Filled with practical strategies and useful information on art, music and movement, and dramatic play, this book offers learning center ideas, engaging activities, practical suggestions that are easy to implement, ideas that support the development and learning of every preschooler, and children's book recommendations.

"Much of the content in this book is adapted from Teaching young children (TYC), NAEYC's award-winning magazine ..."--Page 120.

Introduction /by Meghan Dombrink-Green -- Art. The value of open-ended art / by Christine Maynard and Kara J. Ketter ; Art learning center ; A place for weaving / by Laura J. Colker ; Painting without brushes / by Meghan Dombrink-Green ; Using collage to encourage creativity, high-level thinking, and conversation! / by Triada Samaras and Janis Strasser, with Michele J. Russo ; Books with engaging illustrations / by Susan Friedman ; Collecting, painting, and studying leaves / by Jolyn Blank and Ellie Wastin ; Splatter paint / by Violet McGillen ; Discovering science while exploring art / by Sara Starbuck and Leigh Tyler Marshall-Oliver ; Art learning center checklist / by Laura J. Colker -- Music and movement. The power of creative dance / by Connie Bergstein Dow ; Music and movement learning center ; A place for making musical instruments / by Laura J. Colker ; Promoting music play / by Kristen M. Kemple, Jacqueline J. Batey, and Lynn C. Hartle ; A stage for the playground: an outdoor music center / by Carol Garboden Murray ; Learning in motion / by Donna Furmanek ; Books that feature song lyrics / by Lauren Baker ; Dance stories / by Connie Bergstein Dow ; Attend a live performance / bu Susan Friedman ; Learn, sing, play: nature-related, low-cost music activities / by Petra Kern and Beth McLaughlin ; Music and movement learning center checklist / by Laura J. Colker -- Dramatic play. Oral storytelling: building community through dialogue, engagement, and problem solving / by Doriet Berkowitz ; Dramatic play learning center / by Amy Laura Dombro ; A place for puppets / by Laura J. Colker ; Ways to make puppets / by Meghan Dombrink-Green ; Pretend play leads to real-life learning / by Laura J. Colker ; Books that tell folktales / by Lauren Baker ; Creating and using prop boxes / by Derry Koralek ; Engineering with The three little pigs / by Maureen Ingram ; Using improvisational play to support social skills / by Barbara E. O'Neill ; What's in your dramatic play center? / compiled by Lauren Baker ; Dramatic play learning center checklist / by Laura J. Colker.