ECERS-R Checklist
This information sheet was designed to assist teachers when changing materials in centers. All of the below information is adapted from All About the ECERS-R by Debby Cryer, Thelma Harms, Cathy Riley FPG Child Development Institute. This sheet is intended to be used in conjunction with the book.
Item / Clarification / Category requirements / Additional information / Time /15. Books and Pictures / 20 books for up to 15 children, one additional book for each additional child.
o 25 books for 20 children
o 29 books for 24 children / 3-4 examples of each topic: some flexibility but each topic must be represented.
o Fantasy
o Factual information
o Stories about people
o Animals,
o Nature/science
o Books that reflect different cultures and abilities / At least two additional language materials daily such as:
o Posters and pictures
o Flannel board stories
o Picture card games
o Recorded stories and songs / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
19. Fine Motor / Some means at least one of each type
Many means at least 3 of each type / o Small building toys such as legos and interlocking blocks
o Art materials such as crayons and scissors
o Manipulatives such as beads for stringing and pegs and pegboards
o Puzzles / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
20. Art / 3-5 different art materials from at least four of the categories, drawing must be one of the four / o Drawing materials such as paper, crayons
o Paints such as easel and water color
o Three-dimensional materials such as play dough and carpentry
o Collage materials such as scissor, hole punches / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
22. Blocks / At least 2 types of blocks and a variety of accessories for 3 or more children to play / o Unit blocks, wooden or plastic
o Large hollow blocks, wooden, plastic or cardboard
o Homemade blocks
o Accessories such as people, animals, vehicles and road signs / Blocks must be organized according to type and space must be large enough for at least 3 children / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
23. Sand/
Water / Must have variety but does not all have to be provided at the same time. Variety is in the use of the materials. / o Measuring
o Pouring
o Size, transparency, shape, color or challenge level
o Tools to make designs in sand
o Materials to route water, such as pipes, water wheels, cups
o Change the purpose of the materials-for example change the water table to from using to wash babies to an ocean with small fish and submarines. / Sand and water must be provided for a five.
Use also includes changing the material in the container such as coloring the water, adding bubbles, providing wet sand or birdseed. / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
24. Dramatic Play / At least two themes must be available daily for at least two children. Props with a variety of themes such housekeeping, different kinds of work, fantasy, and leisure / Two or three gender specific examples of dress up clothes are required such as
o ties, hard hats, shoes to represent men’s clothing
o purses, skirts, shoes to represent women’s clothing / Props can be outside and inside, do not have to be available together. Materials are organized. / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
25. Nature/Science / 3-5 examples of three categories, this can vary as long as at least three of the four categories are represented. / o Collections of natural objects such as rocks, insects
o Living things such as fish and plants
o Nature/science books, games or toys such as nature sequence cards or insect lotto
o Nature/science activities such as cooking or sink and float / Age of the child matters-check All About the ECERS-R pp. 253-256 / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day
26. Math Number / 3-5 examples of each type of material. This can vary. This depends on the ages and number of children in your group. / o Counting objects such as bears, play money, beads, raisins
o Measuring materials such as measuring groups, rulers, thermometers
o Comparing quantity materials such as nested cups, playing cards, cubes
o Recognizing shape such as
o Written numbers materials such as balance scales, number puzzles, magnetic numbers, number lotto / Must be available for a substantial portion of the day