2. Preparing the Environment 9

3. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Objectives  Explain the value of planned indoor and outdoor space in a child care center.  Summarize factors that affect the organization of space in a center.  Name the basic activity areas in a center, along with the functions of each area.  Organize basic activity areas of the classroom and outdoor playground.

4. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Tour a classroom  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm7hIwLX uTU - Indicators of a quality early learning environment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm7hIwLX uTU  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7MQ4ni Gb6c – ECD321324 Preschool Classroom Tour.wmv http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7MQ4ni Gb6c  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbGjt0uO EeQ – A video tour of a preschool classroom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbGjt0uO EeQ

5. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Value of Planned Space  Well-planned space provides  a physically safe environment  areas that promote developmental growth  an abundance of materials  areas that are easy to supervise  pleasant space for both adults and children  children easy access to materials  comfortable work and play areas

6. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Physical Space  May be divided into seven main areas  Entrance  Director’s office  Isolation area Isolation area  Kitchen or kitchenette  Staff room Staff room  Bathrooms  Classroom or playroom

7. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Indoor Environment  The classroom or playroom should  be on the ground floor close to an exit  have a rectangular shape, allowing optimal supervision; at least 35 sf. per child  have walls with lead-free washable paint  include some type of audiovisual boardaudiovisual board  have carpeted flooring  have lightweight doors with low handles continued

8. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Indoor Environment  include acoutstic material to absorb soundacoutstic material  have temperature range of 68 – 70 degrees F  have 40 – 60 percent humidity  place electrical outlets above children’s reach

9. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Furniture  Classroom or playground furniture should be durable, washable, and stackable  Chairs  Tables  Storage units  Lockers and cubbiescubbies

10. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Color Choices for Child Care Centers  The use of colors can affect how teachers and children feel about their classroom  Room should look good, feel spacious  Cool colors: blue, green, and purple Cool colors  make a room appear larger  Warm colors: red, yellow, and orange Warm colors  make a room seem smaller

11. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Factors That Affect Space Organization  Space should define the scope and limits of activities  Licensing requirements  Program goals  Group size  Scale  Traffic patterns

12. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Licensing Requirements  All states have their own licensing requirements for child care centers  Common requirements include  a minimum number of fire extinguishers  all exits must be clear  entrance door must open to the outside  a minimum number of square feet of space

13. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Program Goals  Based on children’s abilities, age, and skills  Stimulate growth and development  Positive self-concept  Independence  Problem-solving skills  Fine-motor coordination  Promote self-control continued

14. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Program Goals  Language skills  Prosocial behavior  Appreciation of cultural diversity

15. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Group Size  Group size is an important factor to consider when arranging space  The more children there are, the more empty space is needed  Plan between one-third and one-half of the classroom for open space

16. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Scale  The classroom environment must be scaled to the size of its occupants  Child-sized furniture  Bulletin boards  Toilets  Water fountains  Sinks  Pictures

17. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Traffic Patterns  Arrangement of classroom center around the traffic patterntraffic pattern  The way people move through the classroom area  Arrange furniture to create useful traffic patterns  Program activities affect traffic patterns

18. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Organizing Basic Activity Areas  Space at a child care classroom is divided into basic activity areas.  Provide the ideal environment for active learning  Each activity area is clearly defined, yet flexible  Arrange activity areas by function  Wet or dry  Active or quiet

19. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Organizing Basic Activity Areas Gross-motor Music Woodworking Blockbuilding Dramatic play Small manipulative play Library Sleeping Private space Writing center Technology area Science Sensory {sand, water} Art Eating

20. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Organizing Basic Activity Areas Blockbuilding Area pg 220 Art Area pg 221 Dramatic play Area pg 221 Sensory Area pg 221-222 Woodworking Area pg 222 Sleeping Area pg 222 Small manipulative Area pg 222 Language Area pg 222-223 Music Area pg 223 Private Space pg 223 Science Area pg 223-224 Technology Area pg 224 Eating Area pg 224-226 Displaying a child’s work pg 226-227 Outdoor play environments pg 227-228

21. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Activity Research  Which activity area were you assigned and what kind of activities take place there?  What kind of supplies might be needed in this area?  Which goal does this activity area support on page 217 in the textbook?

22. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Outdoor Play Environments  In outdoor areas,  the required number of sf. per child varies by state; usually from 75 to 200 sf. per child  a rectangular space is most functional  U- or L-shaped playgrounds are more difficult to supervise

23. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Planning the Playground  Consider the following guidelines:  equipment should be far apart  all equipment should be visible  children should not have to walk through one area to get to another  between one-third and one-half of the playground should be used for play equipment continued

24. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Planning the Playground  Planning the playground involves  fencing  surfaces  landscaping  storage shed  wheeled toy paths continued

25. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Planning the Playground  stationary equipment: equipment that is set permanently in the ground for stability stationary equipment  sandbox  water  animal shelter

26. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Design your own:  Requirements:  Design a preschool classroom using graph paper, a ruler and a writing utensil  Use as much of the graph paper as possible. A good size guide is: 1 square = 1 foot  There must be one entry door and one doorway that goes to the kitchen area and restrooms  Include at least 8 activity areas in your room  Label all areas and furniture – pg. 225

27. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Examples  http://www.environments.com/visualize/ - Visualize your new room http://www.environments.com/visualize/  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xCCBIvg WQ0 - Making room for play: The preschool room plan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xCCBIvg WQ0

28. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  acoustic material. Material used to deaden or absorb sounds. Carpets, drapes, bulletin boards, pillows, stuffed toys, and sand are examples.  audiovisual board. A smooth wall board that serves as a bulletin board, chalkboard, and movie screen.

29. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  cool colors. Colors, such as blue and green, that make a room appear larger and create a feeling of openness.  cubbies. Top sections of lockers used to store finished artwork, library books, parent letters, and other valuable items.

30. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  isolation area. Special room or space in the center for children who become ill or show signs of a communicable disease.  sensory table. Table in the sensory area that gives children the opportunity to experience the sensations related to water and sand. It also allows them practice in social situations. Also known as a water table or sand table.

31. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  staff room. Room in a child care center provided for staff to spend work-related time away from the classroom.  stationary equipment. Permanently installed equipment in the playground, such as jungle gyms, slides, and tree houses.

32. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Glossary  traffic pattern. The way in which people move through the classroom area, affecting its arrangement.  warm colors. Colors including red, yellow, and orange that make a room appear smaller.

33. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Introducing Activity Areas  Children require an introduction to the activity areas in the classroom  What materials are in each area  Which activities happen in each area  Safety and cleanup rules  Learn the routine for using and replacing materials

34. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Blockbuilding Area  Blocks give children practice  sorting  grouping  comparing  arranging  make decisions  cooperating  role-playing

35. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Art Area  Place the art area near a water source  Groups or individuals can use the area  Use tables, chairs, easels, drying racks, and shelving units that are easy to clean and maintain  Label the materials shelves clearly

36. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Dramatic Play Area  Known as the home living or housekeeping area  For younger children, should be arranged to look like a real home  Stove, refrigerator, sink  Table and chairs  Other props, such as dolls, dress-up costumes, kitchen utensils, and cleaning tools

37. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Sensory Area  The sensory table (water or sand table) is a key piece of equipmentsensory table  Place sensory table near the water source  Items to provide should be rustproof  Shovels and spoons  Sand pails  Measuring cups  Funnels and strainers

38. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Woodworking Area  Locate near the art area to decorate wood sculptures with paint  This area should be outside the line of traffic  Items to provide may include  safety goggles  simple tools  wood scraps  styrofoam pieces

39. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Sleeping Area  Most preschoolers rest or nap after lunch  Most states have licensing rules for children under age 5  Not all programs have separate sleeping areas  Flexible room arrangement is key  Allow sufficient space for sleeping  Check state regulations (2 ft. between cots)

40. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Small Manipulative Area  Locate in a dry, quiet area of the playroom  Items in this area often include  table blocks  puzzles  plastic building pieces  parquetry blocks  stringing beads  sewing cards

41. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Language Area  Locate in the quietest part of the classroom  Items in this area should include  books and magazines  paper and markers  table and chairs  shelving

42. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Music Area  Provide space for moving and dancing  Items found in most music areas include  rhythm instruments  CDs and players  puppets and scarves  piano, if space permits  guitar or autoharp

43. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Private Space  Provide a space where children can be alone  Lofts are good options  The space should  be small  allow room for only one or two children  be visible to the teacher

44. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Science Area  Arrange the science area  in the wet, active area of the classroom  near the light and water source  Most science areas contain  at least one table  a shelving unit  small caged pets  project materials

45. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Technology Area  Locate in the quiet, dry part of the classroom  Where you place the computers might affect how often they are used  Keep monitors visible throughout the classroom to  increase curiosity  facilitate supervision

46. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Eating Area  When space is available, provide a separate eating area  Locate it near the kitchen for  easy service  easy cleanup

47. © Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only. Displaying Children’s Work  Display children’s work throughout the activity areas using  bulletin boards  wall hangings  clothesline  appliance boxes