters in their name (not including the head) and write the number at the bottom.
They turned out amazing and I am so proud of their work!
  

 

Workstation #5: This is the shape stations. It worked like this..... the kiddos needed a paper, a clipboard, and one large soft shape dice. They were asked to roll, and record the shape that lands facing up. They were to roll as many times according to their age. This is Layne and she's 5 yrs. old, so she rolled 5 times. Once they was done with their rolls they were supposed to count and record which shapes they got. Then, take a cup of the shapes to the table, and build something with it. The last step was to draw their creations they had made with their shapes.
All week long we were learning about the different types of shapes and how to outline the shape blocks and then color it in. The kids had a little bit of difficulty on this one but that was ok. It challenged them and kept them focused on the task. They loved being able to see their drawing when it was done and they were so proud that they could do it!
A little challenge is good for us every now and again!!!
Right? 

  

When they were done with all 5 workstations the kiddos were asked to get a book and read in the library. I snapped some of these pictures as they were reading because they are all just too cute for words! Those that weren't done felt okay to keep working and our class remained quiet enough for them to stay focused.

All I can say is that I am very proud of my little kinders for following directions so well at workstations. They all did a fabulous job at each station! It was truly amazing to see it in action.
I was one proud teacher!!!