Children are often reluctant to enter an exam room or a doctor”s office. At Pretend City, children get the opportunity to experience the doctor”s office from an entirely different perspective, one of curiosity and excitement! Through pretend play in the Pretend City Health Center, children”s fears of medical personnel, procedures and equipment are reduced and their curiosity ignited about how their bodies work!
The following are some of the activities which will support brain developing connections and California State Educational Content Standards that are addressed at the Health Center.

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When I play on the exam table, my brain and body make learning connections to: |
Activity Meets Content Standard #: |
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strengthen balance and large muscle coordination (legs, torso and arms) systems, which physically prepares me to read |
Physical Education: |
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use energy in a constructive way |
Physical Education: |
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practice the concepts of speed, direction and location |
Physical Education: |
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negotiate and take turns |
Physical Education: |
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find and solve problems |
Physical Education: |
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When I look in the mirror, my brain makes learning connections to: |
Activity Meets Content Standard #: |
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develop imagination and creativity |
Visual and Performing Arts: |
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recognize shapes and expressions |
Visual Art: |
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express feelings and ideas |
Visual Art: |
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know how ideas have value |
Visual Art: |
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use and learn about the relationship of space and size |
Visual Art: Mathematics |
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experiment and use the concepts of symmetry, balance, and design |
Visual Art: |
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When I play in the waiting room, my brain makes learning connections to: |
Activity Meets Content Standard #: |
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listen, follow directions, and understand spoken words |
Language Arts/Reading: |
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know how ideas add value to the discussion |
Language Arts/Reading: |
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wait my turn when others are talking |
Social Science: |
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learn new vocabulary words |
Language Arts/Reading: |
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cooperate and be considerate of the needs of others in the group |
Social Science: |
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When I play by measuring my height, my body and brain make learning connections to: |
Activity Meets Content Standard #: |
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recognize shapes against the background of a table ( a reading skill) |
Physical Science: |
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strengthen fine-motor skills, which aid in the ability to read and write |
Language Arts |
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sort and classify objects based on color, shape, size, length, weight, and height |
Visual Arts: Mathematics: |
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explore number concepts such as: like, more, less, longer, heavier, lighter, and shorter |
Physical Science: |
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pose questions and gather data about self and surroundings |
Mathematics: |
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recognize and use connections among mathematical ideas |
Mathematics: |
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When I play with the x-ray machine, my brain makes learning connections to: |
Activity Meets Content Standard #: |
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develop imagination and creativity |
Visual and Performing Arts: |
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distinguish shapes |
Visual Art: |
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express feelings and ideas |
Visual Art: |
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know how ideas have value |
Visual Art: |
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explore the relationship between space and size |
Visual Art: |
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explore the concepts of symmetry, balance, and design |
Visual Art: |
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describe parts or a set of data to determine what the data show |
Mathematics: |