Observation Task 1: Differentiating Centers

Focus: Differentiating centers based activities in the early childhood classroom

Objective: To encourage student teachers to identify how classroom centers can be

differentiated to meet all student levels (Mastery, Developing and Emerging)

Procedure: Photograph and document the centers based activities implemented in the
setting during the course of the day and identify the learning outcomes the activities
met

Table 1: Differentiating Centers (Example)

Observed learning Centers
(include photo):

Description:

Resources:

The children
are sorting
colored
rubber
dinosaurs,
counting them
and writing
the numbers
down

Different
colored rubber
dinosaurs &
bears

International
Learning
Outcome:
(list only what
you consider to
be the primary
goals)
Recognizes,
counts, orders,
writes and uses
numbers up to
10.

Differentiated Ability
Levels:

Mastery
Sort, count and write
groups of dinosaurs
>10

White boards
White board
pens

Sorts or matches
objects and talks
about sorting

Sort different sized

dinosaurs and write
numbers and
adjectives (from
flashcards) 3 big,
small, red etc.
Sort according to
color and add
one/two more of
another color OR
make one/two less
etc. Write the
number sums you
create.
Developing

As per original plan

i.e. sort dinosaurs of
the same color and
count and write the
number <10.
Emerging
Use number lines to
sort dinosaurs of the
same color <10 and
match them one to
one with
corresponding
written numbers.
Copy the number on
the small
whiteboard.

Table 1: Differentiating Centers

Observed learning Centers
(include photo):

Description:

Children
get a
puzzles,
they have
to
organize
the
animals
puzzles.

Resources:

Puzzles

International
Learning
Outcome:
(list only what
you consider to
be the primary
goals)

Differentiated Ability
Levels:

Organize.

Mastery

Fix.

Recognize and fix.

Developing
Organize the animal
puzzle.
Emerging
Search for
correct paces of
the puzzle to fix
the animal