Play Based Learning

Dramatic Literacy Play Prop Box

Effective Dramatic Play Centers• Choice of setting: using familiar themes

and culturally sensitive props.• Amount of time: complex plots and

characters require minimum of 30 minutes to evolve.• Defined space: establishes boundaries

that encourage the play to continue (fewer interruptions).• Involved teacher: acting as an

appreciative audience, stagemanager, and/or co-player.

Restaurant Dramatic Play CenterPreparat ion

Group Time:

Read Little Nino’s Pizzeria by Karen Barbour followed by an open ended discussion of family experiences related to meals, jobs, and going to a restaurant.

Read Pollen Pie by Louise Argiroff followed by an

open ended discussion of food versus non-food and

healthy eating habits.

Make a simple food project from a recipe.

Write a

silly recipe as a group.

Related Centers:Fine Motor Center: Playdough Bakery

Sensory Table: Yuck Soup (colored water in the pouring table with items added by the children

Dishes Food Toys Cash Register & Money

Menus Clipboards Paper & Markers

Tablecloth Napkins Restaurant & Family

Meal Pictures

Velcro Board Dressup Clothes Receipts from office supply

store

Telephone “To Go” Bags Baskets for “Delivery” Orders

Inventory of Props

Language and Literacy Play Extensions

Create a menu with prices.

Create and decorate a restaurant sign.

Use a Velcro board to create a “Daily Special” with pictures of food from each food group.

Use receipts for:“May I take your

order?” “Here’s your bill.”Set the table.

(Vocabulary Building)Whose job is it?

Cook, Server, Cashier, Dishwasher, etc.? What tools do they need for each job? (Vocabulary Building)

Home/School Connection:Classroom Recipe Book: Ask parents to select a

simple family recipe with their child to share with the

class and use these recipes to create a classroom

recipe book.

Restaurant Night: Use the recipes to create a

menu. Parents can come and share the food on the

classroom menu buffet style. Children can play servers

and take orders.

Story Prop BoxInventory List:

Book:A Letter to Amy by Ezra Jack Keats

Props:1 Box of CrayonsSheets of blank 8 ½ x 11

paperEnvelopesStampsPostal StickersMail BoxPostal Carrier Dress Up

Clothes & HatPostal Carrier BagRain Coat, Hat and

UmbrellaParty HatsParty Noise MakersSmall Boxes, Wrapping

Paper and Bows