This guide was developed for North Carolina teachers in early childhood education and focuses on how play-based center activities in kindergarten teach literacy, mathematics, science, social studies, and the arts. Development of the guide was based on educators' experiences and their understanding of how children learn. The guide's introduction asserts that kindergarten programs organized around learning centers and interactive play activities teach basic academic skills in such a way that young children can understand them, urges educators to resist temptations to teach kindergarten in the same way as the upper grades, and discusses ways to incorporate assessment of children's progress toward educational goals in the ongoing classroom activities. The bulk of the guide is devoted to describing the following learning centers, their basic equipment and organization, what children learn at the center, vignettes of children's learning, observations and ideas, and connections of the learning center to the state's curriculum goals: (1) blocks; (2) sand and water; (3) art; (4) dramatic play; (5) manipulatives; (6) science and discovery; (7) books and reading; (8) writing and printing; (9) carpentry; and (10) outdoor activities. An example is provided of a simple and effective classroom design and tips are provided for organizing the classroom. The North Carolina Standard Course of Study for Kindergarten completes the guide. (KB)