Preparing the Environment

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Preparing the Environment

• Chapter 8

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Developmentally appropriate well organized
environment
Children grow and learn
Clues about expected behavior
Teacher created to fit needs and interests of
the children
Reflects program quality
Promotes play
Provides choices
Reduces behavior problems
Encourage interaction with others
Encourage active exploration
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Arranged based on
Temperaments Developmental needs Interests Program
goals
Children need
Should be
Space to build Move sort Create Pretend Spread
out Work Interact with friends Plenty of diverse
materials
Attractive Inviting Nurturing Safe
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Value of planned space
1st review goals of program Needs to be
attractive and well arranged Safety needs to be
addressed Goals include providing safe physical
environment for children providing children with
areas that promote cognitive, emotional,
social, and physical growth providing adults
with space that is easy to supervise providing
space that is pleasing to the eye providing
easy access to materials when needed provides
space where children can work and
play comfortably
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Physical Space
7 main areas entrance- attractive a
appealing directors office- just inside
entrance isolation area- special room or space
for children who become ill kitchen- health
department inspects staff room- locked storage
space for personal belongings and place to
work bathrooms- water heater set on low heat,
easy to clean, sizes to fit children classroom
or playroom- walls- durable and washable
audio-visual board- screen that can serve as
bulletin board, chalkboard, and movie screen
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Floors- carpeting Windows- so children can see
outside Doors- lightweight Acoustics- materials
that reduce noise acoustic material- used to
deaden or absorb sound Temperature-
68-70 Humidity- 40-60 relative Electrical
outlets- above children's reach, cords not on
floor
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Factors that affect space organization
Scale- child sized, child level Traffic pattern-
way people move through classroom create useful
pattern with furniture
How goals supported by environment
Review 8-9 chart on page 120
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Organizing Basic Activity Areas
Display each area so children can see what their
choices are
Make inviting so children want to play
Defined but flexible area for each
active
Science sensory
Gross motor, Music Woodworking, Blocks drama
Basic Activity areas
wet
dry
Manipulatives library technology
Art eating
quiet
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Arrange shelving so teacher can see Art near
water Quite away from active Dry away from
wet Open space for blocks and group
activity Private space Define area with furniture
Principles of
Room Arragement
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Introducing Activity Areas
Need to know what supplies are there
What activities take place there
Need to learn safety and clean-up
Need to learn routine for replacing and taking
care of the materials
Use labels and signs
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Activity areas
Block building area- carpeted, level area, low
cabinets, room to build, other items than blocks,
arrange according to shape, heavy materials on
bottom shelf
Art area- near water, groups or individuals can
use, tables, chairs, easels, drying racks, and
shelving units easy to clean, label materials
Dramatic Play area- set up as a real thing
house, boat, garage, etc.
Sensory area- provide rustproof spoons, shovels,
sand pails, measuring cups, funnels, strainers,
and other items
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Manipulative area- dry quiet area, table blocks,
puzzles, plastic building pieces, parquetry
blocks, stinging beads, lotto bards, sewing
cards, color cubes, table, chairs, and shelving
units
Library area- quietest part of room, books,
magazines, pens, paper, pencils, shelving units,
table, chairs pillows, rugs
Private space- where children can be
alone,children in private space will not be
disturbed, not visible to other children, small
Science area- table, shelving, active area, by
light and water
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Technology area- quiet dry, small, electrical
outlets, monitor visible for teacher, furniture
designed for young people
Woodworking area- should be near art area, tools,
wood scraps, Styrofoam pieces, hang pegboard
close to, outline shapes on pegboard
Music area- tapes, records, CDs, players,
puppets, scarves
Eating area- separate eating area close to
kitchens
Displaying childrens work- Childs height,
throughout classroom,
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Outdoor Play Areas
Large muscle activities
Rectangle space most functional can be seen
from end to end
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Planning the play yard
Fencing- safety of children
Surfaces- portion with grass for games loose
material best for safety 9-12 inches of material
Landscaping- trees, shrubs, flowers in variety of
sizes, colors, and growing cycles, hills, make
sure not poisonous
Storage Shed- so children can return items
themselves
Wheeled toy paths- safety protection of outdoor
play area curved path
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Stationary equipment- set permanently into the
ground for stability jungle gyms, slides, tree
houses space apart
Sandbox- in shade near water cover
Water- constant supervision needed emptied at
end of day sprinkler garden hose wading pool
Animal Shelter- cages large enough for animal
mesh floor locked and cleaned